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PubMed2000

Risk factors for abattoir condemnation of turkey carcasses due to cyanosis in southern Ontario.

Cyanosis is a category of condemnation for poultry, as defined by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada. A retrospective study to examine the seasonal patterns and trends for turkey cyanosis condemnation was conducted for the years 1987 to 1995 with the use of condemnation records made available by a single abattoir in Ontario. Condemnation for cyanosis had a significant seasonal pattern, with major losses occurring in the colder months (October to March). A prospective longitudinal study was conducted during January to March and October to December 1996 in the same abattoir and the 75 turkey farms that contracted to process their birds through it and all the 913 truckloads of turkeys processed in these two 3-mo periods. The data from this prospective study were used for multivariate modeling of the effects of potential risk factors on the incidence of cyanosis. Risk factors (at P < or = 0.05) included bird type (broiler age turkeys, mature toms, and mature hens compared to toms and hens), ambient temperature (cold: -9.9 to 0.0 C and very cold: < or =-10.0 C compared to mild: >0.0 C), clean-out lot (the last shipped from a poultry house), shipping time > or =8 h, and emaciation (proportion of turkeys in the lot condemned for insufficient muscle mass). The crate density was a sparing factor, and an increase in turkey density during shipping resulted in a lower incidence of cyanosis. This study suggested that the number of turkeys condemned for cyanosis was associated with cold, shipping stress, and subclinical syndromes.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2000

The influence of transportation on turkey meat quality.

Previous research has indicated that antemortem stress factors can influence the development of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) meat in swine as well as in turkeys. Such antemortem factors can include environmental temperatures, relative humidity, preslaughter handling practices, and transportation. However, the effect of transportation on meat quality of turkeys has not been extensively studied. Eighty Nicholas male turkeys (21 wk of age) were divided into two groups and were either transported in coops on a flatbed trailer for 3 h immediately prior to processing or processed without transportation. Breast muscle samples were collected for pH (0, 2, 24 h), L* value (2, 24 h), drip loss, and cook loss. Additionally, breast fillets were marinated and cooked to determine marination uptake, retention, and cook loss. The breast muscles from transported turkeys had significantly higher muscle pH at 0, 2, and 24 h; significantly lower L* values at 2 and 24 h; significantly higher marination retention (i.e., lower drip loss after marination); and significantly lower cook loss in the marinated fillets compared with fillets of the nontransported turkeys. There were no significant differences in drip loss and cook loss of the nonmarinated fillets or the marination uptake percentage between the transported and nontransported turkeys. These results suggest that transporting turkeys immediately before processing does not induce PSE meat and may actually improve water-holding properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Expressed sequence tags for the chicken genome from a normalized, ten-day-old white leghorn whole embryo cDNA library. 2. Comparative DNA sequence analysis of guinea fowl, quail, and turkey genomes.

Accelerated efforts to develop a high-utility chicken genome map have resulted in the development of resources that may be useful for genetic analysis in other economically important poultry species. Here we describe a total of 26 comparative genomic DNA sequences (CGS) for the guinea fowl, Japanese quail, and domestic turkey developed using 10 primer pairs specific for 10 previously reported, unique, chicken expressed sequence tags (EST). The total length of CGS developed for each of the three species was 4,193, 4,597, and 6,057 bp in quail, turkey, and guinea fowl, respectively. About 70% of the CGS showed significant sequence similarity to reference database sequences, including the reference chicken EST and other avian and nonavian genes. A majority of the between-species comparisons of the CGS from all but two primer pairs were significant and ranged from 81 to 99%. The percentage similarity of the CGS appears to be a function of phylogenetic relatedness and was generally higher for comparisons between the chicken, quail, and turkey and lower between the guinea fowl and chicken, quail, or turkey. Maximum likelihood estimation of the phylogenetic relationships using CGS from two primer pairs also showed a closer relationship, as expected, among chicken, quail, and turkey than between guinea fowl and either chicken, quail, or turkey. Within the guinea fowl, quail, and turkey CGS developed, the total number of single nucleotide polymorphisms detected was 28, 17, and 14, respectively. Together, these resources represent tools that will facilitate genetic analysis of species that have been studied very little and our understanding of their genomes and genome evolution.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of early handling of turkey poults on later responses to a dexamethasone-Escherichia coli challenge. 1. Production values and physiological response.

