An animal model for the study of human alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Turkeys with "round heart disease" often have a deficiency in alpha1 globulin. Within their liver cells, PAS +, diastase resistant granules are present, and are remarkably similar to those of persons with inherited AAT deficiency. The electrophoretic patterns made according Fagerhol's method showed differences between the serum of healthy birds and the turkeys suffering from "round heart disease".