title: Quantification of cell proliferation and alpha-toxin gene expression of Clostridium perfringens in the development of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.
abstract: Cell proliferation and alpha-toxin gene expression of Clostridium perfringens in relation to the development of necrotic enteritis (NE) were investigated. Unlike bacitracin-treated chickens, non-bacitracin-treated birds exhibited typical NE symptoms and reduced growth performance. They also demonstrated increased C. perfringens proliferation and alpha-toxin gene expression that were positively correlated and progressed according to the regression model y = b(0) + b(1)X - b(2)X(2). The average C. perfringens count of 5 log(10) CFU/g in the ileal digesta appears to be a threshold for developing NE with a lesion score of 2.
authors.affiliation: Food Research Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 5C9.
authors.forename: Weiduo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Huaijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002645:Chickens; D003015:Clostridium Infections; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015870:Gene Expression; D009336:Necrosis; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000032:analysis*