title: Rethinking our understanding of the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens.
abstract: For decades, low doses of antibiotics have been used widely in animal production to promote growth. However, there is a trend to reduce this use of antibiotics in feedstuffs, and legislation is now in place in Europe to prohibit their use in this way. As a consequence, economically important diseases, such as necrotic enteritis (NE) of chickens, that are caused by Clostridium perfringens have become more prevalent. Recent research is creating a paradigm shift in our understanding of the pathogenesis of NE and is now providing information that will be necessary to monitor and control the incidence of NE in poultry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Research Group Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Immerseel
authors.forename: Julian I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Rood
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Titball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*