Necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. I. A review of the literature and the prevalence of the disease in Ontario.

The available literature on necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens is reviewed. The records of three poultry diagnostic laboratories in Ontario were examined for the years 1969, 1970 and 1971. During this period 855 (7.7%) of 11,076 consignments of broiler chickens examined were diagnosed as necrotic enteritis. The condition was most common in broilers at three weeks of age, with 66% of all cases occurring in chickens between two and four and one half weeks. The disease occurred throughout the year but it was most common during July, August, September and October. Necrotic enteritis often occurred more than once per year on a farm.