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Contributed Papers: Posters
Pathology

Experimental production of necrotic enteritis and its use for studies on the relationships between necrotic enteritis and coccidiosis in chickens.

Ralph. N. Marshall a, Ray. B. Williams.b, Roberto. M. La Ragione.a, Jacqueline. A. Marshalla, aVeterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB; bSchering-Plough Animal Health, Breakspear Road South, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB9 6LS.Corresponding Author: r.n.marshall@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk

Necrotic enteritis is a potentially fatal disease of poultry, and is both a welfare and economic problem. The disease is an enterotoxaemia caused by Clostridium perfringens types A and C, and manifests itself when the presence of high numbers of bacteria coincides with significant damage to the gut epithelium. Gut damage caused by various species of the coccidian genus Eimeria has been implicated. A new method for the experimental production of necrotic enteritis in chickens is described, and this was used to examine the relationship between clostridial and coccidial infections. Groups consisted of an uninfected control, a group which received Cl. perfringens only, another which received Eimeria maxima only, and a fourth which received E. maxima followed by Cl. perfringens. In all cases the Cl. perfringens was administered directly to the intestine using a catheter, and the disease monitored. Parameters measured were clinical symptoms, lesions and weight gain. Results: Coccidiosis caused by virulent E. maxima exacerbated lesions of necrotic enteritis and other clinical effects caused by a subsequent challenge of virulent Cl. perfringens type A. This group had the highest lesion score, and also a highly significant weight difference when compared to all other groups.

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