The effects of enteric protozoa in turkeys

Six experiments were conducted to evaluate the production effects, pathology, and tissue distribution of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Cochlosoma anatis. In these experiments, 2 ml of a T. gallinarum or C. anatis inoculum was administered to 1-week-old turkeys.; Tetratrichomonas gallinarum was not a significant primary pathogen in turkeys and did not cause production losses in turkeys. A pure C. anatis infection however was found to cause 6.3% increase in feed conversion. Cochlosoma infected turkeys were capable of clearing the infection over an 8 to 11 week period, however, the production losses were not overcome when they were grown to market age. Significant decreases in weight gain were found in Cochlosoma infected turkeys. This decreased weight gain is an important economic loss for turkey producers. An industry response to C. anatis infections has been to medicate the feed with nitarsone during the warm weather months. Nitarsone was found to decrease the severity of the Cochlosoma infection but the production losses were not fully prevented. Diclazuril did not prevent a Cochlosoma infection nor did it help in clearing the infection. Production losses due to a Cochlosoma infection may be the result of impaired nutrient absorption, which was demonstrated for both simple sugars and fats.