Studies on Erysipelas in Turkeys

RYSIPELAS was first reported in New York State turkeys in 1938 by Van Roekel.15 Since then numerous cases of erysipelas have been found in New York5'11 and the disease is now recognized as a considerable economic problem in adult turkey flocks. In experimental work on turkey erysipelas some workers have had difficulty in maintaining virulence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae cultures and obtaining a consistent and high mortality in inoculated turkeys. Adler and Spencer', Dickinson et al.6, and Moynihan and Stovell10 reported that an irregular mortality resulted when susceptible turkeys were challenged by other than the intravenous route. Adler and Spencer' also mentioned that it was difficult to maintain virulence of E. rhusiopathiae cultures that were lyophilized. Peterson and Hymas12 reported good mortality when the intramuscular route was used in non-immune turkeys. The percutaneous (skin scarification) route as originally described by Fortner and Dinter7 was found to be the only way to reproduce erysipelas in swine consistently. Some work has been done on the efficacy of vaccines for protection of turkeys. Dickinson, et al.,6 reported a variable degree of protection to experimental challenge of vaccinated field flocks. Jerstad and Johns9 reported that vaccinated flocks