Enteritis and intestinal toxemia syndrome involve symptoms such as inflammation, thickening, sloughing, bleeding, and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa caused by various factors. The disease has a high incidence rate, and any flock of chickens can become infected.
Causes of enteritis and intestinal toxemia syndrome in chickens
Cause of onset one:
Small intestinal coccidiosis: coccidia parasitize the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells. When they multiply in large numbers, they can cause thickening and edema of the intestinal mucosa, severe dehydration, and passage of feed-like feces. As the condition worsens, water absorption decreases.
Cause of onset two:
Bacterial and viral infections, including Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens infections in chickens, can irritate and damage the intestinal mucosa. The resulting inflammation can speed up intestinal motility, shorten the time feed spends passing through the digestive tract, and lead to indigestion. Viruses are also one of the main causes of enterotoxemia syndrome; for example, reovirus can cause enteritis and damage the intestine’s absorptive function.
Cause of disease three:
An imbalance in the acid-base balance in the intestines, caused by seasonal conditions, feed, or pathogenic microorganisms, can disrupt the intestinal flora in a flock of chickens. Lactic acid is produced, the intestinal pH drops significantly, and the intestinal environment also changes. Increased toxin secretion by the flora stimulates faster intestinal peristalsis, causing undigested feed to be excreted along with shed mucosa, resulting in characteristic tomato-like or fish-intestine-like droppings.
Cause of onset four:
Electrolyte loss: After poultry are infected with coccidia and harmful bacteria, indigestion may occur, affecting electrolyte absorption and causing intestinal mucosal cells to rupture, leading to electrolyte loss. Excessive loss of potassium ions can cause overexcitation of the heart, resulting in sudden death in poultry.
Cause of illness five:
Systemic poisoning: After the onset of illness, large numbers of intestinal epithelial cells rupture. The shed intestinal mucosa and dead worms ferment inside the body, producing large amounts of toxic substances. Abnormal intestinal flora can cause systemic poisoning, and affected chickens may show symptoms such as agitation, shrill cries, and paralysis.
Cause of onset six:
Mycotoxicosis: If the feed given to the flock becomes moldy, the chickens are prone to mycotoxicosis. Over time, this can lead to a decline in the chickens’ health and production performance. Common mycotoxins include aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and T2 toxin.
Keep the chicken house clean and sanitary, especially by regularly disinfecting feed troughs and drinking equipment. Light intensity and duration, temperature, and humidity should meet the technical requirements for scientific management. Use preventive medication appropriately and provide suitable amounts of nutritional products such as vitamins and cod liver oil to support the chickens’ growth and development and enhance their disease resistance.