Effects of vitamin D and yeast extract supplementation on turkey mortality and clostridial dermatitis incidence in a dexamethasone immunosuppression model.

Clostridial dermatitis (CD) is a production disease of commercial turkeys that is characterized by sudden mortality in market-aged male birds and by lesions that include fluid and air bubbles under the skin of the thigh, breast, and tail area. We have developed a model for CD using dexamethasone (Dex) injection that suggests this disease may be related to stressors during the last stages of turkey production. Male turkeys were provided with control feed and water or with feed supplemented with a commercial yeast extract (YE) product, water supplemented with vitamin D (VD), or the combination. At 6, 11, and 15 wk of age birds were treated with three intramuscular injections of Dex over a 5-day period. Both YE and VD, but not the combination, decreased early mortality. At week 7 mortality was increased by VD, and cellulitis lesions were seen in 7/8 mortalities. Mortality at week 12 was decreased by both YE and the combination of YE and VD, and cellulitis lesions were seen in 8/17 mortalities. There were no significant differences in mortality at week 16. Total mortality was 66 birds, and 23 of these had cellulitis lesions (38%). There were no YE-treated birds with CD lesions; however, 67% of VD-treated birds had CD lesions. This study suggests that feed supplementation with YE may improve the ability of turkeys to withstand the stressors during late production and provide protection against the development of CD; however, high levels of VD supplementation may be detrimental.