Stress response differences and disease susceptibility reflected by heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in turkeys selected for increased body weight

USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Production and Product Safety Research, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA. grhuff@uark.edu

Three genetic lines of turkeys were compared for their responses to Escherichia coli challenge following dexamethasone injection (Dex) or E. coli challenge preceding transport stress (TS). The turkey lines were a slow growing line selected for increased egg production (Egg line), a fast growing line selected for increased 16-wk BW (F line), and a commercial line (Comm line). At 14 wk of age, the Dex group was treated with 3 injections of 2 mg of Dex/kg of BW followed by airsac challenge with 100 cfu of E. coli. The TS group was given the same E. coli challenge at 1 x 10(4) cfu/bird without Dex treatment, and was subjected to transport stress, including 12 h of holding time in a transport vehicle, 8 d after the challenge. All treated birds and untreated control birds were bled at the same time, which was 1 d after transport and 9 d after challenge with E. coli. The main effect mean (MEM) total leukocyte counts (WBC) and the percentages of eosinophils (Eos) and basophils (Baso) were the same for all 3 lines; however, the MEM percentages of heterophils (Het) and monocytes (Mono) and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L) were lower and the percentage of lymphocytes (Lym) was higher in the Egg line compared with the 2 fast-growing lines. Both stress treatments increased WBC, Het, and H/L and decreased Lym in all 3 lines; however, these effects were significantly greater in both fast growing lines compared with the Egg line. Sixteen-week BW was unaffected by either treatment in the Egg line and was decreased by both treatments in the Comm line and by the Dex treatment in the F line. Main effect mean airsacculitis score (AS) was not affected by line and was significantly increased by TS and Dex treatments. Neither treatment affected AS of the Egg line birds, whereas Dex treatment increased AS of the F line, and both Dex and TS increased AS of the Comm line. Mortality was significantly higher in the Comm line compared with the Egg line and was intermediate in the F line. The differences between these lines in their disease resistance and physiological response to stress in 2 stress models suggests that increasing selection for BW of turkeys is accompanied by changes in the stress response resulting in increased susceptibility to opportunistic bacterial infection.

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