HIGH PREVALENCE OF MYCOPLASMA AND EIMERIA SPECIES IN FREE-RANGING EASTERN WILD TURKEYS ( MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO SILVESTRIS) IN ONTARIO, CANADA.

摘要: Following extirpation from Ontario, Canada in the early 1900s, Eastern Wild Turkeys (EWTs; Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were successfully reintroduced to province 1984. Despite subsequent establishment of robust populations and biannual hunting seasons, data on circulation potential pathogens these birds are lacking. Similarly, interface between EWTs poultry is poorly understood includes possible bidirectional pathogen transmission via direct or indirect contact. Mycoplasma Eimeria spp. Galliformes, our objective was determine their prevalence distribution Ontario EWTs. During 2015 spring season (April May), oropharyngeal swabs 147 hunter-harvested five opportunistically collected southern cultured for The intestinal cloacal contents 107 an additional 24 biologistcollected analyzed using PCR fecal flotation. At least one isolated 98.7% (150/152) EWTs, with six species identified. gallopavonis identified most commonly 96.7% (147/152), followed by gallinaceum 23.7% (36/152). Potential (Mycoplasma meleagridis, iowae, synoviae) (3.3%) Coinfections up three detected 36.8% (56/152) Most tested positive oocysts (75.6%; 99/131). A subset samples (n=16) characterized PCR, which following species: meleagrimitis (93.8%), adenoeides (56.3%), meleagridis (12.5%). majority (93.8%) more than We showed that numerous, mostly nonpathogenic circulate across this helped establish baseline information comparison future surveillance monitoring.