Predisposing factors and prevention of Clostridium perfringens -associated enteritis

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 449 - 464
• Main Authors: Allaart, Janneke G, van Asten, Alphons J.A.M, Gröne, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2013
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Animal Feed - microbiology; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - therapeutic use; C. perfringens; Clostridium; Clostridium Infections - microbiology; Clostridium Infections - prevention & control; Clostridium Infections - veterinary; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium perfringens - immunology; Clostridium perfringens - pathogenicity; Concurrent infections; Enteritis; Enteritis - microbiology; Enteritis - prevention & control; Enteritis - veterinary; Feed additives; Humans; Infectious Disease; Intestinal microflora; Nutrition; Poultry; Poultry Diseases - transmission; Prebiotics; Predisposing factors; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Feed additives; Nutrition; Concurrent infections; Predisposing factors; C. perfringens; Enteritis; Intestinal microflora
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2013.05.001

Abstract Clostridium perfringens is one of the major causes of intestinal disease in humans and animals. Its pathogenicity is contributed to by the production of a variety of toxins. In addition, predisposing environmental factors are important for the induction of C. perfringens -associated enteritis as shown by infection models. Environmental contamination, gastric and intestinal pH, intestinal microflora, nutrition, concurrent infections, and medical interventions may influence the intestinal colonization, growth, and toxin production by C. perfringens . Prevention of C. perfringens -associated enteritis may be mediated by the use of feed additives like probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, essential oils, bacteriophages, lysozymes, bacteriocins, and antimicrobial peptides. Here we summarize and discuss published data on the influence of different environmental predisposing factors and preventive measures. Further research should focus on feed composition and feed additives in order to prevent C. perfringens -associated enteritis.