Studies on the Control of Mycoplasma meleagridis in Turkeys

Abstract

SUMMARY Procedures used to establish an SPF turkey flock are described. Male and female turkeys free of reproductive tract infection but carrying an upper respiratory tract infection of M. meleagridis produced poults free of M. meleagridis. The progeny of these birds were used to establish an SPF turkey flock. Two generations of SPF turkeys were raised free of Mycoplasma or Salmonella as could be detected by our diagnostic procedures. Dipping turkey eggs in tylosin proved valuable in reducing the incidence of airsacculitis and Mycoplasma infection in day-old poults. Egg dipping, when combined with the serologic testing of poults hatching from dipped eggs, might be a practical approach to establishing turkey flocks free of M. melea