The turkey is second only to the chicken in importance as an agriculturally important poultry species. Unlike the chicken, however, genetic studies of the turkey continue to be limited. For example, to date, many genomic investigations have been conducted to characterize genetic relationships between commercial (CO) and non-CO chicken breeds, whereas the nature of the genetic relatedness between CO and heritage turkeys remains unknown. The objective of the current research was to use microsatellites to analyze the genetic relatedness between CO and heritage domestic turkeys including Narragansett, Bourbon Red, Blue Slate, Spanish Black, and Royal Palm. Primer pairs specific for 10 previously described turkey microsatellite markers were used. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the Blue Slate, Bourbon Red, and Narragansett were genetically closely related to the CO strain, with a Nei distance of 0.30, and the Royal Palm and Spanish Black were the least related to the CO strain, with Nei distances of 0.41 and 0.40, respectively. The present work provides a foundation for the basis of using heritage turkeys to genetically improve CO populations by introgression.

SummaryThe mitochondrial genome (mtGenome) has been little studied in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), a species for which there is no publicly available mtGenome sequence. Here, we used PCR‐based methods with 19 pairs of primers designed from the chicken and other species to develop a complete turkey mtGenome sequence. The entire sequence (16 717 bp) of the turkey mtGenome was obtained, and it exhibited 85% similarity to the chicken mtGenome sequence. Thirteen genes and 24 RNAs (22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs) were annotated. An mtGenome‐based phylogenetic analysis indicated that the turkey is most closely related to the chicken, Gallus gallus, and quail, Corturnix japonica. Given the importance of the mtGenome, the present work adds to the growing genomic resources needed to define the genetic mechanisms that underlie some economically significant traits in the turkey.

Immunostimulants can induce nonspecific resistance against parasites. The use of probiotics to control development of animal gastrointestinal parasites could help reduce the risks of infestation. In this study, we investigated the effects of probiotics administration on gastrointestinal parasites coccidia, H. contortus and markers of infection. A cocktail of probiotics mix including Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (8.5 log CFU/mL) was drenched daily to three months-old male Spanish Boer kid-goats (n = 3) till four weeks of age. Control group of age matched kid-goats received sterile water daily for a 4-week period. Body weight, Fecal Egg Count, FAMACHA scores, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and White Blood Cell Differential Count was determined weekly. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to monitor fecal bacteria using bacteria 16 sec rDNA primers. Proinflammatory cytokines, Prostaglandin2 (PGE2) and Immunoglobulin E levels in plasma were evaluated using commercial ELISAs. Results showed no significant difference in PCV, body weight, White Blood Cell Differential Count, FAMACHA score, PGE2 and IgE levels between probiotic drenched and control. However, eggs per gram were increased significantly (p<0.05) probiotics drenched 100, 90 and 120% at weeks 2, 3 and 4 for haemonchus and 70% for coccidia at week 3 respectively. An increase of 50 to 300% in pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed for probiotic drenched over control at weeks 2, 3 and 4. Pro inflammatory cytokine levels were significantly highest (p<0.05) for IFNr, G-CSF and IL-1α when pre-treatment levels were compared to week 4 for probiotic drenched. Results from PCR-DGGE analysis showed significantly increased fecal microbial DNA for probiotics drenched (p<0.05), with no difference in band pattern and staining intensity. Although increases in H. contortus count and Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were observed, probiotics drenching had no effect against coccidia or H. contortus. This study supports the idea that use of probiotics in ruminants may be impacted by lack of microbial retention in the rumen. Further studies on establishment and retention are needed.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart disease, affects many vertebrates including humans and poultry. The disease can be either idiopathic (IDCM) or toxin-induced (TIDCM). Although genetic and other studies of IDCM are extensive, the specific etiology of TIDCM is still unknown. In this study, we compared mRNA levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and phospholamban (PLN) in turkeys affected and unaffected by TIDCM. Cardiac TnT and PLN were chosen because their altered expression has been observed in IDCM-affected birds. A total of 72 birds, 44 affected and 28 unaffected with TIDCM, were used. Differences in the mRNA levels of cTnT and PLN between affected and unaffected turkeys were significant only for cTnT. The sequence of the turkey PLN showed significant similarity at the nucleotide level to the reference chicken sequence and to those of other species. In addition to implicating cTnT in TIDCM, the present work describes a partial turkey PLN coding sequence that could be useful for future studies.