Crooked Neck Turkey***UPDATE #2 **

[L0rraine]

I'm soooo glad to hear he's improving! I'm wondering what this strange malady is?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I'm not sure what is is but when I researched it, this is a what I found?

"crooked neck
a disease of turkeys thought to be due to airsacculitis caused by Mycoplasma meleagridis. A similar syndrome in Brown Leghorn chickens is due to an inherited defect."

airsacculitis - avian airsacculitis occurs as part of a respiratory tract infection by Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections usually referred to as chronic respiratory disease. Airsacculitis as such is notable for the high rate of carcass condemnations that it causes. Postmortem lesions include the presence of caseous exudate, or a beaded appearance of the lining. There are usually accompanying lesions in the bronchi and lungs.

Mycoplasma meleagridis infection is a widespread, egg-transmitted disease of turkeys found worldwide. The primary lesion in the progeny is airsacculitis. M meleagridis is thought to be a specific pathogen for turkeys, and the organism is commonly found in the respiratory and reproductive tracts. It has been eradicated in most basic breeder and many commercial flocks.

Mycoplasma meleagridis infection, M.m.


A disease of turkeys characterised by respiratory and skeletal problems caused by Mycoplasma meleagridis. The organism has also been isolated from raptors, it occurs in most turkey-producing countries but is now much rarer in commercial stock. In adult birds though infection rates are high, morbidity may be minimal. Pathogenicity is quite variable. Mortality is low, though up to 25% of infected birds show lesions at slaughter.

Infection is via the conjunctiva or upper respiratory tract with an incubation period of 6-10 days. Transmission is venereal in breeders, with transovarian and then lateral spread in meat animals. Infected eggs result in widespread distribution of infection and increased risk of further vertical transmission. The infective agent does not survive well outside the bird. Predisposing factors include stress and viral respiratory infections.

Signs

Reduced hatchability.
Slow growth.
Leg problems.
Stunting.
Mild respiratory problems.
Crooked necks.
Infected parents may be asymptomatic.
Post-mortem lesions

Airsacculitis in infected pipped embryos and poults.
Airsacculitis (rarely) seen in adult birds.
Diagnosis
Lesions, serology, isolation and identification of organism, demonstration of specific DNA (commercial kit available). Culture requires inoculation in mycoplasma-free embryos or, more commonly in Mycoplasma Broth followed by plating out on Mycoplasma Agar. Suspect colonies may be identified by immuno-fluorescence.

Serology: SAG used routinely - culture used to confirm. Differentiate from Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, other respiratory viruses.

Treatment
Tylosin, spiramycin, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones. Effort should be made to reduce dust and secondary infections.

Prevention
Eradication of this infection is also possible using similar techniques as for Mycoplasma gallisepticum. These are based on purchase of uninfected poults, all-in/all-out production, and biosecurity. Infected males are particularly prone to transmit infection and may warrant special attention. In some circumstances preventative medication of known infected flocks may be of benefit.

Vaccines are not normally used. Infected birds do develop some immunity. Birds infected from their parents seem to be immuno-tolerant and particularly prone themselves to transmit.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Just to let everyone know about Tom. Well, I got the Tylan 50 at the feed store. I called the feed store before I went to make sure that they had it in stock. The girl that answered the phone said that they had it. Well, when I got to the feed store, I asked the guy for a bottle and he took a bottle off of the shelf. I took a look at the bottle and it was expired. The expiration was 7/2009 and that was the only bottle left. He showed me the Tylan 200 and the expiration date was 11/2009. I explained to him that I called the day before and the girl who answered the phone didn't tell me that the bottle of Tylan 50 was expired. I told him that I didn't want the expired bottle. He looked at me an apologized and told me that the bottle was still good and that he has used expired meds before on his animals. He told me that since I had made a trip there and the girl told him that we had it in stock without looking at the expiration, that he would give me the expired Tylan 50 and a needle for FREE. He re-assured me that the medicine was good. I told him ok and I took the meds. Well, I started my Tom on the meds and within a day I could see some improvement. A few days after I noticed that he had a crooked neck, I could hear that he was nasal and he did sound as if he had a cold. When he first got sick, he was holding his head a few inches from the ground. As of today, I can report that he is holding his head up high (still crooked but signs of straightening are visible). He is eating and drinking on his own. I was feeding him boiled eggs, grits and mashed potatoes and shooting pedialyte and infant liquid vitamins down his throat with a syringe. He is walking much better. I haven't heard him say "gobble gobble" yet but I'm sure he will be soon. His overall progress is VERY good as of today. I will continue to give him Tylan and vitamins. I will give another upate in about 3 - 5 days. Thanks to everyone who had input on this thread. I appreciate that.

PS. I am so happy about my FREE expired bottle of Tylan. Although it was only $12.00, that is still a good savings. The expired Tylan 50 seems to be working.

 

[ivan3]

Keep us posted! Good deal on the Tylan

So long as it was sealed and cool it would probably stay active for some months.

Liquid antibiotics tend to lose effectiveness more rapidly than caps/pills but it is difficult to find out precisely how long the activity remains above 90% (FDA cut-off).

The SLEP program (joint military/FDA) has stretched out the efficacy horizon (following expiration) for many classes of meds. However, those of us (taxpayers) who fund the program can't get our paws on the comprehensive data:

http://www.usamma.army.mil/DOD_SLEP.cfm

Hope your tom makes a full recovery!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

You're doing exactly what I was going to suggest when I read the first post, those deals are 1 or 2 or 3 things, injury, infection, or neurological or physical birth defects (you can rule out the last). Sounds like it was the infection, keep the vitamins and Tylan going and he should be just fine
Good luck
Aubrey

 

[kuntrygirl]

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[Liekele]

Hi, I know this thread is already pretty old, but it is the only real thread that is helping me out. This morning I found our turkey Koen like this. Since then I've put him apart and force fed him Vita Rongeur (a multi vitamin for rabbits and other small animals). He is eating a little (I gave him some eggs and the chickens are seriously jealous!), and his stool is normal. I listened for respiratory issues, but everything sounds normal. I'm now wondering if I should put him on antibiotics or not.. any ideas on that?

The poor fellow looks so confused!

 

[Liekele]

Koen is slowly getting better. We've been pumping him full of vatmin laced porridge and electrolite laced water (he still isn't eating on his own). Today his head is almost the right way round again, and he is standing up. We hope that in a couple of days he will be eating on his own again, fingers crossed!

 

[Henry Tom]

UPDATE:

After 2 days of hand feeding boiled eggs, squirting syringes of pedialtye and Enfamil Poly-Vi-Sol Multivitamins for infants and toddlers down my tom's throat, my turkey has finally shown some signs of hope. He had been roosting on the ground with his head almost touching the ground with open wings. Tonight, after 30 minutes of hand feeding him, he flew on the fence that he usually roosts on and is now sleeping. I am so happy. I hope that this is a sign that he is on the road to recovery. I will go to the store to get some Tylan for him on tomorrow and give that to him as well. I will keep everyone updated.

How much Tylan 50? My turkey has this now. He is gobbling, diarrhea cleared up and running away when I start towards him with a syringe. He eats well and rinks well. I elevated his feed but he prefers on the ground. I am giving Tylan 50 2cc twice a day.

 

[R2elk]

How much Tylan 50? My turkey has this now. He is gobbling, diarrhea cleared up and running away when I start towards him with a syringe. He eats well and rinks well. I elevated his feed but he prefers on the ground. I am giving Tylan 50 2cc twice a day.

@kuntrygirl has not been on BYC since March 4, 2018.