Isolation of mycoplasmas from pigeons suffering eye lesions and respiratory disease.

The article describes an outbreak of respiratory and eye disease affecting a large number of racing and show pigeons in Great Britain. Mycoplasmas cause a range of diseases in birds in particular sinusitis, respiratory disease and eye disorders. Ocular and cloacal swabs were taken from 20 affected birds and cultured for mycoplasmas using standard procedures in Eaton's medium containing glucose and arginine. The study provides a strong but not conclusive evidence that M. columborale was the causative or synergistic agent in the present outbreak.