Tracheal cilia response to exogenous niacin in drinking water of turkey poults infected with Bordetella avium.

Niacin was added daily to the drinking water of control and Bordetella avium-infected turkey poults at a dosage of 0, 70, and 280 mg/liter over a 2-week experimental period. Fourteen days postinoculation, tracheal sections were examined by histological and morphometrical analysis of cilia, as well as agar plate isolation for bacteria. Infected poults exhibited a 96-97% loss of cilia along the tracheal epithelial border, compared with only a 4-5% loss in controls. Infected poults receiving niacin in the drinking water exhibited only a 61.0% and 76.0% loss of cilia at doses of 70 mg/liter and 280 mg/liter, respectively. The results indicate that niacin treatment may influence the pathogenicity of B. avium infection.