WHAT KINDS OF DISEASES DO TURKEYS GET?
Wild turkeys are subject to many infectious and non-infectious diseases and parasitical infections. Some of these are relatively innocuous, while others are very severe. Some of the most important are as follows: Avian pox: This is an infectious, contagious viral disease, occurring mostly in the southeastern United States, but probably found throughout the eastern turkey’s range. The most important means of transmission is by mosquitoes and other blood-sucking arthropods. This disease was reported in 12 of 13 years in a study in 8 southeastern states. Salmonellosis: This infectious, contagious, bacterial disease is widespread in domestic and wild birds. Several species of Salmonella may be involved, including those which cause pullorum disease, fowl typhoid, and enteric salmonellosis. Pullorum and fowl typhoid probably do not occur in wild populations of turkeys at this time. Mycoplasmosis: This disease is transmitted by any of several microorganisms (Mycoplasma), including Mycoplasma
