Dual infection withMycoplasma synoviaeand a tenosynovitis‐inducing reovirus in chickens

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Abstract
One group of embryonated chicken eggs was inoculated with sterile Mycoplasma broth and another with a broth culture of M. synoviae. Each group was subdivided into two and the chicks were hatched in 4 isolation pens. At 1 day of age, 1 uninfected and 1 M. synoviae-infected group were inoculated with a reovirus known to cause tenosynovitis. Birds were closely observed, and some were killed for sampling as chicks (1-5 wk) and the remainder as adults (25-30 wk). Clinical signs related to both organisms were seen in the dual-infected chicks and were more pronounced than in either of the corresponding single infections. There were significant weight differences between the infected and control chicks, except in single M. synoviae infection, and the mean weight of the birds with mixed infection was less than those with either single infection. Gross and histological lesions were observed in the hocks and livers of chicks in each infected group although with a higher incidence and severity in the dual-infection. Microscopic lesions were seen in the hearts of some birds in all 3 groups. Leg lesions associated with the reovirus infection persisted to maturity and another observation in mature, virus-infected birds was impaired egg production and fertility. M. synoviae was re-isolated consistently from tracheas of single and dual-infected birds of all ages and reovirus from the tendons of inoculated birds for 4 wk. Antibodies to both agents persisted throughout the period of the experiment.