Responses of broiler chickens orally challenged with Clostridium perfringens isolated from field cases of necrotic enteritis

The present study examines the responses of broiler chickens to oral administration of Clostridium perfringens freshly isolated from field cases of necrotic enteritis (NE). The challenge studies included long-term exposure and short-term exposure, factored in with dietary and management variables including high levels of dietary components such as fish meal, meat meal, abrupt change of feed, and fasting. In the long-term exposure trials, the birds were orally inoculated daily, with 1 ml (1.0 or 2 x 10(8) CFU/ml) of an overnight culture of C. perfringens for 7 days. Short-term exposure trials involved challenge with 1 ml (3 x 10(10) CFU/ml) administered as a single dose. The responses of broilers to orally administered C. perfingens under laboratory controlled conditions are presented and discussed in the context of authentic field cases of necrotic enteritis. None of the challenge trials produced overt clinical signs of NE and there were no mortalities associated with oral exposure to high doses of C. perfringens. However, many of the challenged birds showed distinctly pronounced pathological changes in the intestinal tissue. On gross examination the responses in birds challenged orally with C. perfringens could be placed into two categories: (1) no apparent pathological changes in the intestinal tissue and (2) sub-clinical inflammatory responses with focal, multi-focal, locally extensive, or disseminated distribution throughout various sections of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and ceca. In birds that responded with intestinal lesions, hyperemia and occasional hemorrhages were the main gross changes. In some birds, the mucosa was covered with a brownish material, but typically, the mucosa was lined by yellow or greenish, loosely adherent material. Mild gross changes were seen in some control birds, but both qualitatively and quantitatively, the lesions were distinctly more pronounced in the challenged birds. Upon histological examination, none of the experimentally exposed birds showed overt mucosal necrosis typical of field cases of NE, but typically the lamina propria was hyperemic and infiltrated with numerous inflammatory cells. Most significant changes were seen at the interface of the basal domain of enterocytes and lamina propria. Multifocally, these areas were extensively edematous, allowing for the substantial disturbance of the structural integrity between the lamina propria and the enterocytes. The lesions observed in the present study were consistently reproduced in all of our challenge trials, hence these responses may signify newly emerging patterns of sub-clinical enteric disorders in contemporary strains of poultry. The pathological changes observed in broilers challenged orally with C. perfringens in the present study, differ significantly from those reported previously, and must be clearly differentiated from those described in cases of NE or ulcerative enteritis. Although no overt necrosis of the intestinal mucosa typical of field cases of NE were observed in the present study, the birds challenged with C. perfringens showed strong inflammatory reaction to the introduced pathogens. The distinct features of the microscopic lesions were changes involving apparently normal enterocytes at the interface of the basal domain of villar epithelia and lamina propria. Although the pathological changes in the intestinal tissues observed in our trials appear to be rather subtle when compared to field cases of NE, the nature of these lesions suggest a significant negative effect on the digestive physiology of intestinal mucosa.     

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。     

Necrotic enteritis challenge regulates peroxisome proliferator-1 activated receptors signaling and β-oxidation pathways in broiler chickens

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an important enteric disease in poultry and has become a major concern in poultry production in the post-antibiotic era. The infection with NE can damage the intestinal mucosa of the birds leading to impaired health and, thus, productivity. To gain a better understanding of how NE impacts the gut function of infected broilers, global mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in the jejunum tissue of NE challenged and non-challenged broilers to identify the pathways and genes affected by this disease. Briefly, to induce NE, birds in the challenge group were inoculated with 1 mL of Eimeria species on day 9 followed by 1 mL of approximately 10⁸ CFU/mL of a NetB producing Clostridium perfringens on days 14 and 15. On day 16, 2 birds in each treatment were randomly selected and euthanized and the whole intestinal tract was evaluated for lesion scores. Duodenum tissue samples from one of the euthanized birds of each replicate (n = 4) was used for histology, and the jejunum tissue for RNA extraction. RNA-seq analysis was performed with an Illumina RNA HiSeq 2000 sequencer. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified and functional analysis was performed in DAVID to find protein–protein interactions (PPI). At a false discovery rate threshold <0.05, a total of 377 DEG (207 upregulated and 170 downregulated) DEG were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEG were considerably enriched in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling (P < 0.01) and β-oxidation pathways (P < 0.05). The DEG were mostly related to fatty acid metabolism and degradation (cluster of differentiation 36 [CD36], acyl-CoA synthetase bubblegum family member-1 [ACSBG1], fatty acid-binding protein-1 and -2 [FABP1] and [FABP2]; and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase-1 [ACSL1]), bile acid production and transportation (acyl-CoA oxidase-2 [ACOX2], apical sodium–bile acid transporter [ASBT]) and essential genes in the immune system (interferon-, [IFN-γ], LCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase [LCK], zeta chain of T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 kDa [ZAP70], and aconitate decarboxylase 1 [ACOD1]). Our data revealed that pathways related to fatty acid digestion were significantly compromised which thereby could have affected metabolic and immune responses in NE infected birds.     

