Development of a Promising Agglutination Based Diagnostic Kit for Detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infection in Chickens

Abstract

Background: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) an important respiratory tract pathogen is responsible for morbidity in poultry flocks. It affects poultry birds of various age groups of layers as well as broiler, especially in younger ones. The diagnosis of such ailment is highly sought for adopting suitable control measures. In this regard, classical procedure of culture and isolation of mycoplasmas is cumbersome, tedious and time-taking. In an earlier study, it was found that serology was more sensitive than bacteriology in MG infection. The serum plate agglutination test was used in many of the earlier sero-prevalence studies. It is recommended to use the serology based detection methods for screening the poultry flocks rather than testing individual poultry birds. For field based rapid diagnosis, agglutination based serology methods are best comparison to nucleic acid detection methods, more so in remote areas.In view of the difficulties in the diagnosis of MG infection in field condition, the study was undertaken to develop a user-friendly agglutination kit, which can be used as screening test for an early diagnosis of MG infection in the poultry flocks.Methods: Mycoplasma coloured antigen kit was developed and standardized using Mycoplasma gallisepticum F strain available at the Central University Laboratory. The prepared coloured antigen kit was stored at different temperatures such as 37°C, room temperature (22-28°C) and at 4-8°C at different period of time such as three months, six months and one year to know the shelf life of the kit.Result: The sensitivity of the coloured antigen kit was found to be 92.25% and specificity as 100%. The kit was found promising in the field condition for an early diagnosis of the ailment among the poultry flocks.