Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli and clostridium perfringens: Challenges in no antibiotics ever broiler production and potential solutions

Authors: FANCHER, C - Mississippi State University; ZHANG, LI - Mississippi State University; KIESS, A - Mississippi State University; ADHIKARI, P - Mississippi State University; DINH, T - Mississippi State University; SUKUMARAN, A - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Microorganisms
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2020
Publication Date: 10/6/2020
Citation: Fancher, C., Zhang, L., Kiess, A., Adhikari, P., Dinh, T., Sukumaran, A. 2020. Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli and clostridium perfringens: Challenges in no antibiotics ever broiler production and potential solutions. Microorganisms. 8(10):1533. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101533.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101533

Interpretive Summary: United States is the largest producer and the second largest exporter of poultry products in the world. Recently, there has been a shift to converting to antibiotic-free programs, which has caused an increase in disease outbreaks within poultry farms. Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens are two important pathogenic bacteria readily found in the poultry environment and result in annual billion-dollar losses. In order to combat these concerns, the poultry industry is working on implementing non-antibiotic alternatives including novel vaccines, prebiotics, probiotics, and housing management strategies. This review provides an overview of the poultry industry and antibiotic free production, current challenges, and emerging research on antibiotic alternatives to reduce pathogenic bacterial presence and improve bird health.

Technical Abstract: United States is the largest producer and the second largest exporter of broiler meat in the world. In the US, broiler production is largely converting to antibiotic-free programs which has caused an increase in morbidity and mortality within broiler farms. Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens are two important pathogenic bacteria readily found in the broiler environment and result in annual billion-dollar losses from colibacillosis, gangrenous dermatitis, and necrotic enteritis. The broiler industry is in search of non-antibiotic alternatives including novel vaccines, prebiotics, probiotics, and housing management strategies to mitigate production losses due to these diseases. This review provides an overview of the broiler industry and antibiotic free production, current challenges, and emerging research on antibiotic alternatives to reduce pathogenic microbial presence and improve bird health.