Ascarid Migration in Turkey Livers

Increased numbers of liver condemnations are occurring at turkey processing plants in southern Indiana. This condemnation results in a 1/4 to 1/3 Ib. loss per bird. Additional financial losses occur from slowing of the processing line. Most condemned livers are described as having one or more variably-sized white foci in the parenchyma. Examination of hepatic foci at the ADDL reveals most of the foci have contained mineralized casts that are suspected of being the larval stage of an ascarid. This may represent an aberrant migration of Ascaridiadissimilis.the classic ascarid of turkeys; however, this parasite has not been known to migrate to the liver of turkeys. Findings in other states also suggest that ascarid migration has been difficult to establish.

Inadequate anthelmintic programs may be contributing to the problem because intestinal ascarids are a common finding in turkeys. Piperazine salts are the only compounds that are approved for treatment of nematodes in turkeys. Most producers are cleaning the grow-out bam more often and disinfecting the dirt pad with cresylic acid (ovicidal compound) prior to placement of turkeys and then using piperazineearlier and more frequently during the growout.Perhaps the liver condemnation problem will stimulate renewed interest in the control of intestinal ascarids and the approval of established anthelminthics for use in turkeys.

- Tom Bryan,DVM,PhD

- Robert Porter, DVM, PhD