Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 7/31/15


USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., in which researchers provide new insight into controlling necrotic enteritis in broilers.

Project #F052, titled “Identification of Novel Virulence Factors for Necrotic Enteritis of Chickens” was conducted by Dr. Joan Smyth and Neha Mishra, Department of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.
Necrotic enteritis is a disease in broilers that is increasing in incidence as companies reduce the use of antibiotics in feed. Little is known about the causative organism, Clostridium perfringens, and new effective control measures are needed.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut, led by Dr. Joan Smyth, recently completed a research project where they performed basic research on the organism to determine the factors that allow it to cause the disease. They discovered previously unknown bacterial proteins which may be important factors involved in the disease.

Further study of these proteins is underway and may lead to new vaccines or other methods to control necrotic enteritis.

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