@article{ley_geary_berkhoff_mclaren_levisohn_1998, title={Mycoplasma sturni from blue jays and northern mockingbirds with conjunctivitis in Florida}, volume={34}, ISSN={["0090-3558"]}, DOI={10.7589/0090-3558-34.2.403}, abstractNote={Northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) in a Florida (USA) wildlife care facility developed clinical signs and gross lesions suggestive of the ongoing outbreak of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) conjunctivitis in house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) and American gold-finches (Carduelis tristis). Mycoplasmal organisms were cultured from conjunctival/corneal swabs of birds with sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and/or epiphora. All of the isolates tested were identified as Mycoplasma sturni by indirect immunofluorescence. Mycoplasma sturni as well as MG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of songbirds with conjunctivitis.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES}, author={Ley, DH and Geary, SJ and Berkhoff, JE and McLaren, JM and Levisohn, S}, year={1998}, month={Apr}, pages={403–406} }
 @article{ley_mclaren_miles_barnes_miller_franz_1997, title={Transmissibility of live Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine strains ts-11 and 6/85 from vaccinated layer pullets to sentinel poultry}, volume={41}, ISSN={["0005-2086"]}, DOI={10.2307/1592459}, abstractNote={In separate trials, layer pullets were vaccinated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strain 6/85 or strain ts-11 commercially produced live vaccines. For a 15-wk postvaccination (PV) period, vaccinates were commingled with unvaccinated pullets and were in indirect contact with sentinel groups of pullets, broiler breeders, turkey breeders, or meat turkeys in adjoining pens. Infectivity and transmissibility of vaccine strains were determined by tracheal culture and serology at 1 wk followed by 3-wk intervals PV. Strain 6/85 was recovered from 0%-20% of vaccinates, but not from commingled pullets or sentinel birds. Strain ts-11 was recovered from 60%-90% of vaccinates and 0%-40% of commingled pullets but not from any of the sentinel birds. No birds in the 6/85 vaccine trial tested positive for MG antibodies by serology. MG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays detected positive responses in ts-11 vaccinates (range = 10%-70%) at 42, 63, 84, and 105 days PV, and commingled pullets (10%) at 84 and 105 days PV. MG serum plate agglutination tests detected positive responses in 90% and 20% of ts-11 vaccinates at 42 and 105 days PV, respectively, and commingled pullets (10%) at day 42 PV. Clinical signs, morbidity, or mortality suggestive of pathogenic MG infection were not observed in any bird during either trial, and no gross lesions were observed at necropsy. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis was capable of distinguishing each of the vaccinal strains 6/85 and ts-11 from each other by their distinct DNA banding patterns.}, number={1}, journal={AVIAN DISEASES}, author={Ley, DH and McLaren, JM and Miles, AM and Barnes, HJ and Miller, SH and Franz, G}, year={1997}, pages={187–194} }
 @article{mclaren_ley_berkhoff_avakian_1996, title={Antibody responses of chickens to inoculation with Mycoplasma gallisepticum membrane proteins in immunostimulating complexes}, volume={40}, ISSN={["0005-2086"]}, DOI={10.2307/1592303}, abstractNote={Membrane proteins of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strain R were extracted with the detergent Mega-10 and incorporated into immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs). A membrane protein of approximately 64 kD (p64) molecular weight was a major component of MG ISCOMs. Six-week-old specific-pathogen-free leghorn chickens were inoculated by various routes (subcutaneous; combined intranasal and eyedrop; and combined subcutaneous, intranasal, and eyedrop) with 10 micrograms MG proteins in ISCOMs, or inoculated subcutaneously with 10 micrograms MG proteins in Freund's adjuvant. Subcutaneous inoculation of MG ISCOMs, or MG Freund's adjuvant resulted in higher sero-positive rates (detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in serum and respiratory tract washings, compared to combined routes of MG ISCOM inoculation. In chickens inoculated subcutaneously with MG ISCOMs antibodies were first detected at 31 days postinoculation (PI) and the sero-positive rate peaked at 56 days PI. Sero-positive rates started to decline at day 64 PI. In the Freund's adjuvant group, MG antibodies were first detected at day 21 PI, and the sero-positive rate peaked at day 39 PI and did not decline. MG antibodies were detected by ELISA in upper respiratory tract and tracheal washes from chickens inoculated subcutaneously with MG ISCOMs and MG Freund's adjuvant. Immunoblots to MG strain R whole cell proteins showed that respiratory tract washings and sera from chickens inoculated subcutaneously with MG ISCOMs contained immunoglobulins to MG proteins, with a prominent reaction to p64.}, number={4}, journal={AVIAN DISEASES}, author={McLaren, JM and Ley, DH and Berkhoff, JE and Avakian, AP}, year={1996}, pages={813–822} }