Dr. Veniamin Osypov, a nutritionist and Biovet S.A technical consultant in the Eastern Europe, gave a lecture in Truskavets (Ukraine), at the beginning of September, on a trial on broilers that evaluated the use of Alquermold Natural (a natural preservative with cimenol ring) as prevention and treatment for necrotic enteritis, caused by Clostridium perfringens. In vivo research was carried out at the Scientific University of the South (“Universidad Científica”) (Peru) in September 2017. The bactericidal effects of the product on the productive parameters in broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens (artificial infection) were analyzed.

Alquermold Natural controls the pathogenic intestinal flora and functions as a preservative of raw materials and feed. It is a natural product developed by Biovet S.A Laboratories, composed of ring cimenol and citric acid.

The trial was performed with a total of 504 Cobb 500 broilers, distributed in 4 treatments (126 animals / batch). Animals were divided into 4 batches. T-1 or Negative Control –fed standard basal diet and without Clostridium perfringens challenge-, while the other 3 batches were challenged: T-2 or Positive Control –standard basal diet + challenge with Clostridium perfringens-; T-3 or natural preservative (solid) with cimenol ring as a preventive treatment and finally, T-4 or natural preservative (liquid) with cimenol ring as therapeutic treatment. In this latter case, administration of the preservative started when the symptoms of the disease appeared.

NATURAL PRESERVATIVE AS PREVENTIVE TREATMENT

Regarding the productive parameters (weight, conversion rate, uniformity, carcass yield and mortality), broilers in T-3 batch (cimenol ring as a preventive) obtained significantly better results, compared to T-2 batch.

When evaluating carcass yield, poultry in T-3 batch had the highest carcass yield and the lowest abdominal fat percentage. In the case of the microbiological analyzes (Sulphite-reducting Clostridium) T-3 batch (cimenol ring as preventive) had the lowest post -infection CFU (Colony Forming Units) count in duodenum and cecum post-infection.

Histopathology confirmed that T-2 batch (infected non-treated) was the batch with more animals with necrotic enteritis lesions, and these were more severe than in other batches, showing atrophy, necrosis and ulcers. T-3 batch was the one with the lowest number of lesions and these were the mildest.

Lastly, the study evaluated the intestinal morphometry, which showed that the mucosal length was the shortest in T-2 (infected), and that broilers in T-3 (preservative as preventive) showed the longest mucosal length, which was even longer than the mucosa of the control batch (T-1).

NATURAL PRESERVATIVE AS TREATMENT

On the other hand, after Clostridium perfringens challenge, T-4 broilers (cimenol ring as treatment), which received Alquermold Natural administered in the drinking water, improved their weight gain/birth/day, feed conversion rate and uniformity, compared to T-2 (infected and non-treated). In regard to mortality in this batch, results showed that it was lower than in T-2 (infected non-treated).

When evaluating carcass yield, T-4 partly recovered it after infection, but it did not reach normal values.

In the case of microbiological analyzes (Sulphite-reducting Clostridium), treatment with cimenol ring (T-4) reduced the CFU count in duodenum and cecum compared with T-2 batch (infected non-treated).

Regarding histopathology, T-4 batch had less lesions than T-2, and these lesions were milder than T2 batch (infected non-treated).

RECOMMENDATIONS

Finally, the nutritionist made some recommendations in which he emphasized that: “this natural preservative with cimenol ring can be used in both situations: to prevent necrotic enteritis in broilers and as treatment against an outbreak of necrotic enteritis”.

You can see the charts of this research in our Technonews blog:

https://www.veterinariadigital.com/uk/blogs/technonews/effect-of-cimenol-ring-in-broilers-challenged-with-clostridium-perfringens