Rethinking our understanding of the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens

• Published in: Trends in microbiology (Regular ed.) Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 32 - 36
• Main Authors: Van Immerseel, Filip, Rood, Julian I, Moore, Robert J, Titball, Richard W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2009
• Subjects: Animals; Chickens; Clostridium Infections - microbiology; Clostridium Infections - pathology; Clostridium Infections - veterinary; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium perfringens - metabolism; Clostridium perfringens - pathogenicity; Enteritis - microbiology; Enteritis - pathology; Enteritis - veterinary; Internal Medicine; Intestinal Mucosa - microbiology; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Necrosis - veterinary; Poultry Diseases - microbiology; Poultry Diseases - pathology
• ISSN: 0966-842X; 1878-4380
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2008.09.005

For decades, low doses of antibiotics have been used widely in animal production to promote growth. However, there is a trend to reduce this use of antibiotics in feedstuffs, and legislation is now in place in Europe to prohibit their use in this way. As a consequence, economically important diseases, such as necrotic enteritis (NE) of chickens, that are caused by Clostridium perfringens have become more prevalent. Recent research is creating a paradigm shift in our understanding of the pathogenesis of NE and is now providing information that will be necessary to monitor and control the incidence of NE in poultry.