Temperature-dependent survival of Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis in water: implications for biosecurity and transmission in waterfowl farming

TL;DR

This study shows how Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis survives in water at different temperatures, which could help prevent disease spread in waterfowl farming.

Contribution

This is the first study to compare environmental survival between two strains of an avian mycoplasma species.

Findings

Strain B of M. anserisalpingitidis survived longer in cold water than strain A.

M. anserisalpingitidis can persist in water for up to 28 days at low temperatures.

Water sources may act as environmental reservoirs for the pathogen, increasing transmission risks.

Abstract

Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis is an emerging waterfowl pathogen associated with reproductive tract infections, embryo mortality, and reduced egg production. While direct and vertical transmission routes have been described, its environmental persistence remains poorly understood. In waterfowl production systems, open water sources can be used for drinking and bathing, potentially facilitating indirect transmission. Prolonged survival in such environments may extend the period during which birds are exposed to the pathogen. Understanding the ability of M. anserisalpingitidis to survive outside the host, particularly under environmental stress, is essential for assessing transmission risks.

This study evaluated the survival of two M. anserisalpingitidis strains in water at environmental temperatures of 0 °C, 4 °C, and 22 °C. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare environmental survival between two strains of an avian mycoplasma species. Survival was found to be both temperature-dependent and strain-specific. Strain A remained viable for up to 12 days at 0 °C and 8 days at 4 °C, while strain B survived for the entire 28-day experiment at both temperatures. At 22 °C, strain A lost viability within 24 h, while strain B persisted for 3 days. qPCR analysis of DNA concentrations confirmed these survival patterns, indicating better recovery of strain B under low-temperature conditions.

These findings demonstrate the capacity of M. anserisalpingitidis to persist in cold water and highlight the potential role of water sources as environmental reservoirs contributing to indirect transmission in waterfowl farming. The results emphasize the importance of considering water systems as potential environmental reservoirs when designing biosecurity and disease control strategies.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-025-05005-2.

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