AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Effect of Coccidiosis on Heart Composition and Function in Young Turkeys

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1982
Authors:Augustine, PC, Kuenzel, WJ, Thomas, OP
Journal:Avian Diseases
Volume:26
Issue:2
Date Published:1982
ISBN Number:00052086
Keywords:Meleagris, Meleagris gallopavo, Phasianidae
Abstract:Heart composition and function were measured in turkey poults inoculated with Eimeria meleagrimitis or E. adenoeides oocysts. Heart weights of infected poults were significantly lower than those of uninfected controls. Lipid levels of the heart were significantly reduced on day 4 postinoculation (PI) with E. meleagrimitis and on day 6 PI with E. adenoeides. The reduced lipid levels were closely associated with decreases in body weight. The protein per gram of heart tissue increased as the lipid levels decreased. Heart glycogen, when expressed as microgram per milligram of protein, decreased. However, the concentration of glycogen per gram of tissue apparently changed very little. Moisture levels of hearts from infected and control poults did not differ significantly. Heart rates and mean blood pressures of poults infected with E. adenoeides were slightly (∼ 8%) lower than values in control poults. However, exposure to stress in the form of ice baths or intravenous injection of epinephrine caused more severe and prolonged fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure of the infected poults than in those of the controls.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1590104
Short Title:Avian Diseases
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith