Enterococcus cecorum
Prevention
There are two obstacles, which are the unknown infection model and the mechanism of the preventive Lincomycin-Spectinomycin is not known. What we know is that Enterococcus cecorum infection enters the chicken at the gastro-intestinal tract and that the best growing animals, often roosters, are affected. Which is characterized by a higher gastro-intestinal tract charge. Options are:
- A reduction of uptake of the number of Enterococcus cecorum in the first days. The drinking water is frequently contaminated with Enterococcus. To clean the drinking water you could use mechanical or chemical cleaning of the drinking water system to combat biofilm during vacancy. In the first week daily flush the drinking water system and change the water. In the first week you could disinfect the drinking water continuous.
- Specific antibodies against Enterococcus cecorum in the first days of live of a chick. This could be ensured through generation of antibodies in parent animals through double vaccination with the vaccine of Enterococcus cecorum.
- Improve the intestinal health in the first days of life. This can be achieved by reducing the stress factors. Examples of stress factors are; long dehydration and fasting, collecting the chicks and transportation. Another option to improve the intestinal health are additions through feed and water, such as probiotica, prebiotics , organic acids, MCFA’s and phyto-therapy. The use of yeast cell wall derivatives increase the intestinal defence.
- Growth restriction in the first week of life. (4)