Studies on Experimental Blackhead Infection in Turkeys

Abstract
Attention is called to the advantage of feeding embryonated eggs of the fowl cecal worm, Hetera-kis gallinae, as a means of infecting turkeys. In a series of 54 expts., 251 (80%) of 313 turkeys were successfully infected by using the latter method. Clinical symptoms of blackhead appeared as early as the 10th day and as late as the 20th day after infection, most poults developing symptoms on the 12 to the 14th day. Mortality was greatest during the 15th to the 20th day, with deaths occurring as early as the 13th and as late as the 29th day.