HEXAMITIASIS (Hexamita eleagridis) IN TURKEY COMMERCIAL FARMS IN YUCATÁN, MEXICO

The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence and to describe the lesions and signs found in an outbreak of Hexamita meleagridis in three turkey farms in Yucatan, Mexico. Three hundred randomly selected, turkeys were sacrificed and their intestines explored for lesions associated with H. Meleagridis infection. Also, gut content, feces samples and fresh intestine smears were taken to determine the presence of H. Meleagridis parasites. Macroscopic lesions such as the presence of congested areas, and watery and foamy content in duodenum, presence of gases, fetid odor and the presence of watery and yellowish feces in the caeca were identified. The overall prevalence of H. Meleagridis was 25.3% and there was not association of the parasite with sex, age or farm. However, the thickening of some sections of the duodenum (52.3%), the presence of congested areas (23%), the watery and yellowish content of the duodenum (24.3%), the presence of gas (21.0%), fetid odor of the content (22.3%), and the watery and yellowish feces of the caeca (20.0%) were associated with H. meleagridis Presence of H. meleagridis in those farms was confirmed. Diarrhea signs and intestine lesions observed in the sacrificed turkeys were associated to hexamitiasis infection. Sex, age and farm were not associated with the presence of H. meleagridis.