Antimicrobial susceptibility of canine Clostridium perfringens strains from Switzerland

Fifty Clostridium perfringens strains were isolated from individual dogs with acute diarrhoea that were not given antibiotics. Toxin types and minimal inhibitory concentrations of 15 antibiotics were determined for each of them. All strains harboured the alpha-toxin gene, 12 of them had both the alpha- and entero-toxin gene and 5 had both the alpha- and beta2-toxin gene. Eighteen percent of the isolates showed resistance to tetracycline and 54 % showed decreased susceptibility to metronidazole which is one of the most frequently used antibiotics in the treatment of canine diarrhoea. Apart from that, all isolates were susceptible to the remaining antibiotics tested. These findings lead to the conclusion that despite a general susceptibility to antibiotics in C. perfringens, resistance is developing in isolates from dogs. Therefore, careful identification of the pathogenic agent and antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed prior to therapy in order to minimise further selection of antibiotic resistance.     

Association between avian necrotic enteritis and Clostridium perfringens strains expressing NetB toxin

A novel toxin, NetB, has recently been identified in virulent avian Clostridium perfringens isolates and shown to be an essential virulence factor in a clinical necrotic enteritis isolate. To assess whether NetB is more generally associated with avian necrotic enteritis isolates we have screened a range of C. perfringens strains from geographically diverse locations for both the presence and expression of the netB gene. Forty-four isolates were derived from necrotic enteritis disease cases from Australia, Belgium, Denmark and Canada and 55 isolates from healthy chickens from Australia and Belgium. The majority of strains isolated from necrotic enteritis-affected birds were netB positive (70%) and there was an absolute correlation between the presence of netB and in vitro expression of the NetB protein. Only two of the C. perfringens isolates from healthy chickens carried netB. Sequencing of the netB gene from 23 positive isolates showed that NetB is highly conserved, with only one predicted amino acid (A168T) difference, in six isolates, compared to the published sequence. This change did not alter the in vitro activity of the NetB toxin. The gene encoding the recently discovered TpeL toxin was also screened using PCR and only found in a small proportion of NetB-positive isolates from diseased birds. A selection of NetB-negative isolates, originating from diseased birds, was unable to cause disease in a necrotic enteritis induction model. This study provides further evidence that NetB is important in pathogenesis and advances our current understanding of C. perfringens virulence factors in avian necrotic enteritis.     

Necrotic enteritis-producing strains of Clostridium perfringens displace non-necrotic enteritis strains from the gut of chicks

We inoculated broiler chicks with mixtures of Clostridium perfringens strains to investigate the single strain dominance observed in natural cases of necrotic enteritis (NE) [Nauerby, B., Pedersen, K., Madsen, M., 2003. Analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of the genetic diversity among Clostridium perfringens isolates from chickens. Vet. Microbiol. 94, 257-266]. Pre-inoculation bacteriologic culture of chick intestines yielded up to six pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types of C. perfringens. Birds developed typical NE lesions in response to administration (2x per day for 4 days) of a combined inoculum comprising one NE strain (JGS4143, PFGE pattern 8) and four non-NE strains (from piglet necrotizing enteritis, chicken normal flora, human gas gangrene, and bovine neonatal enteritis). After inoculation commenced, only the NE strain was recovered through the first post-inoculation day, in spite of intense efforts to recover pre-challenge flora strains and the other challenge strains. Thereafter, pre-inoculation and previously undetected PFGE types were found, and JGS4143 became undetectable. Birds inoculated simultaneously with five NE strains (from disease in chickens or turkeys, and including JGS4143) also developed lesions, but again only JGS4143 was recovered through the 1st day post-challenge. At that time, birds began to be repopulated with pre-challenge PFGE types. Two NE strains (JGS4143 and JGS4064) produced bacteriocins, which inhibited each other and normal flora strains (n=17), while normal flora strains inhibited neither NE strains nor each other. Thus, it appears that naturally occurring dominance of the gut by NE strains can be reproduced experimentally. Bacteriocins directed against normal flora could possibly provide the necessary advantage, although inhibition of one NE strain by another suggests that other factors may be partially or completely responsible for the dominance.     

