Effect of feed and water deprivation on organ and blood characteristics of young turkeys.
Two-week-old Diamond White poults were deprived of food, water, or food and water (food/water) for up to 3 days to estimate the effects of anorexia similar to that observed in parasitic infections. The weight loss of poults deprived of water for 48 hr was approximately the same as those deprived of feed. Loss of heart and pancreas weight was proportional to the loss of body weight, but moisture levels in the hearts of feed-deprived poults increased significantly by 24 hr. In contrast, moisture levels in the pancreas of poults in all three deprived groups decreased significantly by 24 hr; the pancreases were blanched and granular after 48 hr of feed deprivation. Packed red blood-cell volumes increased significantly by 48 hr in water- and feed/water-deprived poults and by 72 hr in the feed-deprived group. Plasma carotenoid and plasma aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) levels of deprived birds did not differ significantly from controls. Plasma total proteins were significantly decreased in feed-deprived poults by 72 hr, significantly increased in water-deprived poults, and unchanged in poults deprived of feed and/or water were not marked; therefore, even the severe anorexia sometimes associated with parasitic infections in turkeys probably would not appreciably effect the measurements of these parameters.
D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000097:blood*; D014868:Water Deprivation
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases