Mycoplasma meleagridis-induced lesions in the tarsometatarsal joints of turkey embryos.

Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) has the ability to cause bone deformity in turkey poults. However, few pathological lesions have been described and no evidence of MM-induced damage to the bones has been shown. In this study, 17-day-old turkey embryos were inoculated with MM into the allantoic cavity.

Interactions between the membranes of turkey cells and Mycoplasma meleagridis.

We used Myoplsma meleagridis (MM) to infect the RP-9 cells and the eggshell membranes and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy to study the interactions between the organisms and the cell surfaces. The surface of the RP-9 cells contained numerous projections. After 24 hr of infection with MM, those projections were either lost or aggregated to the side; MM-like particles could be seen on the surface of the cells, and surface fluorescence could be detected by confocal microscopy.

Infection of the turkey embryonic trachea with Mycoplasma meleagridis.

Mycoplasma meleagridis was used to infect turkey embryos and tracheal explants. In the embryonic trachea, there was a decrease in the number of cilia and the sloughing of epithelial cells. In the tracheal explants, the deciliation was more severe and erosion of the tracheal surface was also evident; additionally, the cells of the trachea showed prominent perforation.

Chemotactic response of lymphocytes in chicken embryos infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

A prominent feature of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is a lymphoproliferative response at the site of infection. In this study, artificial air cells (AACs) were made in eggs containing 16-day old chicken embryos. An MG culture and supernates from MG-infected RP-9 cells, HD-11 cells and monocytes were separately deposited on the membranes of the AAC.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum -induced release of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta from chicken monocytes-macrophages.

Chicken monocytes and a macrophage-like cell line were used to determine the presence of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1 beta). RNA was extracted from these cells and subjected to reverse transcription with an anti-sense primer specific for the whole length of the MIP-1 beta cDNA. After a polymerase chain reaction to amplify the cDNA, a 200 bp gene product was detected, which corresponded to the molecular weight of the MIP-1 beta.