Viability Studies with Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Under Different Environmental Conditions

IT HAS been generally recognized that Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a pleuropneumonia-like organism (PPLO), is the primary cause of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in chickens and turkeys, although some other bacterial and viral agents may aid to precipitate or complicate the CRD complex (Van Roekel and Olesiuk, 1953; Gross, 1956; Van Roekel et al., 1957; Adler et al., 1958; Jungherr, 1958; Lancaster et al., 1960; Olesiuk and Van Roekel, 1960; Ose et al., 1960; Fabricant and Levine, 1962; Gross, 1962; Yoder and Hofstad, 1964; and Yoder, 1965). This disease is widespread and of economic significance wherever domestic poultry is being produced (Yoder, 1965). Considerable attention has been focused on the problem of eradication and control of this disease because of the significant losses it has inflicted upon the poultry industry (Anonymous, 1962). While much knowledge concerning the various aspects of this disease has been gained during the past decade, little or …