Conclusions

This FAAST Review was Meant to:

1. Educate producers on necrotic enteritis and coccidiosis, including their significance to the industry, clinical signs, risk factors, and methods for diagnosing disease when they are suspected to be present within a flock
2. Provide producers with management strategies to reduce the risk that their flock will develop necrotic enteritis and/or coccidiosis
3. Provide alternative strategies to antimicrobial use in preventing necrotic enteritis and coccidiosis

After this FAAST Review, You Should Now Know:

Section 1:

• The clinical signs associated with infection by Clostridium perfringens bacteria in poultry
• The interaction between host, agent, and environment necessary to cause necrotic enteritis
• How necrotic enteritis is diagnosed, and the value post mortem examinations have in early identification of disease to prevent more widespread infections and losses

Section 2:

• The importance of maintaining a clean environment with strict biosecurity measures in place to reduce disease entry into your barns
• The role nutrition plays in disease prevention and development
• Management strategies that can be implemented to help your birds maintain a healthy immune system with a strong capacity to fight disease
• Vaccinations and alternatives that can be utilized to protect your flock all while ensuring prudent antimicrobial use and stewardship for flock health and food safety

Section 3:

• The clinical signs associated with coccidiosis infection by Eimeria species in poultry, including interactions between host, agent, and environment
• Risk factors for coccidiosis infections
• How diagnoses can be made and the value of performing post mortem exams and they role they have in identifying problems before widespread outbreaks occur

Section 4:

• The importance of preventing coccidiosis infections in your flock
• Strategies to mitigate risk including bedding management, and improving biosecurity practices
• The importance of preserving the currently available anticoccidial medications to prevent resistance and potential implications on human health
• The importance of maintaining good gut health to prevent bacterial imbalances that may predispose birds to disease
• Your veterinarian’s role and how they can help you prevent disease from becoming a problem on your operation