Robert Evans, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Evans is a retired poultry technical consultant. Evans has more than 20 years of experience in microbiology, immunology, parasitology and food safety and served as a member of the Elanco Poultry Technical team for 15 years.
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an acute enterotoxemia caused by toxins produced by Clostridium perfringens as it grows in the intestinal tract of birds. It is a disease that affects birds between two and five weeks old and is a constant concern in the poultry industry. In fact, it's one of the most common and costly poultry diseases, with an estimated cost to the U.S. poultry industry of $0.05 or more per bird.¹
Since 2010, the prevalence of NE has remained the same or worsened.² As the industry continues to withdraw its use of antibiotic growth promotants (AGPs) and other antibiotics, NE has increased in severity in many flocks, causing daily mortality rates as high as 1%.³
Despite the rising mortality rates caused by clinical outbreaks, subclinical cases of NE are much more common. Such cases can hide and remain undetected in a flock but cause birds to experience reduced growth rates, further impacting profitability at the processing facility.
NE can be addressed through on-farm management practices that support a birds’ own defenses through the gut and Intestinal Integrity. Many broiler producers frequently rotate or change their NE control strategy due to concerns over loss of efficacy, but studies have proven that this is not required.
Reduce Rotational Frequency With Multiple Cycles
Field-trial research shows that using multiple cycles of an extended-use antibiotic, like Inteprity®, helps prevent mortality caused by NE and improves Intestinal Integrity (I2) scores without losing efficacy or risking resistance, compared to frequent rotations. An animal-use-only antibiotic also helps maintain profitability and welfare standards without contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to human medicines.
The trial research showed:
- 18 months of multiple Inteprity cycles resulted in a steady I2 index score improvement.⁴
- A single, 9-month Inteprity rotation program maintained I2 stability.⁴
- A multiple rotation program with Inteprity (every 4.5 months) showed a marked deterioration in I2 index score.⁴
Improve Key Lesion Scores With Continuous Use
The same data shows key lesion scores in birds improved by using Inteprity for multiple cycles:
- Mucus, cellular sloughing and feed passage incidences all decreased.⁴
- All other scores observed, including water content, NE and gizzard, remained stable and low.⁴
With the assistance of an Elanco Technical Consultant and HTSiTM, producers can track and benchmark lesion scores, which help measure overall bird health.
Everyone Wins With Inteprity
The evidence is clear. Using multiple cycles of Inteprity helps prevent the mortality caused by NE to improve I2 scores and key lesion scores compared to frequent rotations, without losing efficacy or risking resistance.
By utilizing the innovation and flexibility of Inteprity, poultry producers can help keep their broiler flocks healthy while maximizing profitability. To learn more, producers can contact their Elanco technical consultant to discuss ways to reduce anticoccidial rotations using Inteprity, watch our webinar or find more information on the Inteprity product page.
Inteprity, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
Tags
Broiler Conventional
Intestinal Integrity
Necrotic enteritis
¹Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.
²Van Immerseel F, Rood J, et al. Rethinking our understanding of the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens. Trends Microbiol. 2009;17.1:32-36.
³Williams R. Intercurrent coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis of chickens: rational, integrated disease management by maintenance of gut integrity. Avian Pathol. 2005;34.3:159-80.
⁴Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.
