• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate occurrence patterns of Clostridium perfringens on different raising periods in broilers. In different raising periods, we investigated the change in the gross lesion and microscopic histological findings of the mucose of the small intestine, colony forming unit (CFU) and the types C. perfringens with PCR assay. According to the gross lesions on the mucose of small intestine with 10-days-old broilers, the non-antibiotic group showed a higher value (0.6) than the antibiotic group (0.0). Whereas 20-days-old broilers with, the antibiotic treatment had a slightly lower value (1.0) than the non-antibiotic group (1.3). In the histological examination on the villi of the small intestine, there was no damage of the villi of the small intestine with 1-day-old broilers in both groups; however, the non-antibiotic group showed a higher value (0.4) than the antibiotic group (0.0) with 10-days-old broilers. In the non-antibiotic group, the CFU of C. perfringens of the fecal samples from the small intestine increased from 10 days of raising broilers and rapidly increase after 20 and 30 days of raising broilers. There was no detection of C. perfringens types with PCR assy in 1-day-old broilers, but we found C. perfringens type A in 10-, 20- and 30-days-old broilers. Although it is possible to raise healthy broilers by using antibiotics, the addition of antibiotics to concentrate feed is prohibited for public health. The results of this study would contribute to proper feeding management through the careful use of antibiotics.