Abstract

Mycoplasma synoviae is the second most important species of Mycoplasma affecting chickens globally. It causes considerable economic losses to the poultry industry in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to assess the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae in chickens from the major poultry industry in seven selected cities in Nigeria. The birds were categorized based on the purpose of keeping them into commercial and breeder broilers and layers. A total of 14,326 sera were examined within four years (2018-2021) using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the presence of antibodies to the Mycoplasma synoviae. The date of sample collection, age of bird, location, bird type, mean antibody titre and percentage positive for Mycoplasma synoviae antibodies were recorded. Kaduna has the highest seroprevalence rate with 54.4%, broiler breeder has 53.5%. The 30.1 to 40 weeks age group has the highest seropositive results with 13.5%, and highest seroprevalence was recorded in the year 2019 with 19.4%. This study demonstrated the presence of Mycoplasma synoviae in the study area in both commercial and breeder flocks of broilers and layer chickens, respectively, with broiler breeders across the states having the highest seroprevalence. This emphasises the importance of sero-monitoring in the poultry industry for early control of this endemic pathogen.

Key words: Brioler chicken, Layer chicken, Mycoplasma synoviae, Nigeria, Seroprevalence