Clostridium Perfringens
Prevention
There
are several risk factor increasing the risk of C. Perfringens. Farm management
is the basic risks that always need to be looked after. Hygiene and housing are
the two risk factor in farm management. C. Perfringes is a spore forming
bacteria. This means the bacteria is able to survive outside the animal by
forming spores. In a dirty stable with a lot of manure/dirt these spores can
easily spread. Overcrowded stable is a big housing risk. When a stable is
overcrowded the infection pressure raises and the change of Necrotic entiritis
also increases. The most important is the diet. Diets high in energy, protein and fish meal, as well as
wheat-based diets can increase a rapid growth of the C. Perfringens bacteria in
the intestines. This could lead to Necrotic Enteritis and a mortality of 10%.
Nowadays Necrotic enteritis is being treated with Penicillin’s
(e.g. phenoxymethyl penicillin, amoxycillin), in drinking water, or Bacitracin
in feed (e.g. 100 ppm). These penicillin attack the cell wall of the bacteria
which will kill the bacteria.