The Effect of High Levels of Dietary Fat on Beta-Aminopropionitrile Induced Internal Hemorrhage in Chicks

Abstract

COMMERCIAL turkey producers frequently suffer considerable economic loss because of mortality in growing birds associated with massive internal hemorrhage. Sometimes producers become concerned even when losses are not heavy because the largest birds are affected. McSherry et al. (1954) described the degenerative changes of the aorta in detail and referred to the condition as a dissecting aneurysm. Carnaghan (1955) and Gibson and de Gruchy (1955) reported the same condition in England, and the former observed atheroma associated with the dissecting aneurysm and suggested this to be the initial cause of the disorder.Following the demonstration by Bachhuber et al. (1955) that beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) produced aortic rupture in rats, Barnett et al. (1957) fed BAPN to turkey poults and produced a syndrome characterized by hock and toe deformities, pericardial hemorrhage, pulmonary hemorrhage and aortic rupture. The severe hock and toe deformities observed on levels of BAPN required to produce aortic rupture …