Antibiotics and Hexamitiasis in Turkeys

Abstract

Hexamitiasis, a protozoan disease of turkeys, of considerable economic importance, has been described by Hinshaw 1 . Up to the time at which we began our studies June 2, 1950, there were no reports of any effective means of medication for the control of this endemic and frequently acute disease. A group of 9-week-old Broad Breasted Bronze poults, which had been reared in wire-floored batteries without contact with ground or other birds was employed. Several field cases of severe hexamitiasis were obtained and the hexamita collected in large numbers from the small intestine. The organisms were suspended in saline and equal doses of this suspension were introduced by pipette into the crop of each poult. In the following report, number of days indicated refers to time from this inoculation.

At the end of 5 days all birds appeared ill. Three were killed and found to have heavy infection of hexamita in the small intestine. The organisms were identified by microscopic study of smears from the small intestine 1 . The remaining birds were treated as follows.

Control group. At the end of the 8th day this group appeared very ill. Three birds were killed for examination. All 3 showed heavy infection and a marked dehydration which is characteristic of this disease. The remaining 3 birds were fed a rearing mash containing 0.1% Enheptin∗ to the 12th day. One of these birds was then found to be free of detectable hexamita while 2 showed a very light infection. All were recovering from dehydration and appeared alert and vigorous.

Enheptin group. At 5 days, 6 of the diseased birds were given 0.1% Enheptin in mash. At 8 days 3 of these birds were found free of hexamita and noticeable dehydration. At 14 days the remaining 3 birds maintained on the