Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Turkeys”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,297 records · Page 72Linked to original sources

Sensitivity of iodine deficiency indicators and iodine status in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency is a major health problem worldwide. Goiter prevalence and the median urinary iodine concentration in a population usually define endemic iodine deficiency. In addition to goiter prevalence and median urinary concentration, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine have been used as iodine deficiency indicators. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate endemic goiter prevalence in Western Anatolia, Turkey, and to evaluate the sensitivity of thyroglobulin and height percentile as iodine deficiency indicators. SUBJECTS: We examined 727 school-children (378 girls, 349 boys) in two cities (Bolu and Düzce) and six mountainous rural areas, in West Anatolia. Of the 727 children, 234 were from four urban schools, and 493 were from eight rural schools. METHODS: Clinical examination and ultrasonography were used to evaluate goiter prevalence. Iodine in spot urine, serum total thyroxine (T4), serum free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroglobulin (Tg) were measured. Iodine deficiency severity was classified based on thyroid volume measurements by ultrasonography and urinary iodine excretion. RESULTS: The degree of iodine deficiency according to concentration of urinary iodine was severe in 276 children (38%), moderate in 151 (20.8%), mild in 114 (15.7%), and within normal levels in 186 (25.4%). Although urban areas showed normal or mild urinary iodine excretion, four rural areas showed from mild to severe iodine deficiency (p < 0.001). Thyroid volumes of the severe iodine deficiency group were significantly higher than those of moderate and mild iodine deficiency groups (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between thyroid volumes in moderate and mild iodine deficiency groups. FT4 levels of the severe iodine deficiency group were significantly lower than in moderate and mild iodine deficiency groups (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between TSH and iodine excretion (r = 0.01, p > 0.05). Thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were significantly different between all groups (p < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between Tg and urinary iodine excretion (r = -0.27, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Severe and moderate iodine deficiency areas are more prevalent in Turkey than mild and normal iodine concentration areas. In addition to urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume, height percentile and Tg are also sensitive markers for endemic iodine deficiency. TSH screening should be performed nationwide in Turkey. We recommend compulsory iodination of table and industrial salt.

Biomarkers↗

Fertilizing capacity and ultrastructure of fowl and turkey spermatozoa before and after freezing.

The fertilizing capacity, motility and ultrastructure of fowl and turkey spermatozoa were examined at various stages of the freezing process. For both species, fertility and motility were depressed after equilibration with dimethyl-sulphoxide at 5 degrees C. After freezing, motility was maintained at 55% for fowl spermatozoa and 40% for turkey spermatozoa; however, fertility was 55% for the fowl and 0% for the turkey. Qualitatively, the damage to the spermatozoa of both species was nearly identical, as revealed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The plasmalemma was the primary site of damage. 'Bent' spermatozoa, coiled tails and swollen mitochondria were also present. Damage to the acrosome was only observed in spermatozoa which had been frozen to -180 degrees or -196 degrees C. These changes were attributed to adverse osmotic conditions. Binding of cationic ferritin to the plasmalemma of spermatozoa from both species remained unaltered.

Animals↗

Fertilizing capacity and morphology of fowl and turkey spermatozoa in hypotonic extender.

The effects of graduated increments of hypotonic Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE) on fowl and turkey sperm morphologay, motility, percentage dead and fertility were examined. The morphology of fowl and turkey spermatozoa was adversely affected by decreases in BPSE osmolarity; a reduction of osmolarity of BPSE to below 200 and 140 mosmol adversely affected the fertility of fowl and turkey spermatozoa, respectively. addition of Ficoll to the extender allowed direct observation of the effects of hypotonic BPSE on the sperm plasmalemma. Plasmalemmal swelling, due to the uptake of water, was noted initially at the midpiece. Such plasmalemmal swelling may predipose spermatozoa to further osmotic-induced damage.

Animals↗

Metabolism of fowl and turkey spermatozoa at low temperatures.

The rate at which fowl and turkey spermatozoa consumed energy (as ATP) in a glutamate-based medium without glucose decreased with temperature by 75-80% over the range 40 to 5 degrees C. The rate of oxygen utilization of these spermatozoa, as a monitor of their rate of energy production, also decreased by 75-80% over the same range of temperature, although sperm ATP levels remained constant. The rate of glycolysis of fowl spermatozoa decreased by a factor of 20 between 40 and 5 degrees C but remained capable of supporting optimal sperm ATP levels. Turkey sperm glycolysis proceeded extremely slowly and was not capable of supporting optimal ATP levels at any temperature investigated. Turkey, but not fowl spermatozoa, therefore require oxygen to maintain optimal energy levels at all temperatures between 5 and 40 degrees C.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Pulse and continuous oral norfloxacin treatment of experimentally induced Escherichia coli infection in broiler chicks and turkey poults.

