Outbreak of disease in turkeys farms attributed to haemorrhagic enteritis

The pathological and ultraestructural changes detected in different organ s amples of commercial turkeys, suffering a disease resembling hemorrhagic en teritis are described. At necropsy, the turkeys presented intestine lesions characterized by diste ntion and bloody content. Histopathologically, the lesions were characteriz ed by hemorrhagic enteritis, hyperemia and mononuclear cell infiltration in the lamina propia. Some intestines had necrotic lesions which were attribu ted to a secondary bacterial infection. The spleen showed enlargement and a mottled gray-white appearance that alte rnated with a dark red background. Histopathologically, large zones of necr osis were seen in the germinal centers, as well as lymphocyte depletion. Hy perplasia of reticular cells with presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies and margination of the cromatine was observed. Electron microscopy showed hexagonal viral, particles, 55-58 mm in diameter, which according to their size and form correspond to adenovirus type II.