A group of British vets has just reported a new treatment for Blackhead (Histomonosis) in Turkeys...

In a letter to the "Veterinary record" they describe a massive outbreak of Blackhead on a Turkey farm with six barns of turkeys, each holding between 600 to 1200 birds.

The shed (local term for a turkey barn) housing the affected birds
was concrete-floored and straw-bedded - not ideal because under these conditions, birds can come into contact with eggs of the caecal worm Heterakis gallinarum which are the carriers of the protozoan parasite, Histomonas meleagridis, which causes blackhead.

At about 13 weeks of age, the affected birds appeared hunched, depressed and the mortality had started to increase. Amoxicillin (Amoxinsol; Vétoquinol) was originally given for three days, but as there was no reduction in mortality birds were sent to
the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) for autopsy examination. This confirmed the presence of lesions typical of histomonosis: multiple pale circular lesions on the liver and grossly dilated caecae with necrotic caseous debris in the lumen. A fine picture of an affected liver, together with more details of this case can be found online at:
www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/poultry/histomonosis.pdf

Has anyone got some experiences of  this disease to share? 

Mike
www.sunflower-health.com