Distribution and abundance ofspecies in commercial turkey flocks across Canada.

Abstract

Diversity and regional abundance ofspecies infecting Canadian commercial turkey flocks are largely unknown. To address this paucity of data regarding coccidiosis and its distribution in Canada, fecal samples from turkey flocks (N = 39) representing 27 commercial farms [ON (= 20), SK (= 2), BC (= 3), AB (= 1), NS (= 1)] were screened for coccidia. Identification of allspecies present in each sample was accomplished using a nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the mitochondrial cytochromeoxidase subunit I gene. Most samples (33/39) were-positive with 6species identified by the nested-PCR assay (1 to 6 species/sample, average 3.2); 4 samples (4/39, > 10% of samples) contained all 6 species.species were common and distributed widely in Canadian commercial turkey flocks. Turkeys reared using in-feed medication or live vaccination for coccidiosis control had similarspecies diversity within individual flocks. These preliminary observations highlight that coccidiosis remains a concern for Canadian turkey producers.