EFFECT OF T-2 TOXIN ON THE HATCHING ABILITY OF TURKEY EGGS AND VIABILITY OF DAY-OLD TURKEY POULTS

T-2 toxicosis was diagnosed that was accompanied by worsening of hatch ing ability of turkey eggs and decrease of viability of hatched turkey poults. The field case was reproduced by administering a feed contain ing T-2 toxin. Ratio of dead embryos and culled turkey poults increase d twofold or more (Figure) while the hatching ability decreased by 20% . The body surface of poults was covered with a sticky material. Losse s among the turkey poults increased to 16% during the first 8 days. Th e pathological investigation revealed general oedema in the majority o f poults and egg-binding in the remaining. The histological investigat ion revealed alterations indicating circulatory disturbances, as well as toxicosis (fatty hepatic degeneration, tubulonephrosis, necrosis of lymphoid cells in the spleen). The egg production remained unchanged, as compared to the previous periods. However, the quality of egg shel l worsened, it became dull and its surface was scragged and rough. Dur ing this period of egg production, 0.75 to 0.83% T-2 toxin was demonst rated in the consumed layer feeds (Table). During the feeding experime nt, 30 laying turkey-hens and 6 turkey-cocks - besides the same quanti ty of controls - were fed with a layer feed containing 1.5 mg of T-2 t oxin/kg of feed, that was obtained from the culture of Fusarium poae d uring 13 days. Clinical signs and losses were not observed and neither was influenced the egg production. The decrease of hatching ability w as comparable with that of field case, majority of day-old turkey poul ts were ''sticky''. General oedema was observed in the dead turkey pou lts.