Mycoplasma Sturni
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - Biological Product - Category B
SECTION I: Biological Product - Category B
Name: Mycoplasma sturni (M sturni)
Synonym or cross reference: None
Characteristics: Class: Mollicutes, Order I: Mycoplasmatales, Genus I: Mycoplasma
Mycoplasmas are small prokaryotes devoid of cell walls, bounded by a plasma membrane only.
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
Pathogenicity: Isolated from the conjunctiva of Sturnus vulgaris (European starling). M sturni has been associated with conjunctivitis in passerine species. No known public health risks associated with M sturni
Epidemiology: Limited information available (5 publications in Medline). M sturni is reported from North America and the United Kingdom.
Host range: Passerine birds. In Northern mocking bird (Mimus polyglottis), Blue jay(Cyanocitta cristata), and European starling M sturni has been associated with conjunctivitis. Has been isolated from other passerine birds without clinical signs.
Infectious dose: Unknown
Mode of transmission: Probably fomites or direct contact
Incubation period: No experimental data available
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
Reservoir: Passerine birds
Zoonosis: None
Vectors: None
SECTION IV –VIABILITY
Drug susceptibility: Unknown
Susceptibility to disinfectants: Based on M gallisepticum and other poultry mycoplasma species susceptible to common disinfectants
Physical inactivation: presumably inactivated by treatment at 56 C for 30 minutes
Survival outside the host: Stable in water for at 4 and 22 C for at least 24 hours and in PBS for 24 hours at 37 C (Based on M gallisepticum).
SECTION V- MEDICAL
NA, not infectious for humans.
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
Laboratory-acquired infections: Human laboratory infections have not been reported.
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
Containment requirements: biosafety level 2 is recommended in a virology laboratory where cell cultures are also used in order to prevent contamination of avian cell cultures
Protective clothing: Laboratory coat is recommended
Other precautions: None
SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION (based on M. gallisepticum)
Spills: cover with 1 % hypochlorite or 70% alcohol and clean up with paper towels. Disposal: add 1% hypochlorite to virus-infected cell suspension or autoclave.Storage: Lyofilized at 4 C for >7 years, at -30 C for at least 2 to 4 years
SECTION IX –MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
There is little or no direct information available for M. sturni. All information provided in sections IV to VIII are based on M gallisepticum ( see chapter 22 in Diseases of Poultry 11th edition 2003).
Date prepared: December 20, 2007
Prepared by: K.A. Schat, Professor of Avian Virology