Division 2 Disease surveillance programmeF1

The presence of infection must be tested by validated serological and/or bacteriological and/or molecular tests. The presence of air sacculitis lesions in day-old chicks and turkey poults suggests that a Mycoplasma infection is present and must be investigated.

Samples for testing for the presence of Mycoplasma infection must be taken, as appropriate, from blood, day-old chicks and turkey poults, sperm, or swabs taken from the trachea, the choanae, cloaca or air sacs and in particular for the detection of Mycoplasma meleagridis samples must be taken from oviduct and penis of turkeys.

Tests for detecting Mycoplasma gallisepticum or Mycoplasma meleagridis must be performed on a representative sample in order to allow continuous surveillance of the infection during rearing and laying, namely just before the start of laying and every 3 months thereafter.