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Effect of dietary sodium fluoride on growth and bone development in growing turkeys.

Large White male turkeys were fed rations containing 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 ppm added fluoride (F) from sodium fluoride in a corn-soybean assay diet containing tricalcium phosphate and 3 to 5 ppm F. The 800 ppm treatment was discontinued at 8 weeks because of low weight gains and a high incidence of leg disorders. Turkeys receiving defluorinated phosphate (32% calcium, 18% phosphorus) had significantly higher 4-week body weights than turkeys receiving tricalcium phosphate. Turkeys fed 0, 400, and 800 ppm F had significantly lower body weights at 8 weeks than turkeys fed 50 ppm F. A similar weight pattern was seen at 18 weeks, although the differences were not statistically significant. Based on growth response in this study, a requirement of 20 ppm F is proposed. Increasing levels of dietary F resulted in large increases in tibia F. Removal of high dietary F in certain groups at 8 weeks resulted in growth recovery and reduction in tibia F by 18 weeks. Elevated plasma alkaline phosphatase activity was observed with added dietary F of 400 and 800 ppm. At 4 weeks, tibiae from turkeys receiving high F had a trend (not statistically significant) toward lower percentage ash and a significantly lower breaking strength than controls. Compared to controls, tibiotarsi from turkeys on high F rations were significantly shorter, had thinner cortices, and had a narrower proliferative zone of proximal growth plates. A high incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia was observed, but it was not correlated with dietary treatment.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Early protein undernutrition and subsequent realimentation in turkeys. 1. Effect of performance and body composition.

Male and female Large White Nicholas turkeys were fed corn and soybean meal diets for 24 and 20 wk, respectively. Control and low protein (75% of control in protein and 66% of control in lysine and methionine) diets were fed during 0 to 6 wk of age. Thereafter, both groups received the control diet. Body composition of turkeys was determined at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 (males), and at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20 (females) wk of age. Compared with controls, undernourished turkeys had depressed body weight gain, lower feed intake, poorer feed efficiency, reduced carcass protein, increased carcass fat, and better efficiency of protein retention at 6 wk of age. During realimentation (after 6 wk of age), undernourished turkeys increased average daily feed consumption to that of controls and showed increased weight gains. By 24 and 20 wk of age, weights of undernourished male and female turkeys were no longer different from the weights of their respective controls. Feed efficiency of undernourished turkeys was better than that of controls during realimentation. Differences in body composition of undernourished and control turkeys were no longer evident after realimentation.

Animals↗

Effect of peptide histidine isoleucine on in vitro and in vivo prolactin secretion in the turkey.

Studies were conducted both in vitro, using monolayer cultures of turkey pituitary cells, and in vivo, using ovariectomized turkey hens, steroid-primed ovariectomized hens, and immature toms to compared the effectiveness of peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) with that of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in stimulating prolactin (PRL) secretion. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, a putative PRL-releasing factor (PRF) in the turkey, was approximately 1000-fold more effective than PHI in stimulating PRL secretion in vitro. Prolactin secretion was significantly enhanced by the exposure of pituitary cells to 10(-7) M PHI and a similar stimulation was observed with 10(-10) M VIP. Injection of cannulated, unrestrained turkeys with PHI at doses up to 100 micrograms per kg of BW caused no significant change in circulating PRL concentrations, but injection of 10 micrograms of VIP per kg resulted in a 7 to 22-fold increase in plasma PRL concentration within 10 to 30 min following injection. These results demonstrate a marked difference between the turkey and the rat in their response to a PRL-stimulating neuropeptide. In contrast to what was observed in the turkey, PHI is a strong PRF in the rat, with a potency equal to or greater than that of VIP. Earlier studies have shown that thyrotropin-releasing hormone, another strong PRF in mammals, has little consistent PRF activity in the turkey. Thus, the present studies add additional evidence of major differences between mammals and birds in the control of PRL secretion by hypothalamic neuropeptides.