The stress responses of mice and rats has been shown to be permanently altered by brief, gentle handling during the first 10 d of life, resulting in increased BW and resistance to stress-induced immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early handling of turkey poults could permanently affect production values and physiology of adult turkeys. Turkey poults were handled 0, 1 (1x), or 2 (2x) times daily for the first 10 d after hatch. Handling consisted of gently catching each poult and holding it for 10 s. On Day 11 after hatch, half of the birds from each handling treatment were treated with three injections of 2 mg dexamethasone (DEX)/kg BW on alternating days. On the day of the third DEX injection, duplicate pens of birds were also inoculated in the airsac with 0 or 50 cfu of Escherichia coli. The same birds were treated with a second series of DEX injections at 5 wk of age. Two weeks later, all birds were weighed, and 3 wk later four birds per pen were bled and 10 birds per pen were necropsied; relative organ weights were then determined. Surviving birds were treated with a third series of DEX injections at 10 wk of age; 2 wk later, all surviving turkeys were bled, weighed, and necropsied. Feed consumption was determined weekly. There were no differences due to handling treatment on the body weights or on the relative organ weights of birds that died after the first DEX treatment. Birds treated with a second DEX injection at 5 wk of age and handled 1x daily had decreased BW. Those handled 1x or 2x daily had higher feed conversion ratios. Surviving birds that were given a third DEX treatment had higher BW and no difference in feed conversion when handled 1x or 2x daily. Relative liver, heart, and spleen weights were affected by handling of DEX-E. coli-treated birds, as were serum chemistry values for calcium, iron, glucose, total protein, blood urea nitogen, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Handling also affected the numbers of white blood cells of DEX-treated birds. These results indicate that brief and gentle handling of turkey poults during the first 10 d after hatch has lasting effects on production values and physiology of adult turkeys and that these effects can be positive or negative. These results suggest a genetic divergence in the response to stress and its effect on production values and physiology of commercial turkey populations.

Air Sacs↗
PubMed2002

Off-odor volatiles and pink color development in precooked, irradiated turkey breast during frozen storage.

The effect of irradiation on color, lipid oxidation, and volatile production of precooked, irradiated turkey breast during frozen storage was studied. Turkey breast muscles were precooked, aerobically or vacuum-packaged, irradiated at 0, 2.5, or 5.0 kGy using a linear accelerator (electron beam), and then frozen-stored at -40 C. Lipid oxidation, volatiles, color values, gas production, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of meat were determined during 3-mo storage periods. Ionizing radiation produced characteristic off-odor volatiles (dimethyldisulfide and methylthioethane) and lipid oxidation products in precooked, frozen turkey breast. The production of volatiles was accelerated by the confounding effect of high irradiation dose, aerobic packaging, and increased storage time. Volatile production and color changes in irradiated, precooked turkey breast were induced by different mechanisms. Irradiation increased pink color in precooked, vacuum-packaged turkey breast, and the pink color was stable during frozen storage. Decreased ORP and increased CO in irradiated meat indicated that denatured CO-heme pigments could be responsible for the pink color in precooked, irradiated turkey breast. Vacuum packaging was better than aerobic packaging in preventing lipid oxidation and oxidation-dependent volatile production, but pink color in precooked, irradiated turkey breast during frozen storage was maintained.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The effect of hepatocyte growth factor on turkey satellite cell proliferation and differentiation.

The effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on turkey satellite cell proliferation and differentiation was examined in cell culture. Satellite cell clones were established from one muscle of an individual turkey. The results showed that HGF is a potent activator and mitogen of turkey satellite cells and embryonic myoblasts with maximal stimulation at 1 ng/mL. HGF is also an inhibitor of differentiation of turkey satellite cells. Heterogeneity in the responsiveness to HGF in the turkey satellite cell population was observed between clones selected for fast (Early) or slow (Late) rates of proliferation. However, two other Early clones exhibited responses similar to those of two other Late clones. When combined with insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF), singularly or in combination, HGF did not exert any additive or synergistic effects on Early or Late clone proliferation. Whereas when combined with IGF, FGF, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), HGF significantly stimulated proliferation of the Late clone but not the Early clone. Addition of anti-HGF antibody to culture media diminished proliferation and provided evidence of autocrine production of HGF by turkey satellite cell cultures. Heterogeneity also exists in the turkey satellite cell population with respect to autocrine production of HGF.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The role of dietary vitamin E in experimental Listeria monocytogenes infections in turkeys.

