Changes in circulating prostaglandin E and F2 alpha levels, cloacal temperature, and leukocyte counts in turkeys inoculated with Pasteurella multocida.

The inoculation of Pasteurella multocida (P-1059) intravenously into turkeys increased significantly the plasma prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha levels to 157% of the control values and the plasma PGE levels to 171% of control values at 3 hr after treatment. At 12 hr, the cloacal temperature of the inoculated birds was significantly higher than that of the control. The leukocyte count of inoculated birds remained unchanged from that of the control. However, the differential leukocyte count shifted in favor of significant increases in heterophils and decreases in lymphocytes and monocytes at 6 and 12 hr after inoculation. This study provides evidence that increases in plasma levels of PGF2 alpha and PGE may be partly responsible for the clinicopathological manifestations of acute fowl cholera.