Necrotic enteritis in chickens: development of a straightforward disease model system

Abstract

The interaction between Eimeria species and Clostridium perfringens was investigated in two different necrotic enteritis (NE) models: 120-day-old broilers were used in two separate experiments consisting of six groups (n=10) each. Besides controls, chickens were infected with coccidia on study day (SD) 18 (Eimeria maxima and Eimeria acervulina (experiment 1) or Eimeria tenella and Eimeria brunetti (experiment 2) and/or a NetB toxin positive C perfringens strain (both experiments: SD 14 or SD 22, respectively)). Body weight, feed intake, mortality rate, clinical disease, Eimeria species oocyst excretion and C perfringens counts were recorded. NE and coccidiosis specific lesion scores were assessed (SD 24 and SD 30). In coinfected groups, NE-typical clinical signs occurred. Coccidiosis-specific lesions were most severe in coinfected groups (significant for E tenella, P<0.05). Most pronounced NE lesions occurred in coinfected chickens compared with C perfringens monoinfected groups (experiment 2, C perfringens infections on SD 22: P<0.05). In experiment 2, E tenella antibody levels were (non-significantly) higher in coinfected groups than in Eimeria species monoinfected groups. Thus, infection with E tenella and Eimeria brunetti followed by C perfringens inoculation is regarded as an easy to handle and suitable model for investigations into NE of chickens.

In vitro efficacy of allicin on chicken Eimeria tenella sporozoites

“…Allicin was shown to have antibacterial and antiviral activity (Borlinghaus et al 2014) which is now complemented by in vitro antiprotozoal activity. It is planned in the future to test allicin on an experimental necrotic enteritis model of co-infection with Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens as described earlier (Alnassan et al 2014).…”

Probiotics Bacillus licheniformis Improves Intestinal Health of Subclinical Necrotic Enteritis-Challenged Broilers

“…NE is typically divided into clinical NE and subclinical NE. Clinical NE usually exhibits mass death with a mortality rate up to 50% and causes intestinal ulcer erosion, bloody feces, and so on (Lee et al, 2011;Alnassan et al, 2014). However, SNE leads to mild intestinal damage in the flock, resulting in inappetence, malabsorption, poor digestion, and further impaired growth performance with a mortality generally less than 5% (Timbermont et al, 2011).…”

Experimental reproduction of necrotic enteritis in chickens: a review

“…It seems preferable to use coccidia infecting the small intestine (E. acervulina and/or E. maxima), although Eimeria spp. targeting the lower intestine are also used successfully (Alnassan et al, 2014). Eimeria necratix, while affecting the small intestine, is highly pathogenic and probably best avoided.…”