The current study was designed to determine if dietary vitamin E influenced either the gut clearance or levels of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in adult turkeys experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Turkeys were fed vitamin E (0, 100, or 200 IU) from day of hatch to time of necropsy. After 6 wk on the experimental diet, turkeys were orally inoculated with L. monocytogenes (approximately 10(9) cfu). To monitor infection status, cloacal swabs were taken on selected days post-inoculation (DPI). At necropsy, samples of viscera, including liver, spleen, cecum, duodenum, ileum, and colon were collected and cultured for L. monocytogenes. In experiments 1 and 2, recovery of L. monocytogenes from cloacal swabs, tissues, and intestines from turkeys fed vitamin E was generally lower than that from turkeys fed the control diet, although these differences were not statistically significant. When data from both trials were combined, L. monocytogenes was cultured less frequently from cloacal swabs of the vitamin E-treated group (200 IU) on 2 and 3 DPI, when compared to controls (0 IU, P < 0.01). There were no changes in virulence characteristics of L. monocytogenes cells, as measured by in vitro killing of Ped-2E9 cells, recovered from cloacal swabs or tissues of experimentally infected turkeys fed the control or a vitamin E treatment diet. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes were elevated at 6 and 8 DPI in infected turkeys given 200 IU vitamin E.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Double-packaging is effective in reducing lipid oxidation and off-odor volatiles of irradiated raw turkey meat.

The effects of double packaging on lipid oxidation, color, and volatile production were determined to establish a modified packaging method to improve quality changes in irradiated raw turkey meat. Sliced raw turkey breast and thigh meats were aerobically, vacuum- or double (vacuum and aerobic)-packaged, electron beam irradiated at 2.5 kGy, and then stored under refrigerated temperature. For the double-packaged samples, the outer vacuum bags were removed after 5, 7, or 9 d of refrigerated storage. 2-Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) values, volatile compounds, and color values of the samples were determined after 10 d of storage. Irradiation and aerobic packaging promoted production of aldehydes (propanal and hexanal) related to lipid oxidation in turkey breast and thigh meats. Vacuum-packaged irradiated samples retained S-volatile compounds (methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide), mainly responsible for the irradiation off-odor, during storage. Exposure of double-packaged irradiated turkey meats to aerobic conditions by removing outer vacuum bags a few days before the test was effective in controlling both lipid oxidation-dependent (aldehydes) and radiolytic off-odor (S-compounds) volatiles. The a* values of raw turkey breast and thigh meats increased by irradiation regardless of packaging conditions. The a* value of double-packaged meats was lower than that of the vacuum-packaged meats but was not significant. Thus, the use of double-packaging alone was not enough to reduce the pink color of irradiated raw turkey meat. When lipid oxidation and irradiation off-odor should be minimized without any additional additives, however, double packaging is an excellent method to be used for turkey meats.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Incidence of pectoralis major turkey muscles with light and dark color in a Portuguese slaughterhouse.

Turkey meat and processed products are very popular in Portugal. However, no studies have been made to assess turkey meat quality. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of turkey breast meat in a Portuguese slaughterhouse, differentiating it to obtain better industrial management, performance, and consumer contentment. Nine hundred and seventy-seven male turkeys (from 16 to 20 wk old) from different flocks (BUT 9 and BIG 6) were evaluated to assess meat quality. Turkeys were slaughtered on different days, electrically stunned (225 V/3 s), and scalded in a vertical water bath at 81 degrees C/5 min. On the slaughter line, the pH and temperature were measured on the pectoralis muscle 15 min postmortem. The carcasses were fast-cooled in a tunnel (-2 degrees C/2 m.s(-1)/90% RH) for 2 h and kept in a refrigeration chamber (0 degree C/85% RH) until deboning (approximately 24 h postmortem). Color and pH 24 h postmortem (pH(24)) were measured on the pectoralis major muscle after carcass deboning. Pectoralis major muscles were selected according to criteria used by Barbut (1996) and drip loss, cooking loss, and total pigments analysis were performed on 67 different sliced meat samples. Muscles classified by pH decline rate, called rapid glycolytic, did not present final quality characteristics that could relate them with pale, soft, and exudative- (PSE) like meat, because there was no relationship between pH 15 h postmortem and lightness (L*), drip loss, or cooking loss. The differences, founded on physicochemical characteristics within pectoralis major muscles, allowed us to establish a criteria of turkey meat quality for dark and PSE-like meat, with L* < or = 44 and pH(24) > or = 5.8 and L* > or = 50 and pH(24) < 5.8, respectively. Based on criteria, the studied population presented 8.1% of carcasses with PSE-like muscles and 12.1% with dark muscles. The association of pH(24) and L* as criteria classification can be useful to classify turkey meat quality.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2006