Animals↗

The turkey major histocompatibility complex: identification of class II genotypes by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid.

Using a chicken Class II MHC clone in Northern blot analysis, tissue-specific expression of turkey Class II MHC genes was observed in the embryonic bursa of Fabricius as well as in the adult spleen. In contrast, there was no detectable expression in the embryonic liver, brain, or spleen. Southern blot analysis of BamHI-digested turkey DNA revealed two restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns that did not deviate significantly from single-gene Mendelian inheritance. Further analysis of PvuII-digested DNA from 325 turkeys showed four distinct RFLP patterns that segregated within the turkey lines studied. Because the chicken Class II MHC clone hybridized specifically to mRNA in immune-associated tissues, and because it identified polymorphisms among turkeys, the chicken clone is suggested to identify four turkey Class II MHC genotypes. The current study provides good evidence that RFLP analysis of DNA can be used as a means for molecular genotyping at the MHC in turkeys.

Animals↗

Immunocytochemical localization of some turkey pituitary hormones using antisera to human hormones.

This study was conducted to determine the crossreactivity of antisera to human prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and growth hormone (GH) to turkey pituicytes. In addition, crossreactivities of the above antisera and antiserum to turkey GH to pituicytes of turkey, cat, rabbit, horse, owl monkey, and human were evaluated. Results of the immunocytochemical localizations showed that with one exception antisera to human hormones were positive for each species tested. Turkey pituicytes failed to crossreact with antiserum to human GH. Likewise, antiserum to turkey GH failed to crossreact with owl monkey and human pituicytes. It is suggested that commercially available antisera to human PRL and ACTH but not GH can be used for the immunocytochemical localization of turkey pituicytes producing PRL and ACTH. These observations also suggest that the molecular structure of PRL and ACTH is conserved within the species examined. Likewise, the molecular structure of GH is conserved between the species examined with the exception of that of the primates, which appears to differ from that of the turkey.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Effects of glucagon infusion, alone or in combination with somatostatin, on plasma growth hormone and metabolite levels in young female turkeys under different feeding regimens.

The lipolytic effect of glucagon alone or in combination with somatostatin-14 (SRIF-14) was studied in 9- to 11-wk-old female turkeys that either consumed feed ad libitum or were deprived of feed (FD) for 20 h. During the infusion of various doses of glucagon (.005 to 1.5 micrograms glucagon/min), blood samples were serially collected every 10 min for determination of plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and energy-related metabolites [nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, and triacylglycerol (TG)]. Glucagon infusion resulted in decreases (P < .05) in plasma GH in both groups of turkeys. During glucagon infusion, dose-dependent increases in both glucose and NEFA occurred, with greater relative increases in the ad libitum turkeys. In contrast, plasma TG was decreased by glucagon infusion in the ad libitum turkeys but unchanged in the FD turkeys. The effect of simultaneous infusion of SRIF-14 and glucagon on GH and NEFA concentrations varied depending on the previous hormonal treatment. Plasma glucose was not affected by SRIF-14 in either group of turkeys. The present studies show that: 1) glucagon is an important agent for directing carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in growing female turkeys; 2) SRIF-14 has little effect on carbohydrate metabolism, but does affect lipolysis in a complex manner with glucagon; and 3) in vivo, glucagon depresses plasma GH.

Animals↗

Effects of early immune stress and changes in dietary metabolizable energy on the development of newly hatched turkeys. 1. Growth and nutrient utilization.

