Micromorphometric study of the small intestines in different post-hatch periods in bronze turkey (Meleagris meleagris gallopavo)

Dimitar Dimitrov, David Yovchev, Kamelia Stamatova-Yovcheva, Georgi Penchev

Abstract: The normal development of the bronze turkey during post-hatch period depends on many factors. Two of the most important are: villus size and crypt size. Otherwise the structural development of the small intestinal epithelium in the birds is important for the normal gut absorption capacity and whole body growth. The aim of our investigation was to study the histological parameters – depth of the crypts and height of the villus in bronze turkeys’ small intestines and the enterocytes’ number in accordance to villus length. The height and width of the intestinal villi increased in age aspect. Both indices in duodenum, jejunum and ileum increased the most intensively till 90th day. The height of intestinal villi in the duodenum for the period from 1st to 90th day increased 3.4 times. The same index reported in the jejunum and ileum was higher, – 5.7 and 6.0 times respectively. The increase in the width and height of the villi corresponded with the increase of the absorption surface. The increase in the width and height of the villi corresponded with the increase of the absorption surface. The fastest growth rates were found for the ileum crypts – 5.4 times. The ratio of the height of the intestinal villi to the depth of the crypts increased from 1st day to 28th day for all segments of the small intestine.

Keywords: bronze turkey; micromorphology; small intestines

Date published: 2019-07-31