产气荚膜梭菌主要外毒素最新研究进展

产气荚膜梭菌是一种重要的人兽共患病的病原体,可引起人的食物中毒和抗生素相关腹泻.近年来,对产气荚膜梭菌的主要外毒素研究取得了重大进展.本文综述了产气荚膜梭菌主要外毒素的组成、结构、理化性质、作用机理、检测及分子遗传学等方面的研究进展.     

产气荚膜梭状芽孢杆菌气悬状态下存在形式的研究

产气荚膜梭状芽孢杆菌是动物舍空气粪便污染的指示菌种,他们的含量反映了动物舍卫生状况以及动物体相应疾病的可能感染。通过对 Ｋ Ｓ９２ 喷冲器空气样品加热 ８０℃,２０ 分钟处理,结果证明该菌群几乎 １００％ 以芽孢形式气悬存在。     

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。     

产气荚膜梭菌ε毒素及其疫苗研究进展

产气荚膜梭菌病是由产气荚膜梭菌引起的一种重要的人兽共患传染病,可导致山羊、绵羊等动物的肠毒血症或坏死性肠炎,并且可引起动物脑、心、肺和肾组织的水肿.B型和D 型产气荚膜梭菌所产生的ε毒素是引起动物上述病理变化和死亡的重要因素之一.虽然甲醛灭活的毒素疫苗能对动物产生保护性抗体,但是,灭活苗潜在的安全性原因使其在应用上受到限制.因此,基于ε毒素基因的重组疫苗和弱毒疫苗就成为人们研究的目标.     

A型产气荚膜梭菌α-毒素生产发酵工艺

利用全自动机械搅拌发酵罐对A型产气荚膜梭菌α-毒素的生产发酵工艺进行研究。设立温度、pH值和发酵时间3个因素,采用L9(34)正交优化设计方法,确定各因素对A型产气荚膜梭菌α-毒素产毒量的影响程度,并绘制发酵过程细菌生长曲线和产毒曲线。结果显示,pH对细菌的产毒量影响显著(0.01P0.05),发酵时间、温度对细菌产毒量影响不显著(P0.05)。结果表明,pH7.0、发酵温度43℃、发酵时间6 h为A型产气荚膜梭菌α-毒素生产发酵工艺条件。     

鸡源A型产气荚膜梭菌致病性及药物疗效分析

本研究旨在调查规模化养鸡场内鸡源产气荚膜梭菌（Clostridium perfringens,CP）的致病性和耐药性,并评价阿维拉霉素和磷酸泰乐菌素预防CP感染鸡群发生坏死性肠炎（necrotizing enteritis,NE）的效果,为鸡NE的防治提供指导。在河北、山西两地选择有CP引起NE发病史的规模化养鸡场,随机采集新鲜粪便,分离CP,并通过多重PCR测定其毒素型。选定3个不同养殖场分离到的A型CP,以10⁹CFU·只^-1的剂量,连续5 d经灌胃的方式感染14日龄SPF鸡,观察肠道病变和NE发生情况,评价分离菌株的致病力。使用微量肉汤稀释法测定分离到的CP对阿维拉霉素、林可霉素和磷酸泰乐菌素的最小抑菌浓度（minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC）。根据MIC结果,选择药物敏感性较好的两种药物对因CP引起NE发病的鸡群中未出现临床症状的鸡进行预防试验,观察精神食欲、腹泻症状、肠道病变情况,统计CP检出率和NE发生率,评价两种药物预防效果。结果显示：自753份鸡粪便样品分离到91株CP,且毒素型全部为A型。攻毒试验结果显示：A、B、C组攻毒组NE病变发生率均显著高于未攻毒组D组（P<0.05）,攻毒组肠道病变评分均显著高于未攻毒组（P<0.05）。与未攻毒组相比,攻毒组出现明显的腹泻症状和肠道病变,差异显著（P<0.05）,3株CP都可以引起鸡NE。MIC结果表明：阿维拉霉素、林可霉素和磷酸泰乐菌素的MIC范围分别是0.25～4、0.125～128和0.25～32 μg·mL^-1。药物疗效试验结果表明：通过拌料连续21 d给予阿维拉霉素预混剂,给药期间及停药后1周可保护鸡群,防止出现NE症状或防止病变恶化,显著降低NE发生率、NE病变评分以及CP检出率（P<0.05）。通过拌料连续7 d给予磷酸泰乐菌素预混剂,效果与阿维拉霉素预混剂相当,但停药14 d后,6只鸡（6/11）又出现NE症状。目前,河北、山西省部分规模化鸡养殖场内流行的CP多为A型,并且可以引起NE,同时,A型CP对阿维拉霉素和磷酸泰乐菌素仍较敏感,其预混剂用于发病鸡群的预防效果较好。     

