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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142900
Title: EFFECT OF WATER SUPPLEMENTATION WITH SOLUBLE VITAMIN E AND SODIUM SALICYLATE (UNI-SOLTM) ON THE RESISTANCE OF TURKEYS TO ESCHERICHIA COLI RESPIRATORY INFECTION.

Author
item Huff, Geraldine
item Huff, William
item Balog, Janice
item Rath, Narayan
item IZARD, R - ANIMAL SCIENCE PRODUCTS

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There is a need to evaluate potential antibiotic alternatives for improving disease resistance in high intensity poultry production. Colisepticemia is one of the most costly diseases to affect turkeys and often requires antibiotic treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the prophylactic efficacy of two commercial products, soluble vitamin E (VE) and soluble sodium salicylate (Uni-Sol) in an Escherichia coli respiratory challenge. The drinking water of male turkey poults was non-supplemented or supplemented with either VE or Uni-Sol or a combination of both at dosages recommended by the manufacturer. There were 110 birds in each treatment housed in four floor pens. At 5 wk of age, birds in half of the pens were challenged with an air sac inoculation of approximately 10 cfu of E. coli or were left unchallenged. Water treatment commenced 5 days before challenge and continued for 2 wk after challenge, when birds were necropsied. The effect on decreased BW due to E. coli challenge was ameliorated by all treatments, however VE and Uni-Sol, but not the combination decreased BW in non-challenged controls. Vitamin E and Uni-Sol treatments both significantly decreased mortality and air sacculitis scores. All treatments protected liver, spleen, and bursa weights relative to BW from the effects of E. coli challenge and Uni-Sol alone or VE with Uni-Sol protected relative heart weights from the effect of challenge. Uni-Sol treatment alone and in combination with VE increased total leukocyte counts and the number and percent of lymphocytes. Vitamin E alone increased the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio whereas Uni-Sol alone decreased the H/L ratio. All treatments decreased the isolation rates of E. coli from the liver. These results suggest that treatment of turkey poults with VE and Uni-Sol, prior to and during the stressful events that can lead to colisepticema, may decrease disease incidence and mortality.