EVALUATION OF THE INTERACTION OF EIMERIA-MELEAGRIMITIS WITH HEMORRHAGIC ENTERITIS VIRUS OR MARBLE SPLEEN DISEASE VIRUS IN TURKEYS

The interaction of Eimeria meleagrimitis with hemorrhagic enteritis vi rus (HEV) or marble spleen disease virus (MSDV) was studied in 4-week- old female turkeys. Birds given either virus in combination with the c occidia showed greater weight gain than did birds given HEV alone. A c ombination of MSDV and E. meleagrimitis resulted in significantly lowe r oocyst production when oocysts were counted from individual birds. L evels of serum glucose, serum albumin, and total protein were reduced in birds given HEV either alone or in combination with E. meleagrimiti s. Birds receiving E. meleagrimitis alone or in combination with eithe r MSDV or HEV exhibited higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels than b irds in all other treatments. Birds receiving HEV or the combination o f E. meleagrimitis and either HEV or MSDV had significantly lower seru m triglycerides and cholesterol. Serum amylase was lower in poults rec eiving HEV alone or combined with E. meleagrimitis, and serum alkaline phosphatase was lower in the HEV-only treatment.