家兔产气荚膜梭菌的分离、鉴定及致病性分析

为对疑似家兔产气荚膜梭菌病感染死亡的肉兔病例进行病原菌的分离鉴定,并分析其对家兔的致病性,试验采集死亡病例的肠道内容物,划线接种于兔鲜血平板和TSC选择鉴别培养基中,对病原菌进行分离纯化,利用细菌16SrDNA通用引物进行分子鉴定,分析其同源性,构建系统进化发育树,同时,对病原菌进行生化鉴定,并将病原菌腹腔接种30日龄肉兔,分析其致病性。结果表明,从病料中分离纯化到1株革兰氏阳性菌;通过对细菌16S rDNA基因测序分析及生化鉴定确定为产气荚膜梭菌,且在系统进化树中也与其聚为一簇;致病性分析发现,该菌对家兔具有较强的致死性,可使试验组肉兔在攻毒16h后全部死亡。综上所述,本研究成功获得1株具有较强毒性的兔源产气荚膜梭菌,为产气荚膜梭菌致病机制的研究奠定了基础,同时也为疫病诊断和防控提供了理论依据。     

产气荚膜梭茵肠毒素的分子生物学研究进展

产气荚膜梭茵（Clostridium perfringens）是一种重要的人兽共患病的病原体，它是一类革兰氏阳性产芽孢的厌氧梭茵，可引起人的食物中毒和肠毒素相关腹泻。近年来，研究人员发现由产气荚膜梭茵导致腹泻的主要原因与该茵在芽孢形成过程中产生的一种肠毒素有关。文章重点针对产气荚膜梭茵肠毒素的生物学特性和致病机制等方面的研究做一综述。     

Bacillus subtilis and yeast cell wall improve the intestinal health of broilers challenged by Clostridium perfringens

1. The objective was to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis, yeast cell wall (YCW) and their combination on intestinal health of broilers challenged by Clostridium perfringens over a 21-d period.

2. Using a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, 800 1-d-old male Cobb 500 broilers were used to study the effects of feed additives (without additive or with zinc bacitracin, B. subtilis, YCW, and the combination of B. subtilis and YCW), pathogen challenge (without or with Clostridium perfringens challenge), and their interactive effects.

3. C. perfringens infection increased intestinal lesions scores, damaged intestinal histomorphology, increased serum endotoxin concentration, cytokine mRNA expression and intestinal population of C. perfringens and Escherichia coli and decreased ileal bifidobacteria numbers. The 4 additives decreased serum endotoxin. Zinc bacitracin tended to decrease cytokine mRNA expression and the intestinal number of C. perfringens and E. coli. B. subtilis, YCW and their combination increased cytokine mRNA expression. B. subtilis and YCW decreased the number of C. perfringens and E. coli in the ileum, and their combination decreased pathogens numbers in the ileum and caecum.

4. In conclusion, B. subtilis, YCW and their combination improved the intestinal health of NE-infected broilers, and could be potential alternatives to antibiotics.     

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。     

Identification and cloning of two immunogenic Clostridium perfringens proteins, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) of C. perfringens

Clostridium-related poultry diseases such as necrotic enteritis (NE) and gangrenous dermatitis (GD) cause substantial economic losses on a global scale. Two antigenic Clostridium perfringens proteins, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO), were identified by reaction with immune sera from commercial meat-type chickens with clinical outbreak of Clostridium infections. In addition to the genes encoding EF-Tu and PFO, C. perfringens alpha-toxin and necrotic enteritis B-like (NetB) toxin were also expressed in Escherichia coli and their corresponding recombinant proteins were purified. Using the four recombinant proteins as target antigens in ELISA immunoassays, high serum antibody titers were observed not only in chickens with clinical signs of Clostridium infections, but also in apparently healthy animals from the same disease-endemic farm. By contrast, no antibodies against any of the proteins were present in the serum of a specific pathogen-free bird. In ELISA using recombinant proteins of C. perfringens, the levels of anti-bacterial protein antibodies were also higher in chickens which were experimentally induced to show NE clinical signs after co-infection with C. perfringens and Eimeria maxima compared with uninfected controls. These results show that two antigenic C. perfringens proteins, EF-Tu and PFO can be useful detection antigens for C. perfringens-afflicted infections in commercial poultry.     