Experimental colibacillosis was produced in 40 healthy, 7-day-old broiler chickens and turkeys by intratracheal injection of 1 x 10(8) CFU/chick and 1.23 x 10(9) CFU/poult bacteria of an O1:F11 strain of Escherichia coli, respectively. Two days before E. coli challenge all chicks were vaccinated with a live attenuated strain of infectious bronchitis virus (H-52). This model of infection--at least in chicken--proved to be useful for evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial medication, by recording mortality, body weight gain, pathological alterations and frequency of reisolation of E. coli. Using this model, the efficacy of two different dosing methods of norfloxacin (continuous and pulse dosing) was evaluated. The once-per-day pulse dosing of norfloxacin administered via the drinking water at 15 mg/kg body weight proved to be more efficacious than the continuous dosing method of 100 mg/L for 5 days in chickens, while there were no convincing differences between the two treatment regimens in turkeys. The results confirmed earlier observations on the pharmacokinetic properties of norfloxacin in chicks and turkeys (Laczay et al., 1998).

Administration, Oral↗

Detection of respiratory and enteric shedding of bovine coronaviruses in cattle in Northwestern Turkey.

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is an important cause of diarrhoea in calves, winter dysentery in adult cattle and respiratory tract disease in feedlot cattle. Serum, faecal and nasal swab samples were collected from a total of 96 cattle with clinical signs in 29 barns of 23 villages in Northwestern Turkey. The cattle were subdivided into 3 distinct age groups (0-30 days old, 4-12 months old and 2-7 years old). An indirect antigen-capture ELISA and an antibody-detection ELISA as well as geometric mean BCoV antibody titres were used to detect BoCV shed in the faeces and in the nasal secretions, respectively. Relationships between BCoV shedding and age group, seroconversion and clinical signs in cattle were also analysed. The rate of faecal shedding of BoCV was 37.1% (13/35) in 0-30 days old calves, 25.6% (10/39) in 4-12 months old feedlot cattle and 18.2% (4/22) in 2-7 years old cows. The overall rate of BCoV faecal shedding was 28.1% (27/96) in the cattle examined. Only one animal in the 4-12 months old age group was found to shed BoCV nasally. The analysis showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.0001) with respect to faecal shedding between the clinical signs and the age groups. BCoV antibody titre in 50% of all cattle was < or =100 as detected by ELISA while 27.1% of the cattle had high titres ranging between 1,600 and 25,600. The seroconversion rate was 7.3% (7/96) in animals shedding BoCV in the faeces and 42.7% (41/96) in cattle negative for faecal shedding as detected by ELISA, and 20.8% of cattle with no seroconversion shed BCoV in the faeces. There was no statistically significant association between seroconversion and nasal or faecal BCoV shedding. These findings confirm the presence of BCoV infections in Turkey. Further studies are needed to isolate BCoV strains in Turkey and to investigate their antigenic and genetic properties.

Age Factors↗

Comparison of pathological features of gastric carcinoma in Turkey and Germany.

Environmental factors play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis and in the morphological features of gastric carcinomas. The aim of our study was to examine whether gastric carcinoma cases from Turkey and Germany differ in their topographical localization and in their histopathological and immunophenotypic profiles. We studied 80 gastric carcinoma cases from Turkey and 80 cases from Germany. The tumors were classified according to the Lauren, Goseki, and Carneiro classifications. We also determined the immunophenotype of the tumors on the basis of their mucin (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6) and adhesion molecule (E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin) expression patterns. In the German series a proximal localization prevailed (p<0.02). In the Goseki classification, Grade I tumors were more frequent in the Turkish series, while Grade IV carcinomas (all of which stained positively for MUC5AC) were more common in the German series (p<0.24). The differences in adhesion molecule expression in the two groups were not significant. In conclusion, gastric carcinomas from Turkey and Germany differ in their topographical localization and the frequency of gland-forming versus signet-ring cell carcinomas. These differences may indicate that the factors thought to contribute to the development of gastric carcinoma, such as dietary habits and Helicobacter pylori infection, have different impact in the two countries.

