Table 2.
Clinical signs, gross, and histopathology lesions in turkeys experimentally infected with C. perfringens.
| Group | Type of exposure | Clinical signs | Macroscopic lesions | Microscopic lesions | Body weight loss (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (40) | No inoculation + normal feed | Normal | Almost normal necropsy findings (± to +) | Normal findings (± to +) | NA |
|
| |||||
| B (40) | No inoculation + normal feed | Normal | Almost normal necropsy findings (± to +) | Normal findings (± to +) | 3% |
|
| |||||
| C (40) | C. perfringens of 108 CFU/bird + normal feed | Depression, ruffled feather, and diarrhoea Mild level (+) |
Haemorrhage on the base of the heart, liver, and intestine which was mild (+) | Slight haemorrhage and glandular proliferation of the duodenum and jejunum. Focal necrosis in liver; haemorrhage and accumulation of reactive cells were also found in liver and heart which were of mild (+) severity | 18 |
|
| |||||
| D (40) | C. perfringens of 108 CFU/bird + wheat based feed | Depression, ruffled feather, and diarrhoea Severe level (+++) Mortality (30%) |
Intestinal content consists of foul smelling brown fluid and bubble was present in the duodenum, jejunum, and caecum and enlarged liver; haemorrhage on the base of the heart which was severe (+++) | Haemorrhage and congestion in submucosa of small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum). Sloughing of epithelium in small intestine. Focal necrosis in liver, hemorrhage, and accumulation of reactive cells were also found in liver, heart, and spleen. Pneumonia in lung (severe, +++) | 62∗ |
The number in parentheses is the total number of turkeys in a group; (—) indicates no apparent clinical disease signs; + mild; ++ moderate; +++ severe. NA: not affected. Body weights were measured between days 28 and 35 after hatch (days 0–7 after infection). ∗Significantly different according to Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05).