Effects of dietary functional ingredients and packaging methods on sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance of irradiated turkey breast meat.

Raw and cooked breast patties from turkeys fed 8 different diets [control; 200 IU/kg of vitamin E (VE); 0.3 mg/kg of Se; 2.5% conjugated linoleic acids (CLA); 200 IU/kg of VE + 0.3 mg/kg of Se; 200 IU/kg of VE + 2.5% CLA; 0.3 mg/kg of Se + 2.5% CLA; and 200 IU/kg of VE + 0.3 mg/kg of Se + 2.5% CLA] were treated with 2 irradiation doses (0 and 1.5 kGy) and 2 packaging methods (vacuum and aerobic). Raw and cooked samples from 32 treatments were tested by 8 trained sensory panelists for turkey aroma and irradiation off-aroma. Based on the sensory scores, the 3 dietary treatments producing the most and the least off-aroma were selected and used for a consumer acceptance study. Sensory results of raw meat showed that turkey aroma was intense in aerobically packaged meat, whereas irradiation off-aroma was intense with vacuum packaging. Raw meats from dietary treatments containing CLA (CLA, VE + CLA, Se + CLA, VE + Se + CLA) had greater turkey aroma scores, whereas those containing VE (VE and VE + Se) had lower scores than the control. Dietary treatments containing VE (VE, VE + Se, VE + Se + CLA) significantly lowered (P < 0.05) irradiation off-aroma in raw turkey breast meat, whereas CLA increased it, especially when the meats were packaged aerobically. In cooked meat, however, irradiation and packaging had no effect on turkey meat aroma and irradiation off-aroma. Cooked meat from turkeys supplemented with VE (VE and VE + Se) had less (P < 0.05) irradiation off-odor than other dietary treatments. Dietary CLA increased the irradiation off-aroma in cooked meat, which could not be reduced, even when VE and Se were combined in the diet. Irradiation off-aroma of raw meat was not pleasant for most consumers, and dietary supplementation of VE and VE + Se improved consumer acceptance of irradiated raw meat. For cooked meat samples, consumers preferred both color and flavor of irradiated meat to nonirradiated meat.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of active immunization with inhibin alpha subunit on reproductive characteristics of turkey hens.

The hypothesis for the present study is that the active immunization of female turkeys with inhibin (INH) would neutralize endogenous INH, and increase levels of circulating follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the number of preovulatory follicles, and subsequently enhance egg production. Two experiments were conducted with female turkeys in their first (30 wk of age) and second (62 wk of age) laying cycles. Treatment groups included control turkeys immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanine (KLH) and experimental turkeys immunized with recombinant turkey inhibin alpha conjugated to KLH (rtINH), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) conjugated to KLH or rtINH+VIP. Egg production increased (P < 0.05) in VIP and rtINH+VIP immunized birds, but not in rtINH immunized hens in comparison with a control group. A similar number of ovarian follicles, arranged in the follicular hierarchy of laying hens, was observed in all experimental groups. However, there was a larger number of nongraded yellow follicles in rtINH-immunized (62.5%) and rtINH+VIP-immunized (73.5%) groups compared with that of controls, suggesting overstimulation by FSH. Anterior pituitary FSH beta subunit, LH beta subunit, and prolactin (PRL) mRNA contents were determined by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in laying hens at the end of the experimental period. Hens immunized with rtINH showed increased FSH beta subunit mRNA content, but no change in the content of LH beta subunit or PRL mRNA. Hens immunized with VIP or rtINH+VIP had significant increases in both pituitary LH beta subunit and FSH beta subunit mRNA contents, accompanied by a decline in PRL mRNA abundance. The magnitude of the increase in FSH beta subunit to INH immunoneutralization was greater in first-cycle hens than in second-cycle hens. These data suggest that active immunization of female turkeys with INH neutralizes endogenous INH and increases both circulating FSH and the number of preovulatory follicles. However, no significant increase in egg production was observed in INH-immunized hens. The data confirm previous reports that VIP immunoneutralization increases egg production in turkey hens and shows for the first time that it also increases FSH beta subunit and LH beta subunit gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of conditioned media from chicken and turkey intestinal cell cultures on invasion by sporozoites of three species of avian coccidia.

