Seroprevalance of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in commercial broilers and backyard poultry in five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan

Abstract

Serological survey for Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) was conducted in serum samples of broilers and backyard poultry collected from five major districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The serum samples were examined by serum plate agglutination (SPA) test using stained MG & MS antigens separately. Out of total (n=648) broiler serum samples MG and MS prevalence was recorded as 35.03 and 16.67%, respectively. The highest prevalence of MG was recorded in Dera Ismail Khan 43.33% (65/150) followed by Tank 40% (60/150), Peshawar 36.67% (33/90), Abbottabad 31.46% (45/143) and Mansehra 20.86% (24/115) while in case of MS the highest prevalence was reported in Peshawar 23.33% (21/90) followed by Dera Ismail Khan 20% (30/150), Mansehra 18.26% (21/115), Tank 12.67% (19/150) and Abbottabad 11.88% (17/143). In open shed the prevalence of MG & MS was comparatively high (40.51 & 17.94%) than in closed shed (26.74 & 14.72%), respectively. Moreover, prevalence of MG and MS was higher during winter season (38.18 & 18.48%) than summer (31.76 & 14.77%). Combined MG/MS prevalence percentage was recorded as Peshawar (17.78%), Dera Ismail Khan (14%), Tank (12%), Mansehra (10.43%) and Abbottabad (7.69%) and it was found slightly higher (12.72%) in winter than (11.32%) in summer. Similarly in open shed reared birds, MG/MS prevalence was high (14.10%) than in closed shed (8.91%). One hundred (n=100) backyard poultry samples collected from Tank and Dera Ismail Khan (50 from each district) showed high MG (80%) & MS (50%) prevalence in Dera Ismail khan than in Tank with MG (56%) and MS (44%) prevalence. Overall results indicated a high prevalence of MG and MS in backyard poultry which may be a source of infection for commercial broiler especially for open shed reared birds.