Toxicity of pokeberries (fruit of Phytolacca americana large) for turkey poults. 1975

B D Barnett

Fresh pokeberries were picked from the cluster and liquified in a blender for 3 to 5 minutes. The liquified berries were mixed into a standard turkey starter at the rate of 0, 2-1/2, 5 and 10%. Addition was at the expense of the total diet. Two separate experiments were conducted with day old Broad White turkeys. Weight gain, mortality and gross lesions were observed to 3 weeks of age. Growth rate was reduced with each increase in level of pokeberries. In Experiment 1, 3-week gains were 376, 354, 314 and 205 g. for 0, 2-1/2, 5 and 10% pokeberries. Weight gains in Experiment 2 were 339, 317, 254 and 172. Mortality was 33 and 43% in the two experiments when 10% pokeberries were fed. Lower levels produced erratic mortality results. Poults fed 5 and 10% pokeberries exhibited ataxia and occasional inability to walk. The hock joints frequently became enlarged and crooked. Ascites was observed in some birds at all dietary levels of added pokeberries. The gall bladder of dead birds was frequently much enlarged and filled with brownish fluid rather than normal bile.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007592 Joint Diseases Diseases involving the JOINTS. Arthropathies,Arthropathy,Joint Disease
D010939 Plant Poisoning Poisoning by the ingestion of plants or its leaves, berries, roots or stalks. The manifestations in both humans and animals vary in severity from mild to life threatening. In animals, especially domestic animals, it is usually the result of ingesting moldy or fermented forage. Poisoning, Plant,Plant Poisonings,Poisonings, Plant
D011201 Poultry Diseases Diseases of birds which are raised as a source of meat or eggs for human consumption and are usually found in barnyards, hatcheries, etc. The concept is differentiated from BIRD DISEASES which is for diseases of birds not considered poultry and usually found in zoos, parks, and the wild. Disease, Poultry,Diseases, Poultry,Poultry Disease
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D005638 Fruit The fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a plant, enclosing the seed or seeds. Berries,Legume Pod,Plant Aril,Plant Capsule,Aril, Plant,Arils, Plant,Berry,Capsule, Plant,Capsules, Plant,Fruits,Legume Pods,Plant Arils,Plant Capsules,Pod, Legume,Pods, Legume
D006614 Hindlimb Either of two extremities of four-footed non-primate land animals. It usually consists of a FEMUR; TIBIA; and FIBULA; tarsals; METATARSALS; and TOES. (From Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p73) Hindlimbs
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001201 Ascites Accumulation or retention of free fluid within the peritoneal cavity.
D014422 Turkeys Large woodland game BIRDS in the subfamily Meleagridinae, family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. Formerly they were considered a distinct family, Melegrididae. Meleagridinae,Meleagrididae

Related Publications

B D Barnett
January 1993, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc,
B D Barnett
January 1988, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology,
B D Barnett
January 1989, Avian diseases,
B D Barnett
February 1989, Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology,
B D Barnett
January 1984, Acta cientifica venezolana,
B D Barnett
August 1991, Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica,
B D Barnett
October 1998, Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry,
B D Barnett
November 1964, Lancet (London, England),
B D Barnett
August 1987, Planta medica,
Copied contents to your clipboard!