The effect of conditioned media from cultures of turkey and chicken intestinal cells on cellular invasion by sporozoites of avian Eimeria species was examined in vitro. Media conditioned by the growth of cells from the ceca, mid-intestine (area of the yolk stalk diverticulum), and duodenal loop were examined for their ability to enhance invasion. Conditioned medium from cultures of turkey cecal cells significantly enhanced invasion by the turkey coccidia Eimeria adenoeides, by 2.4-fold, and E. meleagrimitis, by 2.2-fold, as compared with invasion in the presence of control medium. Conditioned medium from mid-intestinal cell cultures enhanced invasion by the two coccidial species by 2.0- and 2.1-fold, respectively. The enhancement occurred with conditioned media from early (1) as well as later (11) passages of cells. This suggests that the enhancing factor was produced by fibroblast-like cells, the predominant cell type at both early and late passages, and not by epithelial-like cells that had disappeared by the first or second passage. Additionally, conditioned media from cultures of chicken cecal and duodenal loop cells significantly enhanced invasion by the turkey cecal coccidium, E. adenoeides, (1.7- and 1.6-fold, respectively). This was less enhancement than was caused by the turkey cell conditioned media. Heat treatment (56 degrees C for 45 min) of conditioned media failed to alter the effect on invasion. Neither the turkey or chicken cecal cell media nor conditioned media from any other chicken intestinal cell cultures enhanced invasion by E. tenella, the chicken cecal coccidium. Although morphologically dissimilar when they were first plated, the gross appearance and growth of the turkey and chicken cells when conditioned media was collected was comparable.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Age-related infections with rotavirus, rotaviruslike virus, and atypical rotavirus in turkey flocks.

The genome electropherotyping technique was used in longitudinal surveys to detect group A rotavirus, rotaviruslike virus (RVLV), atypical rotavirus (ATR), and reovirus in intestinal contents or fecal specimens collected from turkeys in 10 commercial and 2 research station flocks. These viruses were detected in turkeys from 8 to 10 commercial flocks surveyed. Of 278 specimens collected from turkeys less then 29 days old in commercial flocks, 79 (28.4%) contained one or more viruses, whereas only 1 of 120 specimens collected from turkeys older than 28 days had virus. Viruses were detected in commercial turkeys between 3 and 35 days old, and over a third of the specimens collected from birds during their first week of life were positive for group A rotavirus. Between 8 and 28 days of age, commercial turkeys were infected with group A rotavirus, RVLV, ATR, and reovirus. ATR was the only virus detected in birds older than 28 days. Overall, group A rotavirus and RVLV were each detected in 39 specimens, and ATR was detected in 7 specimens; reovirus was detected in 2 specimens. Eight of the positive specimens contained two viruses. All 102 specimens collected from turkeys 1 to 56 days old in the two research station flocks were negative for virus.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

A comparative genetic map of the turkey genome.

Genetic markers (microsatellites and SNPs) were used to create and compare maps of the turkey and chicken genomes. A physical map of the chicken genome was built by comparing sequences of turkey markers with the chicken whole-genome sequence by BLAST analysis. A genetic linkage map of the turkey genome (Meleagris gallopavo) was developed by segregation analysis of genetic markers within the University of Minnesota/Nicholas Turkey Breeding Farms (UMN/NTBF) resource population. This linkage map of the turkey genome includes 314 loci arranged into 29 linkage groups. An additional 40 markers are tentatively placed within linkage groups based on two-point LOD scores and 16 markers remain unlinked. Total map distance contained within linkage groups is 2,011 cM with the longest linkage group (47 loci) measuring 413.3 cM. Average marker interval over the 29 linkage groups was 6.4 cM. All but one turkey linkage group could be aligned with the physical map of the chicken genome. The present genetic map of the turkey provides a comparative framework for future genomic studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Respiratory and pericardial lesions in turkeys infected with avian or mammalian strains of Chlamydia psittaci.