The occurrence of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens strains in the feces of dogs and cats

A total of 147 faecal specimen of dogs and cats was examined with cultural method for the occurrence of Cl. perfringens and its enterotoxin by using a reversed passive latex agglutination test (Pet-RPLA). Cl. perfringens could be detected in 77.9% of the samples of dogs (n = 68) and 65.6% of cats (n = 32) with diarrhoea in germ counts of 10(4)-10(10) cfu/g faeces. In the group of non diarrhoeic dogs (n = 39) and cats (n = 8) Cl. perfringens was found in 53.9% and 50% of the samples, the germ counts revealed 10(4)-10(8) cfu/g faeces. The enterotoxin of Cl. perfringens was detected in 48.5% of the samples of dogs and 28.1% of cats with diarrhoea. On the other hand this toxin could not be detected in any faecal specimen of non diarrhoeic animals. The in vitro detection of Cl. perfringens enterotoxin was successful at 65% of 20 strains, that had been isolated from faecal samples with enterotoxin. Also 2 Cl. perfringens strains isolated from faeces of non diarrhoeic dogs proved to be enterotoxigenic. The present test results given reason to believe that enterotoxigenic Cl. perfringens strains are involved in the complex of enteric disease of dogs and cats.     

仔猪产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症病原诊断及疫苗研究IV．肠毒血症C型疫苗生产用菌种的确定

试验证明用单一菌株C59-2生产C型产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症干粉灭活疫苗,其效力可以达到《规程》要求,并且简化了生产工艺,降低了生产成本,提高了生产效率。疫苗免疫的兔血清可分别中和原来3个制苗用菌株所产生的外毒素。     

羊源产气荚膜梭菌不同毒素型多重PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

根据GenBank中已发布的产气荚膜梭菌α,β,ε,ι毒素基因序列,设计并合成4对特异性引物,经过优化多重PCR反应条件,建立了检测产气荚膜梭菌不同毒素型多重PCR方法。特异性试验表明,该方法对A,B,C,D,E型产气荚膜梭菌标准菌株均扩增出了相应的目的条带,而对诺维氏梭菌和腐败梭菌扩增为阴性;灵敏性试验表明,该方法对A,B,C,D,E型标准菌株基因组DNA最低检测量分别为9.0,17.8,12.2,13.8,18.5pg;重复性试验表明,该方法有很好的重复性。应用所建立的方法从21份羊临床病料中检测出9株A型和1株C型产气荚膜梭菌。本试验建立的多重PCR方法可以进行产气荚膜梭菌的快速检测及5种毒素型的鉴别。     

仔猪产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症病原诊断及疫苗研究Ⅳ.肠毒血症C型疫苗生产用菌种的确定

试验证明用单一菌株C59-2生产C型产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症干粉灭活疫苗,其效力可以达到<规程>要求,并且简化了生产工艺,降低了生产成本,提高了生产效率.疫苗免疫的兔血清可分别中和原来3个制苗用菌株所产生的外毒素.     

仔猪产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症病原诊断及疫苗研究Ⅲ.7株A型产气荚膜梭菌菌株的产毒素试验

本试验对7株A型产气荚膜梭菌菌株在不同培养基、不同培养温度和不同培养时间的产毒力进行了试验。结果表明，培养基的种类和培养时间对菌株的产毒素能力影响较大，而培养温度则影响较小。所试菌株中C57-1菌株的产毒素能力最强，是制备疫苗的最佳菌株。     

Toxin-types of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from sheep, cattle and paddock soils in Nigeria

Two-hundred and forty-five strains of Clostridium perfringens isolated from the faeces of apparently healthy sheep and cattle and from their environments (paddock soils) in Kano and Kaduna States of Nigeria were studied. The isolates were examined by the toxin-antitoxin neutralisation tests performed intradermally in depilated albino guinea-pigs. One-hundred and twenty-seven (53.1%) of the isolates were type A, 17 (7.1%) were type B, 14 (4.9%) were type C, 44 (18.4%) were type D and 19 (7.9%) were type E. Eighteen (7.5%) were not typable while six were lost during storage. The significance of this distribution and the potential danger to animal health, especially as regards enterotoxaemias, cannot be over-emphasized.     

