title: Predisposing factors and prevention of Clostridium perfringens-associated enteritis.
abstract: Clostridium perfringens is one of the major causes of intestinal disease in humans and animals. Its pathogenicity is contributed to by the production of a variety of toxins. In addition, predisposing environmental factors are important for the induction of C. perfringens-associated enteritis as shown by infection models. Environmental contamination, gastric and intestinal pH, intestinal microflora, nutrition, concurrent infections, and medical interventions may influence the intestinal colonization, growth, and toxin production by C. perfringens. Prevention of C. perfringens-associated enteritis may be mediated by the use of feed additives like probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, essential oils, bacteriophages, lysozymes, bacteriocins, and antimicrobial peptides. Here we summarize and discuss published data on the influence of different environmental predisposing factors and preventive measures. Further research should focus on feed composition and feed additives in order to prevent C. perfringens-associated enteritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, P.O. Box 80.158, 3508TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Janneke G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Allaart
authors.forename: Alphons J A M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Asten
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröne
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D056692:Prebiotics
keywords: C. perfringens; Concurrent infections; Enteritis; Feed additives; Intestinal microflora; Nutrition; Predisposing factors