Necrotic enteritis in chickens: a review of pathogenesis, immune responses and prevention, focusing on probiotics and vaccination

• Published in: Animal health research reviews Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 147 - 162
• Main Authors: Alizadeh, Mohammadali, Shojadoost, Bahram, Boodhoo, Nitish, Astill, Jake, Taha-Abdelaziz, Khaled, Hodgins, Douglas C., Kulkarni, Raveendra R., Sharif, Shayan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Animal diseases; animal health; Animals; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Chickens; Clostridium Infections - prevention & control; Clostridium Infections - veterinary; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium perfringens - physiology; Collagen; Diet; Disease prevention; Economic impact; Enteritis; Enteritis - prevention & control; Enteritis - veterinary; Enzymes; Gene expression; Genomes; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity; Immunization; Mortality; necrotic enteritis; Nutrition; Pathogenesis; Pathogens; Poultry; Poultry Diseases - prevention & control; poultry industry; Probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Toxins; Vaccination; Vaccination - veterinary; Vaccines; Virulence; pathogenesis; immune response; Chickens; Clostridium perfringens; necrotic enteritis; probiotics; vaccination
• ISSN: 1466-2523; 1475-2654; 1475-2654
• DOI: 10.1017/S146625232100013X

Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by Clostridium perfringens (CP), is one of the most common of poultry diseases, causing huge economic losses to the poultry industry. This review provides an overview of the pathogenesis of NE in chickens and of the interaction of CP with the host immune system. The roles of management, nutrition, probiotics, and vaccination in reducing the incidence and severity of NE in poultry flocks are also discussed.