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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #155398
Title: WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMIN E AND SODIUM SALICYLATE (UNI-SOL®) INCREASE THE RESISTANCE OF TURKEYS TO E. COLI RESPIRATORY INFECTION.

Author
item HUFF, GERALDINE
item HUFF, WILLIAM
item BALOG, JANICE
item RATH, NARAYAN
item IZARD, R - ANIMAL SCIENCE PRODUCTS

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: There is a need to find potential antibiotic alternatives for improving disease resistance in high intensity poultry production. Respiratory infection with Escherichia coli is one of the most costly diseases to affect turkeys and often requires antibiotic treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of two commercial products, soluble vitamin E (VE) and soluble sodium salicylate (Uni-Sol) to protect turkeys from E. coli respiratory challenge. The drinking water of male turkey poults was non-supplemented or supplemented with either VE or Uni-Sol or a combination of both at dosages recommended by the manufacturer. There were 110 birds in each treatment housed in four floor pens. At 5 wk of age, birds in half of the pens were challenged with an air sac inoculation of approximately 50 cfu of E. coli. Water treatment began 5 days before challenge and continued for 2 wk after challenge, when birds were necropsied. The effect on decreased body weight due to E. coli challenge was prevented by all treatments, however VE and Uni-Sol, but not the combination decreased body weight in non-challenged controls. Vitamin E and Uni-Sol treatments both significantly decreased mortality and air sacculitis scores. All treatments protected liver, spleen, and bursa weights relative to body weight from the effects of E. coli challenge and Uni-Sol alone or VE with Uni-Sol protected relative heart weights from the effect of challenge. Uni-Sol treatment alone and in combination with VE increased total white blood cell counts counts and the number and percent of lymphocytes. All treatments decreased the isolation rates of E. coli from the liver. These results suggest that treatment of turkey poults with VE and Uni-Sol, prior to and during the stressful events that can lead to infection, may decrease disease incidence and mortality.

Technical Abstract: There is a need to evaluate potential antibiotic alternatives for improving disease resistance in high intensity poultry production. Colisepticemia is one of the most costly diseases to affect turkeys and often requires antibiotic treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the prophylactic efficacy of two commercial products, soluble vitamin E (VE) and soluble sodium salicylate (Uni-Sol) in an Escherichia coli respiratory challenge. The drinking water of male turkey poults was non-supplemented or supplemented with either VE or Uni-Sol or a combination of both at dosages recommended by the manufacturer. There were 110 birds in each treatment housed in four floor pens. At 5 wk of age, birds in half of the pens were challenged with an air sac inoculation of approximately 50 cfu of E. coli. Water treatment commenced 5 days before challenge and continued for 2 wk after challenge, when birds were necropsied. The effect on decreased body weight due to E. coli challenge was ameliorated by all treatments, however VE and Uni-Sol, but not the combination decreased body weight in non-challenged controls. Vitamin E and Uni-Sol treatments both significantly decreased mortality and air sacculitis scores. All treatments protected liver, spleen, and bursa weights relative to body weight from the effects of E. coli challenge and Uni-Sol alone or VE with Uni-Sol protected relative heart weights from the effect of challenge. Uni-Sol treatment alone and in combination with VE increased total leukocyte counts and the number and percent of lymphocytes. Uni-Sol alone decreased the H/L ratio whereas vitamin E alone increased the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. All treatments decreased the isolation rates of E. coli from the liver. These results suggest that treatment of turkey poults with VE and Uni-Sol, prior to and during the stressful events that can lead to colisepticema, may decrease disease incidence and mortality.