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A Novel Presentation of Clostridium perfringens in Young Broilers
Rachel A Thiemann1, Jay Kay Thornton2, Philip A Stayer3
1Poultry Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University 3137 MS-468, Pearl, MS 39208, rachel.thiemann@msstate.edu.
Avian Diseases
|March 21, 2022
Summary
Necrotic enteritis (NE) in young broilers presents unusually, causing early mortality. A hatchery outbreak of Clostridium perfringens was identified as the source, impacting poultry production.
Area of Science:
- Poultry Science
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Necrotic enteritis (NE) significantly impacts the poultry industry, causing economic losses due to poor performance and mortality.
- Early-onset NE in broilers is less common, making novel presentations critical to understand.
Observation:
- A case report details a novel presentation of NE in young broilers (5-11 days old) with increased mortality.
- Gross lesions included enteritis of the upper small intestine with mucosal ulcerations, thinning, distension, and pseudomembranous layer formation.
Findings:
- Clostridium perfringens was isolated from affected birds and identified as the causative agent.
- Environmental sampling at the hatchery revealed C. perfringens, with VITEK MS confirming a 99.9% genetic link between hatchery and bird isolates.
- This demonstrates the hatchery as the epidemiological point source for the NE outbreak.
Implications:
- The early-life gastrointestinal tract development is crucial for broiler production.
- This novel presentation of C. perfringens highlights the need for stringent biosecurity measures in hatcheries.
- Understanding early-onset NE is vital for maintaining competitive broiler production.
