Foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys is associated with cytokine and cellular changes indicative of an inflammatory immune response

Abstract

Cell and cytokine responses during the development of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in growing turkeys were studied in a model system. The objective was to evaluate the hypothesis that FPD is an allergic response to the environmental materials. Hybrid female turkeys at 28 days of age were exposed to wet litter for 48 h in a randomized block experiment. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, and CXCLi2) and signature Th1 (interferon-g), Th2 (IL-13) and Treg (IL-10) cytokines were measured in the foot pad tissues using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Sections of foot pad tissue were stained for CD4' and CD8 ' T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and macrophages using antibodies that specifically recognize the relevant cell types in the turkey. In the footpads of birds suffering from FPD, there were large fold increases in mRNA expression levels for the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1b ('635), IL-6 ('65), and CXCLi2 ('1924), and interferon-g ('32), whereas there was only a small increase in IL-13 mRNA ('2) and no change in IL-10 mRNA expression levels. CD4' and CD8 'T lymphocytes were present in the footpads of more than 90% of birds housed on wet litter compared with 25% or less on dry litter. Macrophages were observed in the footpads of approximately 85% of birds housed on wet litter compared with none in birds housed on dry litter. B lymphocytes were not detected in tissue from any of the birds. The data suggest that FPD is associated with a rapidly occurring inflammatory response, rather than a Th2-mediated allergic reaction.

Standard European footpad dermatitis scoring system for use in turkey processing plants

“…The welfare implications of FPD in turkeys have not been determined but a clear inflammatory response was observed histologically (Martland, 1984;Mayne et al, 2007a;Mayne et al, 2006). In experimental situations affected birds were observed to have lower body weights and were reluctant to walk (Martland, 1984;Mayne et al, 2007b).…”

Chicken interferon alpha pretreatment reduces virus replication of pandemic H1N1 and H5N9 avian influenza viruses in lung cell cultures from different avian species

“…Briefly, quantitative RRT-PCR was performed for each sample in triplicate in a total volume of 25 μl, consisting of 12.5 μl iQ Sybrgreen supermix (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Los Angeles, CA, USA) with 1 μl of each primer at concentration of 10 pmol/μl, 5.5 μl RNase/DNase-free water, and 5 μl diluted RNA. PCR conditions were the same for each targeted gene and are as follows: 10 min at 50°C, 95°C for 5 min, followed by 45 cycles of 95°C for 10 s and 56°C for 30 s. Primers for chicken 28 s, IFN-α, IL-1β [14]; turkey 28 s, IL-1β, IL-6 [44]; duck GAPDH, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-α [45] have been previously described. The other primers were designed using the Primer Express software program (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, USA) and sequences used in this study for individual avian species are presented in Table 1.…”

Prevalence and severity of foot pad alterations in German turkey poults during the early rearing phase

“…Within 24 h after birds were initially exposed to wet, not necessary wet and dirty, litter, the first signs of FPD appeared, possibly due to a rapid inflammatory reaction (Mayne et al, 2007b). Several authors state that FPD, especially in severe cases, may cause discomfort and pain for the birds (Ekstrand and Algers, 1997;Buda et al, 2002;Mayne et al, 2006;Berk, 2007;Mirza, 2011) and there-ABSTRACT In the previously performed field study from 2007 to 2009, it became evident that foot pad alterations were already commonly found in turkeys at the age of 6 wk.…”