Causes of enlarged sternal bursas (breast blisters).
Bursas were taken weekly as normal turkeys developed from 3 to 22 weeks of age, and no specific bacterial or viral infection was found. Bacterial cultures were also made of condemned bursas taken at processing. Of 144 collected, 91% were sterile; the others had staphylococci, streptococci, or coliform organisms. Experiments with turkeys measured the effect of strain, body conformation, completeness of breast-feather cover, protection of the keel with sheepskins, age when put on range, and type of range on the incidence of enlarged sternal bursas. The strain difference of 25.4% breast blisters against 11.5% was highly significant (99% confidence). In one experiment the effect of feather cover was significant at the 95% level of confidence (61.7% breast blisters with no feather cover, versus 40% with complete feather cover). The effect of protecting the breast with sheepskin was significant at the 95% level of confidence in reducing incidence of breast blisters. There was no significant difference in the incidence of breast blisters in relation to body conformation, age, or type of range.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000382:microbiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005241:Feathers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013249:Sternum; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014422:Turkeys / Q000033:anatomy & histology