NECROTIC ENTERITIS  IN POULTRY

Pashu Sandesh, 25th August 2020

Dr V.Rajendra Prasad

Necrotic Enteritis is a complex problem and multi-factorial disease. So, it requires definitely a powerful concept and settled strategy in a poultry farm in order to deal with it.

The agent involved in the aetiology of the disease is Clostridium perfringens, which produces types A and C alpha-toxin and type C beta toxin. More recent data have proposed a novel NetB toxin as the causative agent for necrotic enteritis in poultry. This finding was supported by a knockout mutant of the bacteria that was only able to reproduce the disease when complemented with the wild type NetB gene. Death occurs within a few hours and in acute cases, mortality can be up to 50%.

US researchers estimate that subclinical necrotic enteritis results in a 12% reduction in body weight and a 10.9% increase in feed conversion rate compared with healthy birds. Necrotic Enteritis outbreaks cause $2 billion in economic losses. A targeted microbial solution can reduce the economic impact.

Conventional prevention of necrotic enteritis is based on the constant inclusion of low doses of antimicrobials in the feed or water plus adequate control of coccidia. Antibiotics such as bacitracin such as Albac 10% of Huvepharma containing Zinc Bacitracin is a proven solution to treat necrotic enteritis and dose is 500 gms for a ton of feed.

Nimax of Huvephrama having combined strength of Ionophore and Chemical nicarbazin & maduramicin is a unique product to prevent and treat coccidiosis at an inclusion rate of 250 gms for a ton of feed. Still, in view of the performance and economic issues involved due to necrotic enteritis. It is important to address all the issues possible, including keeping bird stress to a minimum, maintaining good feed storage system.