EXCESSIVE MORTALITY IN MARKET-AGE TURKEYS ASSOCIATED WITH CELLULITIS

Between July, 1993, and October, 1994, seven cases were examined that consisted of increased mortality in commercial turkeys due to cellulit is. The condition started at 13-16 wk of age in toms and persisted unt il the birds were marketed. The mortality rate was 1-2% per week. Lesi ons began on the ventrum of the rail and consisted of swelling and the formation of vesiclelike structures. Most of the affected birds also had an accumulation of gelatinous fluid in the subcutis of the tail an d breast areas. The underlying musculature was often darkened or petec hiated. Clostridium perfringens type A was isolated from two of the ca ses. Lesions similar to chose found in the field were reproduced exper imentally in turkeys injected with the subcutaneous fluid obtained fro m birds in field cases.