Division 3 Diseases surveillance for Mycoplasma spp. of relevance for poultry:

Identification of infection with the following agents:

1. (a)

   Mycoplasma gallisepticum;

2. (b)

   Mycoplasma meleagridis.

Target species:

1. (a)

   Mycoplasma gallisepticum: Gallus gallus, Meleagris gallopavo;

2. (b)

   Mycoplasma meleagridis: Meleagris gallopavo.

Examinations:

Each flock must be clinically examined during each laying or productive period at the best time for detecting the disease in question.

Sampling matrix:

Samples to be taken from each flock in the establishment keeping poultry, as appropriate:

1. (a)

   blood;

2. (b)

   sperm;

3. (c)

   swabs taken from the trachea, the choanae or the cloaca;

4. (d)

   post mortem tissues, especially air sacs from day-old chicks with lesions;

5. (e)

   in particular for the detection of Mycoplasma meleagridis, oviduct and penis of turkeys.

Sampling frame and frequency of sampling:

1. (a)

   sampling for Mycoplasma gallisepticum:

   Species	Time of sampling		Number of birds to be sampled
   	Breeding poultry	Productive poultry
   Gallus gallus	at 16 weeks of age at the point of lay and then every 90 days	During production every 90 days	60 60 60
   Meleagris gallopavo	at 20 weeks of age at the point of lay and then every 90 days	During production every 90 days	60 60 60

2. (b)

   sampling for Mycoplasma meleagridis:

   Species	Time of sampling		Number of birds to be sampled
   	Breeding poultry	Productive poultry
   Meleagris gallopavo	at 20 weeks of age at the point of lay and then every 90 days	During production every 90 days	60 60 60

3. (c)

   the number of birds to be sampled according to points (a) and (b) may be adapted by the competent authority to the known prevalence of infection in the specific Member State concerned and its past incidence in the establishment. In any case a statistically valid numbers of samples for serological/bacteriological testing shall always be taken.

Examinations, sampling and testing methods:

Testing for the presence of infection by serological, bacteriological and molecular tests must be carried out by validated methods recognised by the competent authority.

Results:

A flock is considered positive when, following the positive results of the testing performed in accordance with points 3.3 to 3.6, a second test of an appropriate type confirms the infection by the disease agents.