Aerosol Studies with Avian Mycoplasma. 2. Infectivity of Mycoplasma gallisepticum for Chickens and Turkeys

Abstract

Aerosol equipment. The aerosol exposure was accomplished with equipment and techniques previously described (1,2). The birds were exposed for 5 min followed by 5 min of air washing of the exposure chamber. An air sample was taken from the animal exposure chamber at the time each group of birds was exposed. These samples were immediately plated on solid modified French medium (3) in serial dilutions for quantitation. For the exposure of chickens to the aged aerosol, the exposure box was attached to the steel drum described in the first paper (2) by a 4-inch flexible tube. The exhaust hose to the filters and fan was attached to the other end of the exposure box. Animals. The chickens were White Leghorns from a mycoplasma-free flock under constant surveillance including regular testing for hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies against Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The turkeys were University Bronze birds hatched by the Poultry Science Department and reared by the Veterinary Science Department at the University of Wisconsin. These turkeys were serologically negative for HI antibodies against