does anyone know how mycoplasma synoviae in chickens spreads?

Answer 1

Rick,

Oh, my does this bring back memories. For years my father used to raise chickens commercially. It was my introduction to farm and country life, and I rather enjoyed it, until the chickens got sick, which they did seldom, but often enough to be a concern.

mycoplasma synoviae is transmitted three ways, but it usually attacks only when
a. The chicks are pretty young, about 4-6 weeks, or
b. They are already stressed from another infection, like Newcastle, bronchitis, or coccidiosis.

So if you want to keep mycoplasma infection rates low, keep your birds healthy from other diseases. We found the best way to do that was to keep the area clean, especially the water.

OK, transmission:

First, it doesn't transmit through the air very easily. It will, but it doesn't stay airborne for very long. Even though it will affect the birds' lungs, that seems to be from the stirred dust on which the bacteria can ride into the chicken's respiratory system.

So how does it get into the chicken? In ascending order:

1. Egg transmission. Mom can give it to youngsters through the eggs. This happens most when the hen is recently exposed, within a couple of months. Most of the time, some broods will be bacteria-free. The trouble, of course, is that in those broods that are not, we can't tell right away which chicks have it and which do not, so transmission through direct contact becomes the predominant mode. This method (egg) of transmission is fairly low, on the order of 2% even at the worst of times. But it does happen.

2. Indirect contact. This one surprised me when I discovered this, because in my rural school with its "vocational agriculture" classes I had been assured that mycoplasma, being a bacteria without a true cell wall, would not survive outside of the host. Ah, the assurance of ignorance.

It can actually survive on feathers--and therefore on your clothes and in the environment--for at least a couple of days at average temperatures. So if you come into contact with an affected bird, you can spread it to other birds. If you introduce disease-free birds into a contaminated coop or barn, they can get mycoplasma infection.

3. Direct contact. Put birds of a feather together, and mycoplasma can be transmitted. This is the major mode of transmission of mycoplasma, so if you see one bird sitting down and not getting up, you'll soon see others.

But either of these last two will be the primary way others get it. The biggest problem that we had with it was that some birds can be carriers while not showing symptoms, and therefore we found it deucedly hard to get rid of. By the time symptoms appeared others were infected. We wound up clearing that barn (we had more than one) and spraying the whole thing down with a creosote-and-diesel solution and putting in all fresh bedding and ground material again, essentially starting over with that barn. That got rid of it.

Good luck.

Answer 2

MS is spread laterally through a flock by direct contact with infected birds, inhalation, or contaminated equipment and clothing. Vertical transmission plays a major role in the spread of MS in chickens and turkeys. Often, the infection will be present without clinical signs. In chickens, there may be lameness, ruffled feathers, retarded growth, pale comb, and swollen joints. Breast blisters are also a common finding. Frequently, a greenish colouring of droppings, which contains high amounts of uric acid, is observed and Air sacculitis may be observed in birds of any age. The only way to prevent MS is to select birds from MS-free flocks and to adhere to good biosecurity practices. (The organism responsible for MS is light sensitive and also to most commonly used disinfectants). Mycoplasma Synoviae should not be confused, however, with Mycoplasma Gallisepticum which is widespread and affects many species of birds. This is primarily spread through the egg; infected hens transmit organisms and the chick is infected when it hatches. Organisms may also be transmitted by direct contact with infected or carrier birds.

Answer 3

i raise chickens, rabbits, goats and other animals for hobby. profit, and shows and will cull or sell unproductive or non show quality animals. sick animals will be destroyed in order to protect my flock. that is a hard thing for me to do but it is a necessity. is that a sin? IM not sure. now lets look at this in a higher order. should man cull undesirables from society. Absolutely not. should god cull undesirables from society. that is up to our maker and some believe he has (great flood, plagues, ETC...) different religions have different names and beliefs about our creator, and what ever you call this higher power (and weather or not you believe in it at all) is up to you. none of us will know for sure if its true or where we are going until we die. until then the best we can do is respect our fellow man and their beliefs and do in life what in our best judgment is right. to cull or destroy sick or diseased wild animals or insects to protect our fellow man from a epidemic is a necessity not a sin.