An approach to alternative strategies to control avian coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis

Consumer demands for chickens raised without the use of antibiotics, legislative restrictions, and trade opportunities have encouraged many integrators within the poultry industry to raise poultry without antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and ionophores. However, with the removal of AGPs and ionophores, the incidence of enteric diseases such as coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens, respectively, have increased, thereby gaining the attention of the poultry industry to look for alternative strategies to improve bird's health. Coccidiosis and NE are 2 major enteric disease concerns in broilers because of their association with decreased performance, increased mortality, reduced welfare, and a higher risk of poultry product contamination. Necrotic enteritis is often induced after a coccidiosis infection and any factor that causes stress, reduces immunity, and disturbs intestinal ecosystem. Nutritional mitigation strategies have been widely used to reduce such enteric diseases with a greater focus on balanced gut health. Some of the nutritional interventions that have shown potential for improving gut health while reducing overall disease include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, essential oils, vaccination, and natural phytochemical extracts in poultry diets. A better understanding of the relationship between nutritional strategies, coccidiosis, and NE is crucial to improve gut health in the absence of AGPs in poultry production. This review will provide information and updates pertaining to current research focusing on several nutritional strategies that have helped to alleviate coccidiosis and NE, by modulating performance and gut health aspects.