Upper lethal environmental temperature in turkeys.
Of a total of 16 turkeys in a temperature controlled chamber with a low air velocity, 14 died during an accidental 16-hr exposure, because of a malfunction of a thermostat, to a temperature of 38.5 C and 80% relative humidity. These turkeys had been previously maintained at a temperature of 20 C for 6 days. Of the 2 surviving turkeys, one alert and one depressed, there were 1) an increased percent erythrocytes in the hematocrit, 2) a decreased ratio of blood mononuclear cells to blood polymorphonuclear cells, 3) a marked increase in plasma corticosterone concentration, and 4) a definite reduction of lymphocytes in the bursal follicles of the alert turkey and a nearly complete depletion in the depressed turkey.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000473:pathology; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D014422:Turkeys / Q000097:blood