产气荚膜梭菌主要致死性毒素的研究进展

产气荚膜梭菌作为危害各国家畜养殖业的主要致病菌之一,受到国内外研究者的普遍关注.产气荚膜梭菌的主要致病因子是菌体产生的外毒素.近年来,国内外对其致病机理进行了深入研究,建立起简便、快速的检测方法,并且在防治手段方面取得了巨大突破.对产气荚膜梭菌的主要致死性毒素类型、致病机理、检测技术及其防治措施等方面的研究进展进行了阐述.     

犀牛产气荚膜梭菌的分离鉴定

从突然死亡的犀牛肠管中，分离到一株套氧菌，经鉴定为致病性Ａ型产气荚膜梭菌。该菌为革兰氏阳性大杆菌，在血平皿套氧培养，产生双环溶血的菌落，用产毒培养基培养，其上清液静脉注射０．２ｍｌ可致死小白鼠。证明该菌是造成犀牛死亡的病原。血清中和试验结果中Ａ型产气荚膜梭菌，该分离物鉴定为致病性的Ａ型产气荚膜梭菌。     

动物源产气荚膜梭菌耐药性研究进展

细菌耐药性是21世纪人类面临的重大公共卫生安全问题之一。产气荚膜梭菌作为一种重要的人兽共患病原菌，能引起人和动物食物中毒、气性坏疽、坏死性肠炎等多种疾病。随着临床抗菌药物的广泛使用，其耐药性也在不断发展，严重威胁着公共卫生安全和养殖业的健康发展。本文将从产气荚膜梭菌近十年来的耐药性流行情况、耐药机制及耐药基因传播机制两个方面进行归纳总结，旨在为产气荚膜梭菌耐药性的防控提供理论依据。     

Death of a neonatal lamb due to Clostridium perfringens type B in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Case history and clinical findings: A flock of 20 sheep was kept within three paddocks on a single property. None of the animals in the flock had been vaccinated against any disease for at least three years. Abdominal bloating and haemorrhagic diarrhoea were observed in Lamb 1 at 24 hours-of-age. The lamb subsequently died within an hour of the onset of clinical signs. Lamb 2 was 3-days-old when observed to be recumbent with opisthotonus. The lamb was treated with dextrose, vitamins B1 and B12, and penicillin G, but died 4 hours later.

Pathological findings: Examination of Lamb 1 revealed markedly increased gas within the peritoneum and within dilated loops of intestine. The intestines were dark red and contained large quantities of haemorrhagic fluid. Histology of the intestines revealed peracute mucosal necrosis with minimal accompanying inflammation. The intestinal lumen contained cell debris, haemorrhage, and myriad large Gram-positive bacilli. The intestines of Lamb 2 did not appear bloated or reddened. However, multiple fibrin clots were visible within the pericardial sac. Histopathological examination revealed small foci of necrosis within the mucosa of the distal intestine. The necrotic foci were often associated with large numbers of large Gram-positive bacilli.

Immunohistochemsitry and molecular biology: Intestinal samples from Lamb 1 were processed for Clostridium perfringens immunohistochemistry, which revealed large numbers of intralesional, positively immunostained rods. Fragments corresponding to the expected sizes for genes encoding alpha, beta, and epsilon C. perfringens typing toxins were amplified by PCR from DNA extracted from formalin-fixed sections of intestine.

Diagnosis: Lamb dysentery due to C. perfringens type B.

Clinical relevance: C. perfringens bacteria have a worldwide distribution, but disease due to C. perfringens type B has only been diagnosed in a small number of countries and has never been reported in New Zealand or Australia. C. perfringens type B produce both beta toxin and epsilon toxins, therefore both haemorrhagic enteritis and systemic vascular damage can develop. As many animals are exposed to C. perfringens without developing disease, there must be additional unknown factors that resulted in disease in these particular sheep. Vaccines that specifically protect against C. perfringens type B are available and may be recommended for use in smaller non-commercial flocks, as in the present case.     

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。     

产气荚膜梭菌型特异性多重PCR的研究

建立了一种简单且具有型特异性的产气荚膜梭菌的多重PCR诊断方法.结果表明,该PCR特异性好,只有产气荚膜梭菌呈现阳性,被检验的其他7种梭菌以及大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌和多杀性巴氏杆菌均为阴性.该PCR具有较高的敏感性,最小检测量为4.2×105 CFU/mL,单个菌落稀释10倍后也能被检测出,适用于医院、防疫和兽医诊断等部门,具有重要的公共卫生意义.