Adult↗

Isolation of a reovirus from poult enteritis and mortality syndrome and its pathogenicity in turkey poults.

Poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS) is an acute, infectious intestinal disease of turkey poults, characterized by high mortality and 100% morbidity, that decimated the turkey industry in the mid-1990s. The etiology of PEMS is not completely understood. This report describes the testing of various filtrates of fecal material from control and PEMS-affected poults by oral inoculation into poults under experimental conditions, the subsequent isolation of a reovirus, ARV-CU98, from one of the PEMS fecal filtrates, and in vivo and in vitro studies conducted to determine the pathogenicity of ARV-CU98 in turkey poults. In order to identify a filtrate fraction of fecal material containing a putative etiologic agent, poults were challenged in two independent experiments with 220- and 100-nm filtrates of fecal material from PEMS-negative and PEMS-positive poults. The 100-nm filtrate was chosen for further evaluation because poults inoculated with this filtrate exhibited mortality and significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) body weight and relative bursa weight, three clinical signs associated with PEMS. These results were confirmed in a third experiment with 100-nm fecal filtrates from a separate batch of PEMS fecal material. In Experiment 3, body weight and relative bursa and thymus weights were significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) in poults inoculated with 100-nm filtrate of PEMS fecal material as compared with poults inoculated with 100-nm filtrate of control fecal material. Subsequently, a virus was isolated from the 100-nm PEMS fecal filtrate and propagated in liver cells. This virus was identified as a reovirus on the basis of cross-reaction with antisera against avian reovirus (FDO strain) as well as by electrophoretic analysis and was designated ARV-CU98. When inoculated orally into poults reared under controlled environmental conditions in isolators, ARV-CU98 was associated with a higher incidence of thymic hemorrhaging and gaseous intestines. In addition, relative bursa and liver weights were significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) in virus-inoculated poults as compared with controls. Virus was successfully reisolated from virus-challenged poults but not from control birds. Furthermore, viral antigen was detected by immunofluorescence in liver sections from virus-challenged poults at 3 and 6 days postinfection and virus was isolated from liver at 6 days postinfection, suggesting that ARV-CU98 replicates in the liver. In addition to a decrease in liver weight, there was a functional degeneration as indicated by altered plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in virus poults as compared with controls. Although this reovirus does not induce fulminating PEMS, our results demonstrated that ARV-CU98 does cause some of the clinical signs in PEMS, including intestinal alterations and significantly lower relative bursa and liver weights. ARV-CU98 may contribute directly to PEMS by affecting the intestine, bursa, and liver and may contribute indirectly by increasing susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens that facilitate development of clinical PEMS.

Animals↗

Isolation from turkey breeder hens of a reassortant H1N2 influenza virus with swine, human, and avian lineage genes.

Type A influenza viruses can infect a wide range of birds and mammals, but influenza in a particular species is usually considered to be species specific. However, infection of turkeys with swine H1N1 viruses has been documented on several occasions. This report documents the isolation of an H1N2 influenza virus from a turkey breeder flock with a sudden drop in egg production. Sequence analysis of the virus showed that it was a complex reassortant virus with a mix of swine-, human-, and avian-origin influenza genes. A swine influenza virus with a similar gene complement was recently reported from pigs in Indiana. Isolation and identification of the virus required the use of nonconventional diagnostic procedures. The virus was isolated in embryonated chicken eggs by the yolk sac route of inoculation rather than by the typical chorioallantoic sac route. Interpretation of hemagglutination-inhibition test results required the use of turkey rather than chicken red blood cells, and identification of the neuraminidase subtype required the use of alternative reference sera in the neuraminidase-inhibition test. This report provides additional evidence that influenza viruses can cross species and cause a disease outbreak, and diagnosticians must be aware that the variability of influenza viruses can complicate the isolation and characterization of new isolates.

Animals↗

Pathogenic and fecal Escherichia coil strains from turkeys in a commercial operation.

