Experiments with Sulfanilamide for Turkeys

The Pathology of Infectious Sinusitis of Turkeys

“…In addition to the above symptoms connected with the inflammation of the sinuses, another form of the disease has been observed involving the lower respiratory tract (Delaplane 1944, Dodd 1905, Hinshaw 1943. This type of infection may or may not occur in conjunction with the sinus infection, and is evidenced by labored breathing (Hinshaw 1943), coughing, and caseous exudate on the air sacs, most pronounced on the posterior thoracic and abdominal sacs , pneumonia and pleuritis (Dodd 1905, Hinshaw 1943.…”

“…As yet there is no known confirmation of this relationship and because of this these two references will not be given further consideration in this review. Of the various names given, infectious sinusitis would appear to be the preferable term to use because of its currently wide acceptance and to differentiate this type of inflammation of the sinuses from that caused by avitaminosis, described by Hinshaw and Lloyd (1934).…”

“…The disease is characterized by shaking of the head, nasal discharge, frothy lacrimation and distention of one or both infraorbital sinuses by an almost colorless, gelatinous exudate, which, according to several reports may later become caseated (Dickinson and Hinshaw 1938, Graham-Smith 1907, Hart 1940, Hinshaw 1943, Hungerford 1939, Madsen 1938, and Tyzzer 1926. Hinshaw (1943) states that caseation of the exudate is the exception in typical outbreaks, and according to Dickinson and Hinshaw (1938) this occurs in instances of long standing or after improper treatment. Hart (1940) reported caseation subsequently occurring in a large number of cases, and likewise Hungerford (1939) noted some outbreaks in which the exudate became caseous in many birds one to two weeks after exudate appeared.…”

The Effect of Feeding Sulfanilamide to the Laying Fowl

“…It has been reported that diets high in protein or in yeast will reduce the toxicity of the sulfonamides for rats and mice but it has not been possible to demonstrate the same benefits in the fowl. Hinshaw and McNeil (1943) have suggested that the mode of action of sulfanilamide on the uterine egg is not wholly unlike that of the oxytocic principle (Pitocin) of the pituitary gland. Thus the premature expulsion of the egg from the shell gland offers a possible explanation for the decrease in shell thickness without a corresponding decrease in blood calcium.…”

Effects of Chemicals on Egg Shell Formation

“…However about 45 and 70% of the eggs laid after injection of 50 or 100 mg/kg acetazolamide were expelled prematurely, while lower dosages only rarely had this effect. Premature oviposition has also been observed in turkeys (55) and hens (55,56) fed diets containing 60 to 357 mg/kg sulfanilamide. The best evidence for a direct effect of sulfonamides on the secretory activity of the shell gland seems to be provided by the changes in intracellular pH (63) and acid-base balance of shell gland fl uid (16) after acetazolamide administration.…”