Host responses to Clostridium perfringens challenge in a chicken model of chronic stress.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study utilized a chicken model of chronic physiological stress mediated by corticosterone (CORT) administration to ascertain how various host metrics are altered upon challenge with Clostridium perfringens. Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a disease of the small intestine of chickens incited by C. perfringens, which can result in elevated morbidity and mortality. The objective of the current study was to investigate how physiological stress alters host responses and predisposes birds to subclinical NE.

Results

Birds administered CORT exhibited higher densities of C. perfringens in their intestine, and this corresponded to altered production of intestinal mucus. Characterization of mucus showed that C. perfringens treatment altered the re

SUBMITTER: Zaytsoff SJM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7203818 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature