Sera from 5325 chickens representing 71 commercial poultry flocks were tested for Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) using standard National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP) testing guidelines. Based on the NPIP guidelines, only sera (N = 195) from flocks that test positive by specific plate agglutination (SPA) were submitted for additional confirmatory tests. Flocks from three multihouse farms were identified as seropositive for MS and confirmed by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum samples (N = 195) from these seropositive flocks were compared by SPA, enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI). Of the 195 sera tested for MS from these flocks, 145 (74%) sera were positive by SPA. Of the 145 SPA-positive sera, the HI test was positive for 127 samples (90.2%), whereas the ELISA was positive for 141 samples (98.6%). This difference between the two tests was significant (P = 0.0006). Significant differences (P = 0.0002) in titer were obtained from paired serum samples that were submitted to three different laboratories for HI analysis. Both the SPA and HI tests failed to detect early infection in newly introduced flocks following depopulation of MS-positive facilities. Both ELISA and PCR detected new infections on these farms. In the MS outbreak described in this study, SPA was not adequate as the sole screening test and HI was not adequate for confirmation of flock infection status. Continued reliance on the same or a similar type of testing could result in missed infections. Confirmation of infection by PCR was preferable to HI and also may be used in place of culture. The findings of this study suggest that ELISA should be considered as a serologic screen in lieu of SPA, screening with SPA may miss MS-infected flocks, and PCR should be considered as a confirmatory test.

Nine of 74 American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from a captive Florida herd of 3-4-m-long, 200-350-kg, adult males greater than 30 yr of age died within a 10-day period during 1995. Nonspecific clinical signs included anorexia, lethargy, muscle weakness, paraparesis, bilateral white ocular discharge, and various degrees of periocular, facial, cervical, and limb edema. Pneumonia, pericarditis, and arthritis were found on postmortem evaluation of the spontaneously dead and euthanatized alligators. Rapidly growing mycoplasmas were identified by culture, and mycoplasma nucleotide sequences were identified by polymerase chain reaction testing of fresh lung and synovial fluid from an affected alligator. Culture of banked frozen lung from necropsy specimens and fresh lung and fresh synovial fluid from newly affected alligators confirmed the presence of a new mycoplasma species in seven of eight individuals. Oxytetracycline was administered, but related deaths continued for 6 mo until only 14 of the initial alligators remained. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibody was developed, and the organism was transmitted experimentally to naive juvenile alligators, although the source of the organism, Mycoplasma sp. (ATCC 700619), has not been identified. The alligator isolate is a novel species in the mycoplasma family because its nucleotide sequence does not match those of over 75 characterized mycoplasma species. Such factors as population density, animal age, and mycoplasmal virulence likely contributed to the course of disease.

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A 10-year-old girl with a 1-year history of lower genitourinary tract symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection but with numerous negative urine cultures was referred to the University of Alabama urology clinic after empirical treatment with multiple antibiotics failed to resolve her symptoms. An extensive urologic evaluation revealed no structural or physiologic abnormalities, but an exudative vaginitis was noted and large numbers of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were isolated from the lower genital tract. Cultures for Chlamydia, viruses, and routine bacterial pathogens were negative. After initiation of tetracycline therapy, symptoms resolved and subsequent cultures for mycoplasmas were negative. In addition, a seroconversion was noted for M hominis but not for U urealyticum. Chlamydia serology was negative. It was later learned that the patient had been sexually molested just prior to the onset of symptoms. This case illustrates the necessity of early consideration of a mycoplasmal etiology in the patient with persistent genitourinary symptoms and no obvious bacterial pathogen, or in the patient whose condition is refractory to routine antibiotic therapy.

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