RESUMO
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most detrimental infectious diseases in the modern poultry industry, characterized by necrosis in the small intestine. It is commonly accepted that NetB-producing C. perfringens type G strains are responsible for the disease. However, based on both macroscopic and histopathological observations, two distinct types of NE are observed. To date, both a haemorrhagic form of NE and the type G-associated non-haemorrhagic disease entity are commonly referred to as NE and the results from scientific research are interchangeably used, without distinguishing between the disease entities. Therefore, we propose to rename the haemorrhagic disease entity to necro-haemorrhagic enteritis.
Assuntos
Toxinas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Galinhas/microbiologia , Infecções por Clostridium/veterinária , Clostridium perfringens/metabolismo , Enterite/veterinária , Enterotoxinas/metabolismo , Necrose/veterinária , Doenças das Aves Domésticas/patologia , Animais , Infecções por Clostridium/microbiologia , Infecções por Clostridium/patologia , Enterite/microbiologia , Enterite/patologia , Intestino Delgado/microbiologia , Intestino Delgado/patologia , Necrose/microbiologia , Doenças das Aves Domésticas/microbiologia , Terminologia como AssuntoRESUMO
Over the past 50 years, intentional genetic selection within the broiler industry has led to major improvements in both body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion efficiency. Next to its economic advantages, enhancing BWG can increase the risk of metabolic and skeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether higher BWG is a predisposing factor for broiler necrotic enteritis. In this study, 300 broilers were challenged with Clostridium perfringens using a well-established, previously described challenge model. It was found that birds with higher body weight (BW) and BWG before challenge were predisposed to develop more severe necrotic enteritis lesions. After challenge, the average BWG of the birds developing mild to severe lesions dropped significantly, negatively affecting bird welfare and performance. These results show a significant interplay between BWG and the development of necrotic enteritis lesions. This raises the question whether there is a limit to broiler performance with respect to maintaining intestinal health, and whether decreasing BWG (at certain stages of the growth cycle) can be part of a plan to prevent intestinal pathology. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Higher body weight is a predisposing factor to necrotic enteritis in broilers.