INDIRECT IMMUNOPEROXIDASE ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF ANTIBODY IN CHICKEN MYCOPLASMA-INFECTIONS

The indirect immunoperoxidase assay (IIPA) was used to examine chicken sera, egg yolks, respiratory secretions and synovial fluids for antibodies to M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae. IIPA was more sensitive than rapid serum agglutination (RSA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) for detecting serum antibodies in chickens infected with M. gallisepticum. It was also more sensitive than culture. In chickens infected with M. synoviae there was very good correlation between IIPA and RSA and between IIPA and HI, but culture was a more sensitive means of detecting infection than any of these tests. IIPA of yolk or respiratory secretions appeared to be a suitable means of detecting M. gallisepticum infection but, again, culture was more sensitive for M. synoviae detection. IIPA detected antibodies in the synovial fluid of a few infected chickens but the technique needs further evaluation. It was not successful in detecting antibodies to certain of the nonpathogenic avian mycoplasmas.