Clostridium perfringens type C enterotoxemia in a newborn foal

A 1-day old, full-term foal with a history of colic died 2 hours after admission. Necropsy revealed an extremely flaccid, fluid-filled intestinal tract. Histopathologically, the superficial intestinal mucosa was completely necrotic, with minimal inflammatory response. Numerous large, gram-positive rods covered the villi. Clostridium perfringens was isolated on bacteriologic culturing of the intestinal tract contents and was identified as type C by toxin neutralization tests.     

Hemorrhagic enteritis associated with Clostridium perfringens type A in a dog

A female Shetland sheep dog died suddenly with hemorrhagic diarrhea and vomitting, and was examined pathologically and microbiologically. Gross pathological change was restricted to the intestinal tract. The intestine contained watery, blood-stained fluid. Histopathologically, the principal intestinal lesion was superficial mucosal hemorrhagic necrosis at the jejunoileum. Many Gram-positive bacilli were found adhering to the necrotic mucosal surface in parts of the intestinal tract. Clostridium perfringens in pure culture were isolated from jejunal contents by anaerobic culture. These results suggested that the typical lesion of this case coincided with canine hemorrhagic enteritis and enterotoxemia due to C. perfringens infection could be the cause of sudden death.     

Necrotizing infectious enteritis in piglets, caused by Clostridium perfringens type C. 3. Pathological changes

Necrotizing infectious enteritis provoked by CI. perfringens type C has been diagnosed with increasing frequency among piglets in Danish herds since 1963.On a clinical basis the disease is difficult to differentiate from other enteric diseases (Høgh 1967).In the small intestine, the infection gives rise to postmortem findings which, under Danish conditions, have not been observed in any other disease affecting baby pigs.The aim of the present study is to describe the patho-anatomical and histo-pathological changes which occur in spontaneously infected pigs.     

Necrotizing infectious enteritis in piglets, caused by Clostridium perfringens type C. IV. Bacteriological diagnosis

The diagnosis of necrotizing enteritis in infant piglets is based on clinical observations, patho-anatomical changes, and bacteriological and bacterio-toxicological examinations.Previous works (Høgh 1967 a, b, 1969) have dealt with the aetiology, symptomatology and pathology of the disease.The purpose of this paper is to present the results of bacteriological examinations of pigs from spontaneous outbreaks.     

Hemorrhagic Enterotoxemia Caused by Clostridium perfringens Type C in a Foal

A four day old Appaloosa foal in Alberta died from hemorrhagic enterotoxemia. Beta-toxin of Clostridium perfringens was demonstrated in the intestinal contents of the foal and a pure culture of C. perfringens type C was grown from the small intestine. Histological examination showed hemorrhage and extensive necrosis of the small intestinal mucosa. Areas of necrotic tissue were surrounded by massive numbers of clostridia-like rods. There was also a moderate degree of thyroid hyperplasia. This is believed to be the first published report of hemorrhagic enterotoxemia associated with C. perfringens type C in the horse in Canada.     

The necrotizing enteritis by Clostridium perfringens type C in piglets: II. Molecular epidemiology study

Investigations were performed on shedding of C. perfringens in sows from four different pig farms. In two farms where no outbreaks of necrotizing enteritis had been observed, no strains of C. perfringens producing beta-toxin were detected in the faeces of sows. In contrast, C. perfringens strains producing beta-toxin were detected in sows on both farms suffering outbreaks of acute necrotizing enteritis. Strains of C. perfringens producing beta-toxin were invariably positive for the beta 2-toxin gene. However, strains carrying the beta 2-toxin gene only (i.e. negative for beta-toxin) were present in animals on all farms with roughly similar frequencies (mean 28.2% carriers). Some sows carried C. perfringens strains of both toxin genotypes simultaneously. Whereas these data further support the role of betatoxin as a cause of necrotizing enteritis, the role of beta 2-toxin in intestinal disease of piglets remains unclear. To establish the role of faecal shedding vs. environmental contamination as reservoirs of C. perfringens type C, strains were isolated from teats and feedlot trough swabs (toxin genotype beta/beta 2), as well as from fodder (genotype beta 2). However, sows carried this pathogen intermittently and in small numbers. This renders an individual, reliable diagnosis of carrier sows very difficult. Ribotyping of 34 C. perfringens isolates of different toxin genotypes showed five distinct profiles. Different toxin genotypes can belong to the same ribotype, and the same toxin genotype can be present in different ribotypes. Thus, even if a majority (79.4%) of strains investigated in a limited geographic region belonged to ribotype 1, ribotyping offered discrimination of strains beyond toxin typing.     

甘草总黄酮对鸡产气荚膜梭菌坏死性肠炎的治疗作用

选择具有显著抗炎效果的甘草总黄酮为受试化合物,考察其抗产气荚膜梭菌所致鸡坏死性肠炎的效果,为甘草总黄酮在坏死性肠炎的治疗应用提供依据。选择AA^+肉鸡,经口给予产气荚膜梭菌ATCC13124菌悬液建立肉仔鸡坏死性肠炎模型,之后使用甘草总黄酮对造模成功的肉鸡进行治疗,通过剖检考察肉鸡肠道的病变情况、病变评分、日增重及器官指数等指标以评估甘草总黄酮对坏死性肠炎的治疗效果。结果显示,通过经口攻菌成功建立了肉仔鸡坏死性肠炎模型;剖检发现,经甘草总黄酮治疗的模型鸡其肠道病变程度明显缓解,病变损伤评分显著低于感染组,炎性因子含量显著降低;治疗组肉鸡日增质量及器官指数与健康肉鸡差异不显著。结果表明,甘草总黄酮能够缓解产气荚膜梭菌所致坏死性肠炎对肉鸡肠道的损伤,具有作为抗生素替代品治疗坏死性肠炎的潜力。     

The necrotizing enteritis by Clostridium perfringens type C in piglets: practical observations,control and epidemiology

Necrotizing enteritis in piglets is caused by the spore-forming anaerobe Clostridium perfringens type C. The pathology is believed to be due to the production of beta-toxin by the agent and the infection tends to persist in affected herds despite appropriate hygiene measures. During the period 1989 to 2001, 35 outbreaks were observed in 15 herds in a limited geographic region in northwestern Switzerland in the canton of Fribourg. Initial outbreaks of acute disease were followed by chronic manifestations of necrotizing enteritis in eleven herds. Since clinical symptoms in case of chronic necrotizing enteritis and of mixed infections were rather non-specific, diagnosis in all herds was confirmed by gross pathological analysis, intestinal histology and bacteriological culture. After initial evaluation in 135 litters (1500 piglets), metaphylaxis consisted of penicillin for outbreaks of acute disease or of amoxycillin-clavulanic acid pending results of laboratory confirmation. Vaccination with a C. perfringens toxoid vaccine (Gletvax 6, also containing E. coli pilus antigens) together with penicillin chemoprophylaxis was used in 2400 litters (27,000 piglets). In 12 to 17% of litters disease recurred during this combined prophylaxis. Necrotizing enteritis persisted in all affected herds throughout the follow-up period.     

Hemorrhagic diathesis caused by multiple myeloma in a three-month-old foal

Multiple myeloma was diagnosed in a 3-month-old Quarter Horse foal with chronic weight loss, chronic bronchopneumonia, and epistaxis. The foal had pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and monoclonal beta-globulinemia. Bone marrow aspirates contained between 80 and 90% plasma cells.