Two experiments were conducted to document the effects of an early immunologic stress and changes in dietary ME(n) on growth and nutrient utilization of newly hatched turkeys. Treatments in both experiments consisted of a complete factorial arrangement of two types of injection and four isonitrogenous diets. Turkeys were injected i.p. with saline (SAL) or a solution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 micrograms LPS/mL SAL) at 1, 3, and 5 d of age. In Experiment 1, two diets were formulated to contain 2,800 kcal ME(n)/kg. One was a corn-soybean meal-based diet (CSBM) and the other contained 8% Solkafloc (SKF). A third diet (3,100 kcal ME(n)/kg) was formulated by substituting 8% sucrose (SUC) for the 8% SKF. The fourth diet included in Experiment 1 was formulated to contain 3,700 kcal ME(n)/kg. The CSBM and SUC diets were also included in Experiment 2. Two additional diets tested in Experiment 2 were the CSBM diet containing 74.5 mg ibuprofen/kg (IBU) and a corn-soybean meal-based diet with a ME(n) value of 3,100 kcal/kg (CS31). Injection with LPS reduced (P < .05) BW of turkeys throughout Experiment 1 and until 9 d of age in Experiment 2, as compared with injection with SAL, irrespective of dietary treatment. The reduction in BW was mainly due to a decrease in feed intake (FI) (P < .05). Turkeys fed diets with 3,100 kcal ME(n)/kg were heavier (P < .05) than those fed diets with 2,800 kcal ME(n)/kg, irrespective of injection. Inclusion of ibuprofen to the CSBM diet from 1 to 14 d improved (P < .05) BW and feed efficiency (P < .01) of turkeys at 14 d of age, compared with turkeys fed the CSBM diet. Determined ME(n) was not affected by LPS injection. Adverse effects of LPS injection on growth of turkey poults were mainly the consequence of a reduced FI and not of altered nutrient utilization. These effects were not fully alleviated by feeding a diet with 3,100 kcal ME(n)/kg.

Animal Feed↗

Frequencies and genetic diversity of major histocompatibility complex class II haplotypes in commercial turkey lines.

The purpose of the present study was to estimate frequencies and diversity of MHC haplotypes in primary breeding lines of commercial turkeys. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to assay MHC Class II haplotypes of blood samples from 11 primary breeding lines (comprised of both sire and dam lines) contributed by three major turkey breeding companies. Twenty-five blood samples obtained from wild turkeys were included for comparison. Seven haplotypes previously identified in experimental turkey lines were detected in the commercial lines. One haplotype, A, was predominant in all commercial lines with an average frequency of 76% and in the wild turkeys with a frequency of 46%. Diversity of MHC haplotypes was reduced in the commercial lines compared with the wild turkey. Seven commercial lines had no more than four haplotypes and loci in some lines were close to fixation. Haplotypic frequencies among sire and dam lines differed significantly, but genetic diversity was not different. Only Haplotype D was significantly more frequent in sire than in dam lines. The present data demonstrate that genetic diversity at MHC loci was low in commercial turkey lines.

Animal Husbandry↗

Serological monitoring of eastern wild turkeys for antibodies to Mycoplasma spp. and avian influenza viruses.

From 1981 through 1986, plasma or serum samples were obtained from 322 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from Georgia (n = 111), Kentucky (n = 21), Louisiana (n = 22), North Carolina (n = 118), Tennessee (n = 19), Missouri (n = 24) and Iowa (n = 7). These samples were tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and in most instances, M. synoviae (MS), M. meleagridis (MM), and avian influenza (AI) virus. All 322 turkeys were seronegative for MG by the rapid plate agglutination (RPA) test. All of a subsample (n = 147) also were negative (titer less than or equal to 1:40) for MG by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Five of 253 turkeys (2%) were seropositive (+4 reaction) for MS by the RPA test; however, HI tests for MS on these five turkeys were negative as were attempts to isolate MS from trachea and homogenized lung tissue. Three of 253 turkeys (1%) were seropositive (+1 to +3 reactions) for MM by the RPA test. None of 210 turkeys had antibodies to AI by the agar gel precipitation test. These data suggest that populations of native eastern wild turkeys are not important in the epizootiology of MG, MS, MM, or AI.

Animals↗

Presence and recovery of Ascaridia dissimilis ova on the external shell surface of turkey eggs.

