M. synoviae causes infectious synovitis, airsacculitis and eggshell apex abnormality in chickens
and turkeys, which eventually result in significant economic losses. The ts+ MS-H vaccine
strain is used worldwide in order to reduce economic losses and to eliminate wild-type M. synoviae strains from poultry farms. The ability to differentiate the vaccine strain from wild-type
isolates is essential for the evaluation of the effect of vaccination and eradication programs.