Pathological and clinical findings and tissue distribution of Salmonella Gallinarum infection in turkey poults

Abstract

This study aimed to experimentally induce Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella Gallinarum) infection in turkey poults in order to detect S. Gallinarum using immunohistochemical, bacteriological, and histological procedures. The study included 90 white turkey poults that were divided into 3 groups (1-day-old, 3-week-old, and 2-month-old), each of which was orally inoculated with an inoculum of 0.3 mL of S. Gallinarum strain 9 broth culture that contained approximately 2 × 10^4, 1 × 10^6, and 1 × 10^9 cfu/mL, respectively. The duration of the experiment was 18 days. Clinical, pathological, and bacteriological findings were evaluated daily until 18 days post inoculation (pi). The most evident clinical symptoms in all 3 groups were diarrhea and somnolence, especially in 1-day-old group. S. Gallinarum strain 9 was isolated from organs and cloacal swabs up to 16 days pi. Inflammation and typical granulomatous nodules in the internal organs were observed in all 3 groups. Strong immunoreactivity was determined in the lungs, bursa of Fabricius, caecum, ileum, and cloaca of all infected poults up to 18 days pi. In conclusion, S. Gallinarum infection caused heterophilic granulomas, especially in the duodenum of turkey poults, and immunohistochemical analysis can be considered as an adjunct to bacteriological methods in the diagnosis of S. Gallinarum infection.