Mycoplasma synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum Infections: Differentiation by the Hemagglutination-Inhibition Test

Abstract

ONE agent responsible for the clinical syndrome in chickens known as infectious synovitis, cultivated by Chalquest and Fabricant (1960), was designated Mycoplasma synoviae by Olson et al. (1964). An important criterion for determining whether M. synoviae infection is present in a flock is the presence or absence of specific antibody as demonstrated by serologic examination. A M. synoviae serum plate agglutination test antigen has been produced (Olson et al., 1963; and Roberts and Olesiuk, 1967). Olsen et al. (1964), and Roberts and Olesiuk (1967) reported that M. synoviae positive serums would sometimes cause a serologic reaction with M. gallisepticum serum plate antigen. M. synoviae serum plate antigen is the only antigen commercially available for serologic examination for M. synoviae antibodies. Vardaman and Yoder (1969) reported the preparation of a M. synoviae-hemagglutinating antigen that showed good specificity when used in the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. The hemagglutination-inhibition test is an official test,…