Ascaridia dissimilis, a roundworm in turkeys, has been noted with increased frequency in commercial turkeys. Because infected turkeys can shed A. dissimilis ova in their feces, the potential exists for the external surface of turkey eggshells to be contaminated with A. dissimilis ova. The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of and recover A. dissimilis ova on the external surface of the turkey egg. In Experiment 1, turkey eggs were collected from naturally infected flocks, and eggs were processed by a sodium hydroxide procedure to recover any A. dissimilis ova on the external egg surface. In Experiment 2, the external surface of the turkey eggs was inoculated with 116 A. dissimilis ova/g feces, and eggshells were sampled every 3 days until 28 days of incubation to assess the recovery of A. dissimilis ova from the eggshell. In Experiment 1, of the 36 eggs examined from a flock naturally infected with A. dissimilis, one egg had an A. dissimilis ovum on its external eggshell surface. Experiment 2 demonstrated that A. dissimilis ova can be recovered from the external egg surface after a 28-day incubation period in the incubator. Ova recovery declined from an average of 62 A. dissimilis ova/turkey egg at day 2 of incubation to an average of 3 A. dissimilis ova/turkey egg at day 28 of incubation.

Animals↗

Gp-regulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in turkey and human erythrocytes exposed to fluoride ion: relationship to calcium influx.

Previous studies have demonstrated that although both mammalian and avian erythrocytes express an inducible inositol bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C, only the latter possess the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gp) that regulates this activity. In confirmation of previous reports, turkey erythrocyte plasma membranes responded to guanosine 5'-0-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP-gamma-S) and fluoroaluminates with hydrolysis of phosphoinositides, release of inositol phosphates, and generation of diacylglycerol, whereas human erythrocyte plasma membranes exhibited no such changes when incubated with known activators of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins. We next contrasted responses of intact turkey and human erythrocytes to fluoroaluminates to develop a model to investigate the cellular effects of Gp activation. When turkey erythrocytes were exposed to fluoroaluminates, cellular levels of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid rapidly increased as phosphoinositides were hydrolyzed. The alterations in the lipid composition of turkey erythrocytes effected by fluoroaluminates were remarkable; phosphatidic acid levels increased over 30-fold, whereas levels of polyphosphoinositides were decreased to less than 10% of those present before stimulation. In contrast, fluoroaluminates caused only minor alterations in the diacylglycerol and phospholipid content of intact human erythrocytes. To define the role of inositol-specific phospholipase C activation in the transmembrane conveyance of extracellular Ca++, we compared the influx of extracellular Ca++ in human and turkey erythrocytes exposed to fluoroaluminates. Fluoroaluminates initiated a sustained influx of extracellular 45Ca++ into turkey, but not human, erythrocytes. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that Gp activation results in an influx of calcium into stimulated cells. Moreover, the data demonstrate that comparison of responses of human and turkey erythrocytes to fluoroaluminates provides a well-defined method for investigating the mechanisms and consequences of Gp activation in intact cells.

Animals↗

Spontaneous ovarian adenocarcinoma in the domestic turkey breeder hen (Meleagris gallopavo): effects of photoperiod and melatonin.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of photoperiod or melatonin treatments on ovarian adenocarcinoma in turkey breeder hens (Meleagris gallopavo) was investigated to evaluate the usefulness of this animal as a model for studying ovarian cancer. METHODS: In Experiment 1, photoperiod effects were tested by exposing turkeys with ovarian tumors to 8 wks of short days (8:16LD) followed by a 12 wk period of long days (16:8LD). In Experiment 2, exogenous melatonin was administered to turkeys during long day-induced development of ovarian tumors. In both experiments, the stage of tumor growth was scored weekly on a scale of 0 to 4. RESULTS: It was clear that exposure to short days produced complete regression of tumors, with a mean time to score 0 of 4.4 wks. Following re-exposure to a long photoperiod, all of the same birds showed re-growth of the ovarian tumor with a mean time to first palpable detection of 5.4 wks. When melatonin was administered daily during the long photoperiod (Experiment 2), there was a significant delay in the re-growth of tumors. CONCLUSION: It was clear from this study that the growth of solid ovarian tumors in the turkey breeder hen was promoted by long photoperiods and ceased, to the point of remission, on short photoperiods. Thus, ovarian adenocarcinoma in turkeys can be completely manipulated by photoperiod. In addition, treatment with melatonin attenuates tumor growth in the turkey hen. The results suggest that the domestic turkey hen is a useful in vivo model for studying spontaneous ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Variation in the mortality rate of turkeys during transport to the slaughterhouse with travel distance and month.

