Protecting broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis

Authors: Sara Heidarpanah, Alexandre Thibodeau, Valeria R. Parreira, Sylvain Quessy, Mariela Segura, Ilhem Meniaï, Marcelo Gottschalk, Annie Gaudreau, Tristan Juette and Marie-Lou Gaucher

Article published in Nouvailes, June 2025, Volume 30, Pages 42 and 43

The poultry industry is facing a major problem: a disease called necrotic enteritis (NE), which severely affects broiler chickens, i.e., birds raised for meat production. This disease is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium perfringens. Since the use of antibiotics to promote growth in chickens has been restricted, NE has become an even greater challenge for farmers. The economic losses due to this disease, when it occurs, can be enormous, prompting researchers to explore effective prevention strategies that are currently unavailable.

Vaccination appears to be a promising solution. Indeed, an effective vaccine would protect chickens against this often fatal disease. However, to date, no vaccine has been able to guarantee complete protection for farmed birds.

Five candidate proteins for a vaccine

A team of researchers, including experts from the Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Center (CRIPA), Alexandre Thibodeau, Mariela Segura, Marcelo Gottschalk and Marie-Lou Gaucher, have taken an important step forward by identifying five new proteins that could serve as the basis for a vaccine. These proteins are present on the surface of the Clostridium perfringens bacterium and have the potential to trigger an immune response in chickens.

The idea is simple: by injecting these proteins into broiler chickens at the hatchery, their immune systems learn to recognize the bacteria and fight it before it can cause disease. In their tests, the researchers found that these proteins triggered the production of specific antibodies in the broiler chickens. These antibodies are essential for protecting the birds from infection.

An innovative method

This research is distinguished by the use of an innovative method called "reverse vaccinology," a high-throughput sequencing technology that generates large amounts of useful information in a very short time. The scientists analyzed the bacteria's proteins and identified those that would be the best candidates for a vaccine. The proteins selected by the researchers included two proteins that could form a kind of "hair" on the surface of the bacteria, a structure called a pilus, which helps the bacteria attach to the chickens' intestines. Another protein was involved in the metabolism of iron, an essential element for the bacteria's survival. By blocking these functions, the vaccine could prevent the bacteria from attaching to the birds' intestines, growing, and causing damage.

The results of this study are encouraging, but there is still work to be done before this vaccine is available on the market. If the research continues successfully, it could change the way the poultry industry combats this disease. Not only would it reduce reliance on antibiotics, but it would also improve the health and welfare of broiler chickens, while ensuring more sustainable production.

Scientific article published on March 31, 2023 in Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-32541-4