Fluxes of Ions, Glucose, and Water in Isolated Jejunal Segments in Normal and Bluecomb Diseased Turkeys

Abstract

BLUECOMB diseased turkeys have decreased gastrointestinal (GI) motility (Duke et al., 1969), decreased food conversion (Dziuk et al., 1969a), and several physical signs which are characteristic of anorexia (Dziuk et al., 1969b). Alteration of GI function seems to be a major factor in the pathogenesis of bluecomb disease. Therapeutic measures for bluecomb disease usually include the addition of electrolytes, milk replacer, and antibiotics to the drinking water. Use of the additives is generally believed to be partially effective in reducing mortality and morbidity. Conclusive evidence to support this contention is difficult to obtain. The reasons are that: 1. severity of the disease may vary greatly among individuals in a field flock or even in experimental trials in which each turkey received the same dose of infective material, 2. the pathogenesis of bluecomb disease is poorly understood, and 3. the etiologic agent has not been positively identified.The primary objective of…