Turkey syndrome 65, oedema syndrome and Mycoplasma meleagridis

Comparisons of liver histology and serum protein characteristics from cases of oedema syndrome and from poults with Mycoplasma meleagridis induced ascites revealed that the two conditions, though presenting grossly similar post mortem appearances, are different entities. Serum albumin concentrations, but not total serum protein levels, were markedly reduced in poults with M meleagridis induced ascites and in those with turkey syndrome 65. Poults which were infected with M meleagridis but which failed to develop either of these conditions had more normal serum protein characteristics. It is argued that M meleagridis induced ascites may be an acute manifestation of a pathological process of which TS65 is the chronic form. It is also suggested that low serum albumin concentrations may play a primary role in the pathogenesis of TS65.