Blackhead disease also known as histomoniasis, is a serious poultry disease that can affect turkeys chickens, and game birds. Caused by the protozoa Histomonas meleagridis, this disease can lead to significant health problems and even death in affected birds. But what about the safety of consuming turkeys with blackhead disease? Is it safe to eat their meat, or should it be discarded?
Understanding the Risks:
While the protozoa responsible for blackhead disease primarily affects the bird’s intestines and liver it can potentially spread to the muscles. This raises concerns about the safety of consuming the meat of affected birds.
Expert Opinions and Recommendations:
Veterinarians and poultry experts generally advise against consuming turkeys with blackhead disease. The primary reasons for this recommendation are:
- Potential Health Risks: While the protozoa itself may not directly cause illness in humans, there’s a possibility of secondary bacterial infections in the affected meat. These bacteria could pose health risks if the meat is not properly cooked.
- Ethical Considerations: Consuming sick or diseased animals raises ethical concerns. It’s important to ensure the welfare of animals and avoid unnecessary suffering.
- Economic Considerations: Blackhead disease can significantly impact the health and productivity of a flock, leading to economic losses for poultry farmers. Avoiding consumption of affected birds helps minimize these losses.
Alternatives and Considerations:
If you have turkeys suspected of having blackhead disease, it’s best to consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. If the birds are confirmed to have the disease, consider the following options:
- Culling and Disposal: This is the most recommended option to prevent further spread of the disease and ensure the safety of other birds in the flock.
- Thorough Cooking: If you choose to consume the meat, ensure it’s cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This helps eliminate any potential bacterial contamination.
- Discarding Liver and Intestines: The liver and intestines are the primary sites of infection in blackhead disease. Discarding these organs is highly recommended.
Additional Resources:
- FDA Blackhead Disease in Poultry: This resource provides detailed information about the disease, its lifecycle, and the lack of approved treatments.
- BackYard Chickens Forum: This forum thread discusses the safety of eating turkeys with blackhead disease, offering insights from experienced poultry enthusiasts.
While there’s no definitive answer on the absolute safety of consuming turkeys with blackhead disease, the general recommendation is to avoid it. The potential health risks, ethical considerations, and economic implications make culling and proper disposal the preferred option. If you choose to consume the meat, ensure thorough cooking and discard the liver and intestines. Remember, prioritizing the welfare of your birds and ensuring food safety are paramount.
Lifecycle and Signs of Disease
The lifecycle of the protozoa H. meleagridis is complex:
- The infected bird’s cecum, a portion of its digestive tract, is where the protozoa grow;
- They move to the bird’s intestines where the roundworm H. gallinarum lives;.
- The roundworm eats the protozoa;
- The roundworm’s eggs become infected with the protozoa;
- The bird sheds the protozoal-infected roundworm eggs in its droppings.
When food, invertebrates (like earthworms), or bird droppings contaminated with the protozoa are consumed by healthy birds, they become infected. Direct bird-to-bird transmission can also occur within a flock. Because roundworms are frequently found in the intestines of chickens, partridges, and pheasants, these birds are frequently the source of protozoal infections in other birds.
Birds with blackhead disease are usually listless and have drooping wings, unkempt feathers, and yellow droppings. Typically, the cecum and liver of an infected bird will become inflamed and develop ulcers. Young birds become sick quickly and usually die within a few days after signs appear. The disease develops more slowly in older birds and they often become emaciated and may eventually die.
Turkeys are highly susceptible to blackhead disease. Once a turkey flock has been infected, 70 to 100% of the birds may die. In one survey, U. S. turkey industry professionals reported at least 50 outbreaks of the disease each year since 2009. 1 Blackhead disease is less severe in chickens but can lead to poor health and reduced egg production.
Histostat (nitarsone), an arsenic-based animal drug, was the only FDA-approved drug to prevent blackhead disease in poultry. However, in 2015, the pharmaceutical company asked the FDA to revoke the drug’s approval and voluntarily stopped selling Histostat because of worries about the drug’s impact on inorganic arsenic levels in treated birds. Currently, there are no animal drugs approved to prevent, treat, or control blackhead disease in the U. S.
More Information on the withdrawal of Histostat (nitarsone):
What is FDA doing about the lack of approved drugs against blackhead disease in poultry?
The FDA was tasked by the National Turkey Federation to ascertain whether treating blackhead disease in turkeys counts as a “minor use in a major species.” The FDA’s Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development concluded that using a medication to reduce the mortality caused by blackhead disease in flocks of turkeys with the disease qualifies as a minor use based on data supplied to the agency by the federation and data from other references. This assessment entitles any pharmaceutical company or other organization seeking approval of a new animal drug for this particular use to a number of incentives, such as grants, waivers of user fees, exclusive marketing rights, and eligibility for conditional approval.
What is Blackhead Disease?
Can turkeys eat Blackhead worms?
Slice the clove and soak overnight. The vitamin E oil can generally be added at the rate of a “dropper” per waterer. According to the ATTRA publication “ Parasite Management for Natural and Organic Poultry: Blackhead in Turkeys ” by Spence, turkeys are likely to be infect-ed through the consumption of earthworms and cecal worms while on pasture.
How do I get rid of many blackheads quickly?
Good facial hygiene and daily washing of the face is recommended. Salicylic acid face wash can dry out the dead skin cells in your pores and helps in clearing the pores. Some face masks can also improve symptoms. Consult your doctor if symptoms do not improve.
Can turkeys die from blackhead disease?
Young birds become sick quickly and usually die within a few days after signs appear. The disease develops more slowly in older birds and they often become emaciated and may eventually die. Turkeys are highly susceptible to blackhead disease. Once a turkey flock has been infected, 70 to 100% of the birds may die.
What causes blackhead disease in turkeys?
Blackhead disease, also known as histomoniasis, is a highly contagious and potentially fatal avian disease that primarily affects turkeys. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis. The parasite infects the caeca, which are blind pouches in the digestive system of turkeys, leading to severe damage and inflammation.