Clostridium perfringens type C and Clostridium difficile co-infection in foals

Clostridium perfringens type C is one of the most important agents of enteric disease in newborn foals. Clostridium difficile is now recognized as an important cause of enterocolitis in horses of all ages. While infections by C. perfringens type C or C. difficile are frequently seen, we are not aware of any report describing combined infection by these two microorganisms in foals. We present here five cases of foal enterocolitis associated with C. difficile and C. perfringens type C infection. Five foals between one and seven days of age were submitted for necropsy examination to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory. The five animals had a clinical history of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea followed by death and none had received antimicrobials or been hospitalized. Postmortem examination revealed hemorrhagic and necrotizing entero-typhlo-colitis. Histologically, the mucosa of the small intestine and colon presented diffuse necrosis and hemorrhage and it was often covered by a pseudomembrane. Thrombosis was observed in submucosal and/or mucosal vessels. Immunohistochemistry of intestinal sections of all foals showed that many large bacilli in the sections were C. perfringens. C. perfringens beta toxin was detected by ELISA in intestinal content of all animals and C. difficile toxin A/B was detected in intestinal content of three animals. C. perfringens (identified as type C by PCR) was isolated from the intestinal content of three foals. C. difficile (typed as A(+)/B(+) by PCR) was isolated from the intestinal content in 3 out of the 5 cases. This report suggests a possible synergism of C. perfringens type C and C. difficile in foal enterocolitis. Because none of the foals had received antibiotic therapy, the predisposing factor, if any, for the C. difficile infection remains undetermined; it is possible that the C. perfringens infection acted as a predisposing factor for C. difficile and/or vice versa. This report also stresses the need to perform a complete diagnostic workup in all cases of foal digestive disease.     

Clostridium perfringens Type C Enterotoxemia

Forms of enteric disease caused by Clostridium perfringens type C are critically reviewed with emphasis on practical aspects and recent research findings. Available data indicate that more animal species may be fatally infected by type C of this organism than by any other type of C. perfringens. Fatal cases have been recorded in pigs, cattle, sheep, horses and humans. Newborn animals are typically the most susceptible, possibly related to aspects of bacterial colonization, intestinal digestive functions, and to some other, unexplained, factors. Both beta toxin and the bacterial cells are required to initiate pathogenesis at the tips of jejunal villi, and subsequent massive adherence of these cells to necrotic mucosa is a characteristic feature. Although major lesions occur in the intestine, death is due to toxemia. The disease can be effectively controlled by vaccination of the dam. Epizootiology of this disease is a possible area for further studies.     

产气荚膜梭状芽孢杆菌病的流行与致病机制

产气荚膜梭状芽孢杆菌是人和动物肠道的正常菌群，亦是条件性致病菌，该菌感染主要由毒素导致的毒血症致病，因此，有针对地选用类毒素预防接种，才能防止本病流行。     

不同地区鸡源产气荚膜梭菌的毒素型鉴定和药敏试验

为探明我国鸡群中产气荚膜梭菌(Clostridium perfringens,Cp)不同毒素型分布特征及携带主要致病毒素基因和对饲用抗菌素的抗药谱,于2013年7月至2014年5月间从四川等7省17个肉鸡生产较为集中的地区采样692份,分离鉴定获得Cp菌株214株,分离率31%。经多重PCR方法鉴定,其中有206株为A型Cp,8株为C型。利用特异性单一PCR方法检测发现:有87株Cp携带β2毒素基因,阳性率为41%;5株携带Net B毒素基因,阳性率为2.3%。以最小抑菌浓度法(MIC)检测的常见饲用抗菌素敏感性结果显示:那西肽、弗吉尼亚霉素和效霉素有广泛的抑菌作用,四川德阳(2013)、四川眉山(2013)和广东鹤山(2013)的分离菌株对所测试的11种药物均表现敏感,而广西桂林(2014)的菌株仅对那西肽敏感。结果表明我国鸡源Cp具有明显的毒素型、主要致病毒素基因携带状况和抗药谱的地区差异。     

产气荚膜梭菌α毒素的研究进展

产气荚膜梭菌 (Clostridiumperfringens)的致病作用一般由它所产生的胞外酶或毒素诱导。主要有α -毒素、β -毒素、θ -毒素及其他的一些胞外酶。本文针对产气荚膜梭菌α毒素的组成、结构、理化性质、作用机理及分子遗传等方面的研究进展作了简要综述。