title: Role of Wheat Based Diet on the Pathology of Necrotic Enteritis in Turkeys.
abstract: The study was conducted to investigate the effects of wheat based diet on the pathology of necrotic enteritis in turkeys. Turkeys were divided into four groups. Groups A and B were kept as noninoculated and fed normal commercial diet while groups C and D were challenged orally with C. perfringens and fed wheat based diet to promote the development of experimental disease. Infected turkeys showed clinical signs of depression, ruffled feathers, and dark yellowish faeces showing the most prominent disease signs in turkeys of group D with 30% mortality. Similarly, turkeys of group D showed more striking gross and histopathologic lesions as compared to turkeys of group C. The most severe gross lesions comprised intestinal distension, small necrotic spots and haemorrhages on intestine, fragile intestinal wall, and gas bubble formation in the small intestine. Histologically, inoculated turkeys showed patchy necrosis, desquamation of intestinal epithelium, and intense leukocyte infiltration in the intestine. Microscopic examination showed significant decrease in the height of intestinal villi of inoculated birds. Haematological studies showed significant influence of necrotic enteritis on the blood profile of turkeys in group D. The findings revealed that simultaneous feeding of wheat enhanced the pathology of necrotic enteritis in turkeys.
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sajid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Younus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aqil
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qayyum
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aqsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Ali Abdullah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Nantes Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Nantes 44300, France.
authors.forename: Muhammad Tanveer
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Munir