Biochemical changes in the blood, spleen and duodenum of turkeys experimentally and naturally exposed to haemorrhagic enteritis virus.

Blood samples from turkey poults from flocks showing clinical signs of haemorrhagic enteritis (HE) were analysed biochemically. The samples were then divided into two groups according to serum total proteins (TP). One group consisted of birds with serum TP below 20 g/1 and was therefore considered to comprise the affected birds. There were significantly lower levels of albumin (ALB) and total lipids (TL) in the affected birds. Similarly levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) were also lower in the sick birds. There were no significant changes in the levels of acid phosphatase (AcP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), of calcium ions (Ca) and inorganic phosphorus (Pi). In birds experimentally infected with HE virus, changes in the biochemical variables in the serum were similar to those obtained from the field cases. Spleen and duodenum of these birds were also analysed and significant changes were seen in the lower level of ALP in the spleen and in LDH levels in the spleen and duodenum of the infected birds.