Failure to comply with animal welfare requirements during the transport of turkeys to the slaughterhouse increases stress in animals, which is manifested by increased mortality rate during transport. The numbers of turkeys that died during transport or soon after arrival may serve as an important parameter to indicate the level of animal welfare during transport of turkeys. The number of turkeys that died during transport to slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic in the period from 1997 to 2004 was investigated. The mortality rate found was 0.28% +/- 0.06% but varied with travel distance. The lowest mortality rate was found in case of travel distance below 50 km (0.18% +/- 0.08%) while long travel distances resulted in considerable increase in the mortality rates of turkeys (between 0.28% +/- 0.07 and 0.37% +/- 0.10%). The mortality rate of transported turkeys was also affected by the particular month of the year. Thus, the highest overall mortality rate occurred at long travel distances during winter months, i.e. in December (0.34% +/- 0.18%), January (0.32% +/- 0.06%), and February (0.36% +/- 0.07%). The comparison of individual years has shown a long-term trend towards a decrease in turkeys' mortality during transportation to slaughterhouses from 0.32% in 1998 to 0.20% in 2004. The decrease was statistically significant (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r = -0.86, p < 0.01). This trend can be evaluated as positive.

Abattoirs↗

Experimental infection of turkeys with Mycoplasma gallisepticum of low virulence, transmissibility, and immunogenicity.

Three-week-old turkeys were inoculated intranasally with approximately 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) of putative variant Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strains M876, M35, or the virulent S6 reference strain. Uninoculated turkeys in each group served as contact sentinels. The hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine serologic responses. MG was isolated from 100% and 92% of S6- and M876-inoculated turkeys, respectively, on day 7 PI. However, culture-positive rates among M876-inoculated turkeys declined more rapidly, transmission to contact sentinels took longer and occurred at lower rates, and serologic responses measured by HI and ELISA were lower than in S6-infected turkeys. Testing sera from inoculated turkeys for antibodies to MG in homologous and heterologous ELISA systems indicated that strain M876 was significantly (P less than 0.05) less immunogenic than S6 (days 62 and 95 PI), and that the homologous ELISA was more sensitive (P less than 0.005). MG strain M35 failed to infect turkeys in three attempts, even though the inocula used were viable on culture media.

Animals↗

The pathogenesis of Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3,4 infection in turkeys: a comparison of two vaccine strains and a field isolate.

The pathogenesis of avian pasteurellosis caused by two vaccine strains, M-9 and Clemson University (CU), and a highly virulent field isolate, 86-1913, of Pasteurella multocida (serotype A:3,4) was studied in 7-week-old turkeys inoculated by an oculo-nasal-oral technique. Turkeys inoculated with strain CU and isolate 86-1913 developed severe progressive bacteremia that began at 4 hours postinoculation (PI) and peaked at 16-20 hours PI. Turkeys inoculated with strain CU and isolate 86-1913 had significantly higher concentrations of bacteria in blood and tissues, and greater histologic lesion scores for necrosis, heterophil infiltrates, and intralesional bacteria than turkeys inoculated with strain M-9. Immunohistochemical staining specific for P. multocida demonstrated numerous extracellular bacteria in tissues from turkeys inoculated with strain CU and isolate 86-1913. The mortality for turkeys inoculated with isolate 86-1913 was significantly higher than for turkeys receiving the two vaccine strains.

