Stunting syndrome in turkeys: physical and physiological changes

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Poultry Health

Background:

• Stunting syndrome (SS) is an enteric disorder affecting young turkeys.
• The etiology and specific impacts of SS on turkey poults require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the effects of an induced enteric disorder, stunting syndrome (SS), on the growth, nutrient utilization, and intestinal health of young turkeys.
• To identify the causative agent of SS by comparing inoculums from affected and healthy poults.

Main Methods:

• One-day-old turkey poults were orally inoculated with either a control broth or an inoculum from SS-affected poults.
• Growth performance, nutrient retention, intestinal morphology (including scanning electron microscopy), and jejunal/ileal disaccharidase activities were assessed.
• A pair-fed control group was used to differentiate between direct effects of the inoculum and those secondary to reduced feed intake.

Main Results:

• Inoculation with SS inoculum significantly depressed growth, feed consumption, and feed utilization in poults.
• Nutrient retention (dry matter, fat, protein, ash) was impaired in inoculated poults.
• Intestinal weight increased, while mucosal thickness and villi integrity were compromised, with reduced disaccharidase activity observed in inoculated poults.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms that an infectious agent present in the intestines of SS-affected poults causes significant growth depression and intestinal pathology in young turkeys.
• The adverse effects are not solely due to reduced feed intake, highlighting the direct pathogenic impact of the SS agent.
• The findings differentiate the SS agent from the normal gut microbiota, suggesting a specific pathogen is responsible for the syndrome.