A COMPARISON OF COMMERCIAL MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM ANTIGENS IN THE RAPID SERUM AGGLUTINATION TEST J. T. FARAGHERS, B.V.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Ph.D., Dip. Bact., and T. J. HARDENII, B.Sc.,Ph.D. Steggles Pty. Ltd., Hawthorne Street, Beresfield, New South Wales, 2322 Il&OdUCtiOU
The rapid serum agglutination (RSA) test is the primary test for the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection of fowls and turkeys. Three commercial preparations of stained antigens for this test are available in New South Wales, but, because of Federal quarantine regulations, positive and negative control serums are available with 1 product only. To aid the choice of antigen for use in this laboratory, single batches of 3 available antigens were used to detect antibody responses to experimental infection with M. gallisepticum in fowls. Materiah and lMethOds Experimental Fowls Fertile eggs from a meat breeder flock were exposed to heat treatment to inactivate M . gallisepticum (Yoder 1970) before incubation. Chicks were reared in isolated conventional housing to 9 weeks of age. Inoculation of Fowls Ninety-two fowls were divided into 4 groups of 23 birds. Individual birds were identified by numbered leg bands. At 9 weeks of age the birds in group 1 were each inoculated with 0.5 ml of a 24-hour broth culture of M. gallisepticum into the infra-orbital sinus. Strain Z 2850 A2 (759) of M. gallisepticurn, also known as Strain 7 (Rosenfeld 1971, Grimes and RoFnfeld 1972), was obtained from Dr. W.T. K. Hall, Anlmal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Queensland. This group was mingled with group 2, which was not inoculated, on deep litter in an isolated fowl house. The birds in group 3 were vaccinated by intra-muscular injection at 12 and 17 weeks of age with 0.5 ml of a water-in41 emulsion of a formaldehyde-killed broth culture of Pasteurella multocida. This group was mingled with group 4, which was not vaccinated, on deep litter in a second isolated house. Culture Media for M. gallisepticum Selective solid and liquid mediums were similar to those of Cottew (1971), as amended by Gilchrist and Cottew (1974). Reagents Three commercially available stained M . gallisepticum agglutination antigens were purchased as follows: Antigen A*: strain X95 (Edward and Leach 1966). Antigen Bt and Antigen CZ: strain S6. §Present Address: National Biological Standards Laboratory, Private Bag No 7 Parkville Victoria 3052. \[Present Address': &hwl of )Applied
The rapid serum agglutination (RSA) test is the primary test for the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection of fowls and turkeys. Three commercial preparations of stained antigens for this test are available in New South Wales, but, because of Federal quarantine regulations, positive and negative control serums are available with 1 product only. To aid the choice of antigen for use in this laboratory, single batches of 3 available antigens were used to detect antibody responses to experimental infection with M. gallisepticum in fowls. Materiah and lMethOds Experimental Fowls Fertile eggs from a meat breeder flock were exposed to heat treatment to inactivate M . gallisepticum (Yoder 1970) before incubation. Chicks were reared in isolated conventional housing to 9 weeks of age. Inoculation of Fowls Ninety-two fowls were divided into 4 groups of 23 birds. Individual birds were identified by numbered leg bands. At 9 weeks of age the birds in group 1 were each inoculated with 0.5 ml of a 24-hour broth culture of M. gallisepticum into the infra-orbital sinus. Strain Z 2850 A2 (759) of M. gallisepticurn, also known as Strain 7 (Rosenfeld 1971, Grimes and RoFnfeld 1972), was obtained from Dr. W.T. K. Hall, Anlmal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Queensland. This group was mingled with group 2, which was not inoculated, on deep litter in an isolated fowl house. The birds in group 3 were vaccinated by intra-muscular injection at 12 and 17 weeks of age with 0.5 ml of a water-in41 emulsion of a formaldehyde-killed broth culture of Pasteurella multocida. This group was mingled with group 4, which was not vaccinated, on deep litter in a second isolated house. Culture Media for M. gallisepticum Selective solid and liquid mediums were similar to those of Cottew (1971), as amended by Gilchrist and Cottew (1974). Reagents Three commercially available stained M . gallisepticum agglutination antigens were purchased as follows: Antigen A*: strain X95 (Edward and Leach 1966). Antigen Bt and Antigen CZ: strain S6. §Present Address: National Biological Standards Laboratory, Private Bag No 7 Parkville Victoria 3052. \[Present Address': &hwl of )Applied
