Effect of Eimeria acervulina on experimentally induced necrotic enteritis in broiler-chickens

The role of Eimeria acervulina in the development of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens was studied in a controlled experiment. An attempt to provoke the experimental infection with Clostridium perfringens type A, predisposed by artificial infection with E. acervulina, was made. Four experimental groups were formed. In the course of 28 d some basic epizootiological parameters (morbidity and mortality rates, lethality) were recorded, as well as some economic parameters such as the dynamics of the average live weight, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio.. The presence of C perfringens in the small intestine and liver was studied by means of bacteriological tests. The presence of lesions in the small intestine caused by Eimeria, as well as the oocyst production (oocyst index) were also recorded. The highest morbidity rate and lethality were established in chickens from the mixed infection group. A lower percentage of morbidity rate was observed in chickens with single infection with E. acervulina oocysts. In the group challenged only with C. perfringens, the recorded morbidity rate was comparatively low, while lethality and cumulative mortality rate were equal to zero. The dynamics of economic parameters as indirect indices, was similar to the changes in the epizootiological parameters in the various groups.