Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry: Signs and Control Strategies

Necrotic enteritis is one of the major digestive diseases in poultry, usually associated with overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens in the gut and severe mucosal damage. The disease may appear acutely with increased mortality, or in a subclinical form cause considerable economic loss through reduced growth, a higher feed conversion ratio, and lower uniformity.

The onset of necrotic enteritis is usually not the result of a single factor. Many flocks show no severe involvement until a predisposing condition arises, such as coccidiosis, a change in diet, mucosal damage, poor digestion, or environmental stress. For this reason, managing the disease requires a multifactorial approach.

Predisposing factors

• Coccidiosis and damage to the intestinal mucosa
• Diets with low digestibility or a high level of undigested protein
• Sudden diet changes and a drop in raw-material quality
• High stocking density, stress, and litter moisture
• Disturbance of the intestinal microbial balance

Signs and symptoms

• A sudden or gradual increase in mortality
• Reduced feed intake and slower growth
• Lethargy and ruffled feathers
• Diarrhea or a change in droppings consistency
• A worsening feed conversion ratio and reduced uniformity

Typical lesions

• A distended, friable small intestine
• Presence of a necrotic membrane or material resembling a lining on the wall
• Severe mucosal inflammation and sometimes a foul odor
• Concurrence with coccidiosis lesions in some cases

Principles of control

• Identifying and controlling underlying factors such as coccidiosis
• Adjusting the diet and paying attention to raw-material digestibility
• Managing litter and house humidity
• Continuous monitoring of intestinal lesions
• Using supportive measures and control programs under veterinary supervision

FAQ

Is necrotic enteritis always accompanied by heavy mortality? No. The subclinical form is also very important and costly.

Does the presence of Clostridium alone mean disease? No. This bacterium may be present in the gut, but predisposing factors are needed for the disease to develop.

Is controlling coccidiosis important in preventing necrotic enteritis? Yes, it is one of the most important steps.

Call to action

As part of programs that support gut health and help manage digestive challenges such as necrotic enteritis, Carvacil is presented as the related solution for this article. For more information, see the Carvacil product page.

Suggested internal links

• Gut health in broiler chickens
• Coccidiosis in poultry
• Carvacil product page
• Wet litter in poultry farming