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Multiple feather follicle cysts in a wild turkey
C E Couvillion1, W A Maslin, R M Montgomery
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
|January 1, 1990
Summary
A wild turkey presented with numerous skin nodules. These were identified as dilated feather follicles filled with keratin debris, diagnosed as feather follicle cysts of unknown cause.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Wildlife Diseases
- Avian Health
Background:
- Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) can be affected by various dermatological conditions.
- Understanding skin lesions in wild populations is crucial for monitoring overall health and disease prevalence.
Observation:
- A hunter-killed wild turkey exhibited multiple, hard, yellowish skin nodules (2-30 mm diameter).
- Lesions were strictly confined to the dermis, without subcutaneous tissue involvement.
Findings:
- Microscopic examination revealed dilated feather follicles packed with caseous, keratinous material.
- The condition was histologically consistent with multiple feather follicle cysts.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual dermatological finding in wild turkeys.
- The unknown etiology necessitates further investigation into potential causes of feather follicle cysts in avian species.