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Role of Clostridium perfringens Toxins in Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry

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Microbial Toxins

Part of the book series: Toxinology ((TOXI))

Abstract

Poultry products represent over 30% of animal protein consumption worldwide, and its demand is growing considerably. The current global annual production of poultry meat and eggs is more than 115 million tons and 70 million tons, respectively. Necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry is a reemerging infectious disease caused by certain strains of Clostridium perfringens. This bacterium is found in limited quantities as a normal inhabitant of the birds’ gut; however, under certain circumstances, a pathogenic strain proliferates and secretes a variety of bacteriocins, mucins, and adhesins that favors bacteria colonization and establishment. Once bacterial population reaches a certain density, toxin production is triggered which induces mucosal damage. NE generates a dramatic reduction of production levels and a significant increase in mortality in flocks of broilers and laying hens, leading to annual economic losses for the poultry industry estimated to be over $6 billion. NE may manifest as an acute or chronic enterotoxemia. Acute infection is associated with higher rates of mortality and chronic infection, with loss of weight and productivity in sick animals. There is evidence that immunization with formalin-inactivated crude supernatants, native or modified toxins, or other proteins induces partial protection against NE. This review summarizes the findings concerning virulence factors associated with NE pathogenesis and the efforts oriented to develop rational strategies to prevent and control this disease.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by CONICIT (FI-034B-14), FEES CONARE, and Vicerrectoría de Investigación Universidad de Costa Rica (grants 741-B5-504 and 741-B5-656).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica

    M Flores-Díaz & A Alape-Girón

  2. Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica

    E Barquero-Calvo

  3. Departamento de Patología Aviar, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica

    M Ramírez

  4. Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica

    A Alape-Girón

Authors
  1. M Flores-Díaz
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  2. E Barquero-Calvo
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  3. M Ramírez
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  4. A Alape-Girón
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Flores-Díaz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    P. Gopalakrishnakone

  2. Biology Department, Wilson College , Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA

    Brad Stiles

  3. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine and Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica , San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica

    Alberto Alape-Girón

  4. Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal , Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada

    J. Daniel Dubreuil

  5. College of Pharmacy, Roseman University of Health Sciences, Henderson, Nevada, USA

    Manas Mandal

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Flores-Díaz, M., Barquero-Calvo, E., Ramírez, M., Alape-Girón, A. (2016). Role of Clostridium perfringens Toxins in Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry. In: Gopalakrishnakone, P., Stiles, B., Alape-Girón, A., Dubreuil, J., Mandal, M. (eds) Microbial Toxins. Toxinology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6725-6_15-1

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