Diseases of commercial turkeys

Question 1

Which stage of production often correlated with respective disease?

Answer 1

Production phase

Question 2

What is the slaughter age for male and female turkeys?

Answer 2

12-15w for females
18-21w for males

Question 3

Turkeys less than 3 weeks old are called?

Answer 3

Chicks/poults/starters

Question 4

What are some non-infectious causes of high mortality/poor growth in turkeys less than 3 weeks old?

Answer 4

• Temperature/humidity/ventilation
• Water/feeder problems
• Arrived weak and poorly e.g. hatchery issues, transportation, parent bird
• nutritional deficiencies
• staveout = failure of chicks to find food and water

Question 5

What are some infectious causes of high mortality/poor growth in turkeys less than 3 weeks old?

Answer 5

• Naval/yolk sac infection
• Viral turkey hepatitis
• Coccidiosis
• Aspergillosis
• Staphylococcal infection
• Avian encephalomyelitis
• Mycotic keratoconjunctivitis

Question 6

Turkeys are ‘growers’ from what age?

Answer 6

3 weeks to 12 weeks old

Question 7

List some respiratory problems of growing turkeys

Answer 7

Mycoplasmosis
Turkey Rhinotracheitis
Colisepticaemia
Fowl cholera
NDV
AIV

Question 8

List some causes of respiratory problems of growing turkeys

Answer 8

Mycoplasmosis
Turkey Rhinotracheitis
Colisepticaemia
Fowl cholera
NDV
AIV

Question 9

List some causes of lameness in growing turkeys

Answer 9

Bacterial arthritis - staphylococcus, E.coli
Spondylosis

Question 10

Broiler turkeys older than 12 weeks are called?

Answer 10

Finishers

Question 11

Breeders turkeys over 12 weeks are known as?

Answer 11

Pullet

Question 12

Breeder turkeys over how many weeks old are layers?

Answer 12

30 weeks

Question 13

List some causes of respiratory problems in broiler finishers and pullet breeder turkeys

Answer 13

Fowl cholera
Aspergillosis
Chlamydiosis
NDV
AIV

Question 14

List some causes of lameness in broiler finishers and pullet breeder turkeys

Answer 14

Bacterial arthritis
Long bone distortion
Osteomyelitis
Scoliosis

Question 15

List some other problems seen in broiler finishers and pullet breeder turkeys

Answer 15

Internal parasites e.g. round worms
External parasites e.g. mites, lice
Pendulous crop
Breast blisters
Cannibalism
Turkey pox

Question 16

Describe which turkeys are left in production at 30+ weeks

Answer 16

No broilers
Just layers

Question 17

List 5 causes of a drop in egg production in turkey layers

Answer 17

NDV
AIV
Mycoplasmosis
Nutrition
Management

Question 18

List some causes of respiratory problems in laying turkeys

Answer 18

Mycoplasmosis
Turkey rhinotracheitis
Colisepticaemia
Fowl cholera
NDV
AIV

Question 19

Which agent is involved in ‘wet litter’ disease?

Answer 19

E.coli

Question 20

List the factors that influence wet litter disease

Answer 20

Breed
Environment
Nutrition
Chilling
Enteric pathogens

Question 21

What is wet litter disease?

Answer 21

Enteritis
Imbalances of small intestinal – leading to watery faeces

Question 22

How is wet litter disease treated?

Answer 22

Antibiotics e.g. amoxicillin, tetracyclines, tylosin

Question 23

How can wet litter disease be prevented?

Answer 23

• Immuno-competent and healthier birds
• Proper nutrition (feed and feeding)
• Water quality/hygiene
• Probiotics/Competitive exclusion
• Acidification – feed/water

Question 24

Eimeria meleagrimitis causes disease where in the body?

Answer 24

Lesions in the upper small intestine

Question 25

Eimeria adenoides causes disease where in the body?

Answer 25

Lesions in the caecum and rectum

Question 26

Why is eimeria diagnosis difficult in turkeys?

Answer 26

They are always present in turkeys

Question 27

How is Eimeria (coccidiosis) treated in turkeys?

Answer 27

- Coccidiostats (eg. Lasalocid, monensin, diclazuril) - Antibiotics, eg. Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, Tylosin

Question 28

'Blackhead' is caused by?

Answer 28

Histomonas meleagridis

Question 29

Name the intermediated host of Histomonas melagridis

Answer 29

Heterakis gallinarum

Question 30

What is the mortality rate of Histomonas?

Answer 30

Up to 100%

Question 31

How is Histomonas treated and prevented?

Answer 31

No specific treatment Biosecurity – top priority Control of worms – Heterakis, using Flubendazole

Question 32

Describe the features of turkey coronavirus disease

Answer 32

- Severe depression but little/no mortality - High morbidity - Watery scour, 9-11 weeks. Affects the mucosa/pathology of the digestive tract - Some dullness

Question 33

Astrovirus affects turkeys at what age?

Answer 33

5-10do

Question 34

What is the pathogenesis and consequences of astrovirus?

Answer 34

Severe typhlitis (inflammation of the caecum) - results in high culling - severe economic loss

Question 35

Describe the appearance of the caecum when infected with astrovirus

Answer 35

Caecum is engorged with a yellowish colour frothy substance

Question 36

Rotavirus affects turkeys at what age?

Answer 36

2-3wo

Question 37

What are the main signs of rotavirus in turkeys

Answer 37

Enteritis, Vent pecking

Question 38

How is rotavirus prevented/treated?

Answer 38

No specific treatment Hyperimmune egg powder Maintain hydration Biosecurity – top priority

Question 39

What is the main consequence of Erysipelas in turkeys?

Answer 39

Persistent high mortality

Question 40

How is Erysipelas treated and prevented?

Answer 40

Treatment – antibiotics, eg. Amoxicillin Prevention – Vaccine (inactivated) available

Question 41

Ornitobacterium rhinotracheale causes what signs in turkeys?

Answer 41

Not much respiratory disease (unlike chickens) Mild respiratory signs, 12-14 weeks More of lameness due to joint infection

Question 42

Describe the pathogenesis of Bordetellosis/turkey coryza

Answer 42

Upper respiratory tract infection and damages, leading to secondary infection – eg. E coli.

Question 43

Describe the mortality and morbidity of Bordetellosis/turkey coryza

Answer 43

Morbidity = 80-100% Mortality = 0% to 40+% for complicated cases