The biochemical phenotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of 105 clinical Escherichia coli isolates from flocks with colibacillosis in a turkey operation were compared with 1104 fecal E. coli isolates from 20 flocks in that operation. Clinical isolates and 194 fecal isolates with biochemical phenotypes or minimum inhibitory concentrations for gentamicin and sulfamethoxazole similar to clinical isolates were tested for somatic antigens and the potential virulence genes hylE, iss, tsh, and K1. The predominant biochemical phenotype of clinical isolates contained 21 isolates including 14 isolates belonging to serogroup 078 with barely detectable beta-D-glucuronidase activity. Thirty-five fecal isolates had biochemical phenotypes matching common phenotypes of clinical isolates. Sixty-six (63%) clinical isolates exhibited intermediate susceptibility or resistance to gentamicin and sulfamethoxazole compared with 265 (24%) fecal isolates (P < 0.001). Seventy-seven clinical isolates reacted with O-antisera, of which 51 (66%) belonged to the following serogroups: O1, O2, O8, O25, O78, O114, and O119. In comparison, 8 of 35 (23%) fecal isolates subtyped on the basis of biochemical phenotype belonged to these serogroups and four of 167 (2%) fecal isolates subtyped on the basis of their antimicrobial resistance patterns belonged to these serogroups. Iss, K1, and tsh genes were detected more often among clinical isolates than these fecal isolates (P < 0.05). In summary, a small subgroup of E. coli strains caused most colibacillosis infections in this operation. These strains existed at low concentration in normal fecal flora of healthy turkeys in intensively raised flocks. The data suggest that colibacillosis in turkey operations may be due to endogenous infections caused by specialized pathogens.

Animals↗

Pododermatitis in turkeys.

Severe pododermatitis is a common lesion in turkeys, unlike in broiler chickens. Both dietary factors (soybean meal, biotin, methionine) and poor litter conditions (wet litter) are documented etiologies of footpad lesions. In the United States and United Kingdom both farm managers and processors monitor lesions. The United Kingdom reports an average footpad relative score higher than that of the United States. In both countries, incidence in toms is higher than in hens. There is no significant difference by country. Data support no consistent association with other lesions (i.e., breast blisters or condemnations), breed, or performance parameters (i.e., weight gain or age). The litter type used in the United Kingdom is either straw or wood shavings, whereas in the United States producers predominantly use wood shavings. In the United Kingdom, diets are formulated with a higher protein, which affects the excreta and subsequent litter conditions. British United Turkey is the predominate breed in the United Kingdom. In the United States, three breeds, British United Turkey of America, hybrid, and Nicholas, are common. Recent research has demonstrated the association between biotin levels and pododermatitis. Factors associated with pododermatitis (such as production systems, wet litter, and stocking density) are discussed. There are some indications that increased stocking density is associated with pododermatitis lesions. Further research is needed to identify what management factors are associated with pododermatitis.

Animals↗

Seroprevalence of avian pneumovirus in Minnesota turkeys.

Avian pneumovirus (APV) causes respiratory tract infection in turkeys and was first seen in the United States in Colorado in late 1996. In early 1997, the disease was recognized in Minnesota and caused estimated losses of up to 15 million dollars per year. This virus has not been reported in the other turkey producing states. We here report the seroprevalence of APV in Minnesota from August 1998 to July 2002. The average rate of seroprevalence has been 36.3% (range = 14.2%-64.8%). A seasonal bias was observed, with peak incidences in the fall and spring. A higher rate of seropositivity was observed in counties with the highest concentration of turkeys.

Animals↗

Immunization of turkeys with a DNA vaccine expressing either the F or N gene of avian metapneumovirus.

In this study we compared protection by DNA vaccination with the F (pCMV-F) or N (pCMV-N) gene from avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) in turkeys. One-week-old turkey poults received two intramuscular injections 2 wk apart. Birds were challenged with a turkey-embryo-adapted aMPV at 5 wk of age. Birds vaccinated with pCMV-F had decreased clinical signs of disease as well as significantly reduced virus load in tracheal swabs compared with birds vaccinated with pCMV-N or unvaccinated control birds. Serum neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher in birds receiving pCMV-F compared with all other groups. These results indicate that DNA vaccination with the F, but not N, gene of aMPV can induce significant protection against aMPV infection.

Animals↗

Enteric helminths of juvenile and adult wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in eastern Kansas.

Viscera of 49 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) collected in the spring of 2001 and 23 wild turkeys collected in the fall and winter of 2001-02 from 12 counties in eastern Kansas were examined for enteric helminths. Four cestode species, two trematode species, one nematode species, and one acanthocephalan species were identified. Two cestode and two trematode species present in the spring sample also were present in the fall and winter sample. Parasite prevalence was similar to previous studies of enteric helminths of wild turkeys except for the low numbers of nematode species and individuals recovered in the present study.

