Disease Condition of Turkey Poults Characterized by Enlarged and Rounded Hearts

The occurrence of a disease condition in two flocks of young turkey poults characterized by enlarged hearts and marked distension of the right ventricle is described.

Only males were observed to exhibit the condition in the first flock and approximately five per cent of this sex died with the characteristic enlargement. Abnormal hearts were found in progeny from 2-5 sires in each of four strains.

In a second flock at a second location, a small number of females also exhibited the condition. Approximately one per cent of this sex died with enlarged hearts. The incidence in males was similar in both flocks. The second flock was composed of poults from a commercial strain and poults which were a cross of the four laboratory-raised strains with this unrelated commercial strain. The condition was found in both pure and cross strain poults from this flock.

A second type of anomaly which grossly resembled “round-heart disease” of chickens was observed in birds from both flocks over six weeks of age. It was not associated with the death of the birds and was found during examination of injured or sacrificed males and females.

Histological findings have not been consistent, but are being continued. Transmission trials are being conducted.