Airsacculitis in Poults from Different Strains of Turkeys

Abstract

Gross lesions of airsacculitis were found in 43% of 1145 cull turkey poults, the progeny of 18 different strains of turkeys confined in 24 separate breeding pens. The incidence gradually increased from 13 to 60% through 9 consecutive hatches. Incidence in the first 3 hatches was 30% compared with 63% for the last 3 hatches. No sustained change in the incidence of lesions was effected by tylosin salts by oral or parental administration, or erythroinycin by egg-dipping. Mycoplasma with characteristics of the "N" strain was isolated from approximately 50% of the poults cultured that vere showing gross air sac lesions. Serologic and bacteriologic studies indicated that Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection was not present in either breeding birds or turkey poults. Fertility and hatchability of all eggs, although lower than normal, was constant throughout the hatches, despite an apparently increasing incidence of airsacculitis in the poults.