Animals↗

Pasteurella anatipestifer infections in California turkey flocks: circumstantial evidence of a mosquito vector.

Outbreaks of Pasteurella anatipestifer infections in California turkey flocks were investigated and found to have a seasonal distribution, with a peak incidence in fall, coinciding with peak Culex mosquito populations. An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that mosquitoes may serve as vectors for P. anatipestifer infections in turkeys. Four 7-week-old turkey poults were exposed for 7 days to mosquitoes captured from turkey barns during a field outbreak of P. anatipestifer serotype 1 infection. One turkey developed serum antibodies to serotype 1, detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, and was resistant to an intravenous inoculation of P. anatipestifer serotype 1 at 4 weeks postexposure. Giemsa-stained blood smears from this bird and from three 7-week-old turkeys inoculated intravenously with P. anatipestifer revealed the presence of rod-shaped bacteria in or on the surface of host erythrocytes. No such rod-shaped bodies were found on erythrocytes of an uninoculated control turkey.

Animals↗

A pathologic study of wild turkeys in Connecticut.

During the 1984 to 1986 spring hunting seasons in Connecticut, viscera from 300 hunter-killed wild turkeys and blood samples from live-trapped wild turkeys were examined in order to establish a health profile on the State's wild turkey population. Seven species of endoparasites were recovered from 224 (75%) of 300 birds: Metroliasthes lucida, Ascaridia dissimilis, Heterakis gallinarum, Syngamus trachea, Capillaria species, Trichomonas gallinarum, and Eimeria species. The most prevalent parasites were A. dissimilis (52%) and M. lucida (37%). Although some turkeys harbored high intensities of these two helminths, there were no associated gross or microscopic lesions nor body weight changes. The prevalence of S. trachea, H. gallinarum, Capillaria and Eimeria species, which are potential pathogenic parasites in domestic and wild turkeys, was very low (less than 3%). Blood samples from 19 live-trapped wild turkeys were negative for hemoprotozoa and antibodies to 15 common bacterial and viral agents. Serum samples from 82 birds were negative for Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae. The survey indicates that the wild turkey population of Connecticut presently has little evidence of common infectious diseases and minimal prevalence of potentially pathogenic parasites.

Animals↗

Histologic evaluation of lung and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in young turkeys infected with Bordetella avium.

One-day-old turkeys were inoculated intranasally with Bordetella avium. Noninoculated hatchmates were housed separately. At postinoculation weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, B avium-infected (BA+) and B avium-free (BA-) turkeys were necropsied; specimens of tracheas, intrapulmonary primary bronchi, and lung adjacent to primary bronchi were bacteriologically cultured. Lung tissue was collected for histologic examination. Lungs perfused with acetic acid were collected for evaluation to determine the size, number, and distribution of lymphoid nodules associated with primary bronchi. Bordetella avium was isolated from trachea and primary bronchi of all BA+ turkeys, but was never isolated from lung parenchyma. Acute purulent bronchitis was associated with colonization of the primary bronchi by B avium from postinoculation weeks 1 to 3. Macrophages and lymphocytes persisted in the peribronchial connective tissue for 5 weeks after inoculation. Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue consisted of discrete lymphoid nodules protruding into the lumens of primary bronchi. Lymphoid nodules, morphologically similar in BA+ and BA- turkeys, were composed of nonciliated, cuboidal epithelium covering a zone of loosely arranged lymphocytes and macrophages and a deeper, sharply demarcated lymphoid follicle. Compared with bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue of BA- turkeys, lymphoid nodules of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in BA+ turkeys were more numerous and widely distributed along primary bronchi. In both BA- and BA+ turkeys, the mean diameter of lymphoid nodules doubled between 1 and 5 weeks of age.

Animals↗