Cryptosporidiosis and turkey viral hepatitis in turkeys

Cryptosporidiosis and turkey viral hepatitis were diagnosed in 25-day-old turkeys with increased mortality, enteritis, and stunting. Necropsy lesions included foul-smelling, tan-colored, loose feces in the terminal small intestines and ceca. The small intestines and ceca were congested. Multiple white to gray foci were present in the liver and pancreas. Mortality attributed to these conditions was estimated at 4.9%. Microscopic lesions included necrosis with accumulations of macrophages in the liver and pancreas. Bile-duct hyperplasia was present in the livers. Microscopic intestinal lesions consisted of mild to moderate atrophy of the villi of the distal small intestine (ileo-cecal junction) with infiltration of the lamina propria by mononuclear cells. Cryptosporidia were identified and appeared to be attached to villous epithelial cells of the terminal small intestines. Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts were also confirmed by fluorescent microscopic examination of feces stained auramine O. Reovirus was isolated on chicken embryo liver cells from affected livers.