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Colloidal Iodine and So-Called Blackhead Disease*
Special Articles* Colloidal Iodine and So-Called Blackhead Disease
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In these experiments seven flocks of about 90 birds each were used. In each flock approximately half of the birds were treated with the iodine vermicide (Merck) according to the directions of the manufacturers, and the remaining half were left untreated as controls. All birds were left to range together so that the treated and untreated birds were under identical conditions. Of the 333 turkeys treated with one ounce each of the iodine vermicide (Merck) at monthly intervals until three doses had been given to each bird, 23 birds or 6.9 percent died of blackhead disease. Of the 243 controls, 27 birds, or 11.1 percent, died of the same disease. The disease did not develop to any extent except in one * Starting with this issue POULTRY SCIENCE will carry special articles as well as the usual ten or twelve feature articles. These articles will consist largely of short notes giving results of complete experiments. Preliminary reports will not be accepted as it is not the intention merely to provide for reports of progress such as are usually contained in the annual reports of the Experiment Stations. Since these articles are to be used largely as "filler" they will be published in such order as best meets the needs of the managing editor.
flock. In this flock of 21 treated and 21 control birds, 17 of the treated birds died of blackhead disease, and 19 of the controls died of this disease. In a small flock of five young turkeys, two died when only a month old, of blackhead disease. At that time the remaining three were given 10 cc each of iodine vermicide (Merck). One of these died of blackhead a week after the treatment. At that time the remaining two were given a second dose of ten cc each. Six days later one of these died of the same disease. The last one was then given IS cc of the vermicide and again two weeks later, another 15 cc dose. This bird died of blackhead disease ten days after the last dose was administered. Two additional flocks were given gelatin capsules containing the iodine in powder form. In these two flocks the disease occurred in neither the treated nor the control birds. The weights of both groups at the time of marketing were practically the same. In an analysis of the results of these experiments one can have no hesitancy in deducing that the treatment had little if any prophylactic value in the flock where the disease occurred, as 17 of the treated birds died of the disease and 19 of the controls died of the same disease. Curative value could not be claimed for this treatment in the flock of five turkeys that were treated repeatedly while the disease persisted until all had died of the disease. It can readily be seen that erroneous conclusions might have been drawn if the disease had not occurred in any flock. Under such conditions it might have appeared that the treatment administered prevented the disease and that the control birds picked up enough iodine from the droppings of the treated birds to prevent infection. In this work iodine vermicide (Merck) administered according to the instructions of the manufacturer did not prevent blackhead disease in a flock of 42 turkeys in which 17 treated birds and 19 control birds died of the disease. Curative value was not demonstrated in a small flock of five turkeys treated repeatedly while the disease persisted. E. P. JOHNSON
Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. (Paper No. 27)
[379]
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 11, 2015
HE so-called blackhead disease involving chiefly the intestines and liver of the turkey, increases in prevalence when the birds are allowed to occupy the same ranging space from year to year. In a circular distributed by the manufacturer the following statements are found: "Iodine vermicide (Merck) is not only of value in the treatment of intestinal worms of poultry, but is apparently also of value in avoiding and alleviating the ravages of Blackhead in turkeys. Hundreds of experienced turkey raisers report that iodine vermicide (Merck) is an invaluable aid when used for this purpose." Because of the paucity of available information regarding the use of this product in the control of blackhead disease of turkeys, it was decided to carry out some experiments to determine the prophylactic and the therapeutic value of this drug under controlled conditions.
T
In these experiments seven flocks of about 90 birds each were used. In each flock approximately half of the birds were treated with the iodine vermicide (Merck) according to the directions of the manufacturers, and the remaining half were left untreated as controls. All birds were left to range together so that the treated and untreated birds were under identical conditions. Of the 333 turkeys treated with one ounce each of the iodine vermicide (Merck) at monthly intervals until three doses had been given to each bird, 23 birds or 6.9 percent died of blackhead disease. Of the 243 controls, 27 birds, or 11.1 percent, died of the same disease. The disease did not develop to any extent except in one * Starting with this issue POULTRY SCIENCE will carry special articles as well as the usual ten or twelve feature articles. These articles will consist largely of short notes giving results of complete experiments. Preliminary reports will not be accepted as it is not the intention merely to provide for reports of progress such as are usually contained in the annual reports of the Experiment Stations. Since these articles are to be used largely as "filler" they will be published in such order as best meets the needs of the managing editor.
flock. In this flock of 21 treated and 21 control birds, 17 of the treated birds died of blackhead disease, and 19 of the controls died of this disease. In a small flock of five young turkeys, two died when only a month old, of blackhead disease. At that time the remaining three were given 10 cc each of iodine vermicide (Merck). One of these died of blackhead a week after the treatment. At that time the remaining two were given a second dose of ten cc each. Six days later one of these died of the same disease. The last one was then given IS cc of the vermicide and again two weeks later, another 15 cc dose. This bird died of blackhead disease ten days after the last dose was administered. Two additional flocks were given gelatin capsules containing the iodine in powder form. In these two flocks the disease occurred in neither the treated nor the control birds. The weights of both groups at the time of marketing were practically the same. In an analysis of the results of these experiments one can have no hesitancy in deducing that the treatment had little if any prophylactic value in the flock where the disease occurred, as 17 of the treated birds died of the disease and 19 of the controls died of the same disease. Curative value could not be claimed for this treatment in the flock of five turkeys that were treated repeatedly while the disease persisted until all had died of the disease. It can readily be seen that erroneous conclusions might have been drawn if the disease had not occurred in any flock. Under such conditions it might have appeared that the treatment administered prevented the disease and that the control birds picked up enough iodine from the droppings of the treated birds to prevent infection. In this work iodine vermicide (Merck) administered according to the instructions of the manufacturer did not prevent blackhead disease in a flock of 42 turkeys in which 17 treated birds and 19 control birds died of the disease. Curative value was not demonstrated in a small flock of five turkeys treated repeatedly while the disease persisted. E. P. JOHNSON
Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. (Paper No. 27)
[379]
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 11, 2015
HE so-called blackhead disease involving chiefly the intestines and liver of the turkey, increases in prevalence when the birds are allowed to occupy the same ranging space from year to year. In a circular distributed by the manufacturer the following statements are found: "Iodine vermicide (Merck) is not only of value in the treatment of intestinal worms of poultry, but is apparently also of value in avoiding and alleviating the ravages of Blackhead in turkeys. Hundreds of experienced turkey raisers report that iodine vermicide (Merck) is an invaluable aid when used for this purpose." Because of the paucity of available information regarding the use of this product in the control of blackhead disease of turkeys, it was decided to carry out some experiments to determine the prophylactic and the therapeutic value of this drug under controlled conditions.