Three groups of turkeys were inoculated with strains of C. psittaci (B577, VS1, TT3) from different restriction endonuclease groups. Turkeys were necropsied at 15 times through post-inoculation day 70. Birds infected with the TT3 strain were lethargic and had decreased body weight. After forced exercise, dyspnea was seen in VS1-infected turkeys. Pericarditis was the most severe lesion in TT3-infected birds. Airsacculitis and bronchopneumonia were the most severe lesions in VS1-infected turkeys. Lateral nasal adenitis was in both VS1- and TT3-infected birds. Only mild peribronchial pneumonia was in B577-infected turkeys. Chlamydial antigen, identified by light microscopy using an immunoperoxidase technique, was seen from post-inoculation days 9 through 50 in the lateral nasal gland and at earlier times in other tissue from VS1- and TT3-infected turkeys. No chlamydial antigen was detected in tissue from B577-infected birds. These studies showed that chlamydial strains from different restriction endonuclease groups are associated with distinct disease syndromes in turkeys.

Air Sacs↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Marek's disease in turkeys. I. A seven-year survey of commercial flocks and experimental infection using two field isolates.

Marek's disease virus (MDV) causes immunosuppression and tumors in chickens, but the turkey is an unusual host for the virus, and tumors caused by MDV in turkeys are unique. We describe the prevalence of turkey tumors in Israel between 1993 and 2000, their molecular diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the natural distribution of herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT). Most clinical cases with tumors in commercial turkeys were diagnosed as MDV. The reproduction of Marek's disease (MD) in turkeys by two turkey MDV strains, Ar and La, was analyzed, and it was shown that these strains can induce tumors in experimental trials. The severity of experimental disease differed from those features of the original outbreak, since a less severe disease was recorded.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Experimental inoculation of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) with Mycobacterium bovis.

Although avian species are known to be susceptible to infection with Mycobacterium spp. organisms, much remains unknown about the susceptibility of birds to infection with M. bovis. The objective of this current study was to determine if wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) can be infected with M. bovis when inoculated by the oral or intratracheal route. Six turkeys were orally inoculated and another six were inoculated via the trachea with a high dose of M. bovis, 1 x 10(5) CFU/ml. Six turkeys were sham-inoculated controls. Two turkeys from each treatment group were sacrificed on days 30, 60, and 90 postinoculation. There were no gross or microscopic lesions consistent with mycobacteriosis in the 23 inoculated turkeys over the 90-day duration of this study. Fecal cultures were also consistently negative for M. bovis when sampled before inoculation and on days 1, 30, and 60 postinoculation. Two intratracheally inoculated turkeys were positive for M. bovis in visceral tissues at 30 days postinoculation. However, this finding was only indicative of passive persistence of mycobacteria in the tissues and not of infection, as there were no attendant lesions or clinical compromise to support infection. Thus, it can be concluded that young wild turkeys are resistant to infection with M. bovis and, therefore, pose minimal threat as reservoir or spillover hosts for this organism.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The incidences of leg and foot abnormalities in Wrolstad White turkeys.

The leg and foot abnormalities of a flock of 911 Wrolstad White turkeys were described and were analyzed statistically to determine the relationship of the incidences of leg and foot abnormalities to sex and body weight of the turkeys. Body weight and a visual observation of the condition of legs and feet of each turkey were recorded at the age of nearly 12 weeks. The sex of each turkey had been recorded at one day of age. Based on chi-square contingency tables, the incidence of the leg and foot abnormalities was related to sex. The male turkeys were far more likely to experience leg and foot abnormalities than were the females. The incidence rate of severe leg and foot abnormalities was 16.1% for the males and 4.8% for females. The incidence of leg and foot abnormalities was not related to weight per se. The light turkeys of either sex were just as likely as the heavy turkeys of the same sex to have leg and foot abnormalities.

Animals↗