Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in different poultry breeds of Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Lnc90386 Sponges miR-33-5p to Mediate Mycoplasma gallisepticum-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis in Chickens via the JNK Pathway

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is one of the most important pathogens, that causes chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in chickens. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as new regulators for many diseases and some lncRNAs can function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to regulate mRNAs by competitively binding to miRNAs. Here, we found that miR-33-5p was significantly up-regulated both in MG-infected chicken embryonic lungs and chicken embryo fibroblast cells (DF-1), and Lnc90386 negatively correlated with miR-33-5p. miR-33-5p, as a new regulator for MG infection, repressed apoptosis, inflammatory factors in DF-1 cells by targeting JNK1. Further analyses showed that Lnc90386 sponged miR-33-5p to weaken its inhibitory effect on JNK1, forming the ceRNA regulatory network. Furthermore, knockdown of Lnc90386 significantly inhibited apoptosis and inflammatory factors, and promoted DF-1 cells proliferation. However, co-treatment with miR-33-5p inhibitor and Lnc90386 siRNA showed that knockdown of Lnc90386 could partially eliminate the inhibiting effect of miR-33-5p inhibitor on inflammation, cell apoptosis and proliferation. In conclusion, Lnc90386 sponges miR-33-5p to defend against MG infection by inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway.

First Molecular Survey to Detect Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in Poultry Farms in a Strategic Production District of Sicily (South-Italy)

Simple Summary

Avian mycoplasmosis is caused by several pathogenic mycoplasmas of which Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) are the most important. These bacteria may cause both respiratory disease and synovial infections in poultry, resulting in severe economic losses. The aim of this work was to determine the occurrence of MG and MS among commercial and rural laying hens located in Ragusa province (South Italy), using a duplex real time PCR. Four hundred tracheal swabs were collected from seven commercial and 25 rural farms without any clinical disease history. The prevalence in the studied flocks was 28.6% (commercial) and 40% (rural) for MG, and 42.8% (commercial) and 44% (rural) for MS. The overall prevalence at animal level was 12.5% for MG and 23.25% for MS. Data obtained show a lower prevalence of MG than MS in the studied farms. Moreover, both pathogens were spread in rural and commercial farms underlining the importance of surveillance and control of these infections.

Abstract

Mycoplasmas are recognized as avian pathogens, which may cause both respiratory disease and synovial infections in poultry, resulting in severe economic losses. Our study aims to determine the occurrence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) among commercial and rural laying hens located in Ragusa province (South Italy), using a duplex real time PCR. Four hundred tracheal swabs were collected from seven commercial (200 swabs) and 25 rural (200 swabs) farms without any clinical disease history. Out of 400 swabs collected, 50 (12.5%) and 93 (23.25%) were positive for MG and MS, respectively. In particular, 9 (18%) and 22 (23.65%) positive swabs for MG and MS, respectively, originated from commercial farms, compared to 41 (82%) and 71 (76.34%) obtained from rural farms. Data obtained show a lower prevalence of MG than MS in the studied farms. Moreover, both pathogens were spread in rural and commercial farms. PCR could be concluded as a rapid and sensitive method for the identification of MG and MS in areas where commercial farms that are declared Mycoplasma-free and rural flocks coexist. These data highlight the importance of surveillance also in rural poultry to monitoring the occurrence of mycoplasmas strains in strategic productive districts.