HYPOTHERMIA, HYPOGLYCEMIA, AND HYPOTHYROIDISM ASSOCIATED WITH POULT ENTERITIS AND MORTALITY SYNDROME

A metabolic dysfunction contributes to the poor performance and mortal ity associated with Poult Enteritis and Mortality Syndrome (PEMS). Wit hin 2 d after contact-exposed poults were removed from the presence of PEMS-infected poults and returned to their respective treatment rooms to infect experimental poults, the experimental poults began to huddl e together and show signs of the disease. When separated from the hudd le, body temperatures of exposure poults were depressed significantly. Body temperatures decreased progressively through 8 d after exposure with a maximum depression of 2 C and returned to a normal level at 18 d after PEMS exposure. Similar decreasing patterns in serum glucose, i norganic phosphorus, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine were observed, wi th maximum decreases in these serum constituents being found between 8 and 13 d after PEMS exposure. There were significant correlations amo ng decreasing body temperatures, decreasing serum constituents, and mo rtality in the PEMS-exposed poults. Daily mortality rates associated w ith PEMS began at 6 d and peaked at 9 d after PEMS exposure. Mortality rates decreased from 9 to 15 d after experimental PEMS exposure. Depr essions in serum constituents, body temperature, and increased mortali ty rates did not coincide with decreased feed intake associated with P EMS. Therefore, it was concluded that the agent(s) causing PEMS may ha ve a direct effect on energy metabolism in afflicted poults.