The distribution of Mycoplasma meleagridis in normal turkey carcases and those affected with air sac disease.

Abstract

Mycoplasma meleagridis was isolated from both normal and diseased air sacs of turkeys examined and graded for air sacculitis on the evisceration line in a processing plant. It was also cultivated from wing bone cavities of turkeys with severe air sac lesions but not from leg bones or from samples of deep muscle. A further investigation, using material taken randomly from the condemned meat container, confirmed that M meleagridis was recoverable from wing bones.