Acanthocephala↗

Mycoplasma meleagridis-induced lesions in the tarsometatarsal joints of turkey embryos.

Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) has the ability to cause bone deformity in turkey poults. However, few pathological lesions have been described and no evidence of MM-induced damage to the bones has been shown. In this study, 17-day-old turkey embryos were inoculated with MM into the allantoic cavity. On the 27th day, eight of the 22 embryos presented with curved toes. Scanning electron microscopy of the tarsometatarsal joints showed fissures in the cartilage. Histological sections of the joints revealed only the infiltration of cells with eosinophilic granules. Immunohistochemical staining (IHS) showed the presence of MM in the aggregates of the bone marrow cells and the cells with eosinophilic granules. Some of these cells were harvested by laser capture microdissection (LCM), lysed, and used as template DNA. With a pair of MM-specific primers in a conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a gene product was amplified, and it comigrated with the MM DNA, which indicates that these captured cells contained MM DNA. Thus, this research shows that inoculation of MM into the turkey embryos produced joint lesions and caused cellular infiltration within the bones.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization of Mycoplasma gallisepticum isolates from turkeys.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum was isolated from several turkey flocks at different locations in the United States that were clinically affected with respiratory disease. Five of these isolates from four series of outbreaks had patterns similar to the 6/85 vaccine strain of M. gallisepticum by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using three different primer sets, whereas with a fourth primer set (OPA13 and OPA14), only two of the isolates were similar to 6/85. Results obtained by sequencing portions of the pvpA, gapA, and mgc2 genes and an uncharacterized surface lipoprotein gene indicated that the field isolates had DNA sequences that ranged from 97.6% to 100%, similar to the 6/85 results. In some of the outbreaks there was an indirect association with the presence of commercial layers in the area that had been vaccinated with this vaccine strain, but there was no known close association with vaccinated birds in any of the outbreaks. Turkeys were challenged with two of the field isolates and with 6/85 vaccine strain. Turkeys challenged with the field isolates developed respiratory disease with airsacculitis and a typical M. gallisepticum antibody response, whereas birds challenged with 6/85 developed no respiratory signs or lesions and developed only a weak antibody response. Although these isolates were very similar to the 6/85 vaccine strain, it was not possible to prove that they originated from the vaccine strain-it is possible that they could be naturally occurring field isolates.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Infection of turkeys with Histomonas meleagridis by the cloacal drop method.

The infection of turkeys with Histomonas meleagridis was attempted in the absence of its normal vector Heterakis gallinarum, using several experimental techniques. Battery-reared poults were inoculated at 2 wk of age with histomonads cultured in vitro, by several routes, including (a) per os (PO), (b) intradoacal (CI), and (c) cloacal drop (CD). Feed restriction was also studied as a predisposing factor. Intracloacal inoculation (CI) consistently produced severe infections in all experiments. In several experiments, turkeys did not become infected after inoculation PO with 1 x 10(5) cultured histomonads. Feed restriction prior to inoculation did not make turkeys susceptible to infection inoculated PO. However, when liquid cultures containing histomonads were applied to the vent (CD) and the dorsal lip stimulated to initiate cloacal drinking, the histomonads were taken into the cloaca and transported to the ceca by retrograde peristalsis. Heavy infections were produced by this method, with severe liver and cecal lesions recorded when birds were necropsied 12 days later. These results suggest that CD may provide ready entry into the lower intestinal tract for these parasites and may facilitate spread of infection through flocks.

Animals↗

Antigenicity of two turkey astrovirus isolates.

Astroviruses are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. These viruses cause gastroenteritis in humans and in a variety of animal species, including turkey poults. Only human astroviruses are well characterized antigenically. In the current study, two turkey astrovirus isolates, TAstV1987 and TAstV2001, were antigenically compared using cross-neutralization tests in turkey embryos, as well as cross-reactivity of the two isolates by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antigenic relatedness values (R) were calculated using the Archetti and Horsfall formula. The R value based on the cross-neutralization tests was 0.56%, which indicates that TAstV1987 and TAstV2001 belong to different serotypes; the R value of the two viruses based on ELISA was 70.7%, which suggests these two viruses share common antigen(s).

Animals↗