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.     

Effects of vaccination against brucellosis and clostridia on the intake,performance, feeding behavior,blood parameters,and immune responses of dairy heifers calves

The aim of this study was to identify possible effects of different vaccination strategies (concomitantly or not) against brucellosis and clostridia on intake, performance, feeding behavior, blood parameters, and immune responses of dairy heifers calves. Fifty heifers calves were enrolled [38 Gyr (Zebu, Bos taurus indicus) and 12 5/8 Holstein Gyr]. At 120 d of age, animals were randomly distributed among 3 groups: B (n = 18), vaccinated against brucellosis; C (n = 14), vaccinated against clostridia and CB (n = 18), vaccinated concomitantly for both. Rectal and thermographic temperatures were evaluated on days 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7,10, 14, and 28 relatives to the vaccination day. Feed and water intake, body weight (BW), and feeding behavior were monitored daily by an electronic feeding system. Blood was sampled on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28, relative to the vaccination day for determination of glucose and -hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations. Blood sampled on day 0 (prevaccination) and on days 28 and 42 were used to evaluate the immune response against Brucella abortus and clostridia. There was an increase in rectal temperature between the first and the third day postvaccination in the 3 groups. The thermography revealed an increase of local temperature for 7 d on groups B and CB. Group C had increased local temperature for a longer period, lasting for up to 14 d. Dry mater intake was reduced for groups B and CB, but no alteration was observed for group C. No alterations regarding initial BW, final BW, average daily weight gain, and feed efficiency were observed. No differences were observed for the 3 vaccination groups for blood parameters throughout the evaluation period. The concomitant vaccination against brucellosis and clostridia led to lower neutralizing antibody titers against epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens and botulinum toxin type C of C. botulinum (C > CB > B). When cellular proliferation assay and serological tests to B. abortus were evaluated, no differences were observed between groups B and CB. The present results indicate that the concomitant vaccination against brucellosis and clostridia has no relevant impact on the intake, performance, and feeding behavior of dairy calves. However, the concomitant vaccination of vaccines against these 2 pathogens impacts animal immunity against clostridial infections.     

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.     

规模化养鸡场A型产气荚膜梭菌的分离鉴定及其对海南霉素敏感性的测定

为探究海南霉素对产气荚膜梭菌的敏感性,在某大型养鸡场采集了209份鸡肠道样本,采用选择性培养基和MALDI-TOF质谱仪微生物鉴定仪鉴定,并对鉴定的菌株进行分型。采用琼脂稀释法测定了海南霉素、恩拉霉素、盐霉素、丁酸甘油酯对临床分离的产气荚膜梭菌的抗菌活性,以期为当前限抗禁抗后养殖场选择合适的药物控制产气荚膜梭菌提供理论依据。试验结果表明：共分离出61株产气荚膜梭菌,分离率为29.2%;通过多重PCR对所分离的产气荚膜梭菌进行分型,结果分离株均为A型产气荚膜梭菌;4种药物均有不同程度的抑菌效果,其中海南霉素与恩拉霉素对鸡源产气荚膜梭菌的抑菌效果最好,且MIC值范围均为0.004～0.06μg/mL。海南霉素具有很好的抗梭菌效果。     

精油对熟制鸡胸肉中产气荚膜梭菌抑制效果预测模型研究

为研究不同香辛料精油对熟制鸡胸肉中产气荚膜梭菌(C.perfringens)的影响,该文以肉桂精油、艾草精油和茴香精油为研究对象,对C.perfringens标准株(ATCC13124)和分离株(C1)抑菌效果,筛选出抑制最佳浓度,采用BP神经网络构建C.perfringens的生长/残存动力学模型,并以相关系数(R~2)和均方根误差(RMSE)评价模型精度,以期快速预测不同精油浓度条件对C.perfringens影响。结果表明:经肉桂精油处理后的ATCC13124和C1浓度最低,抑制效果最强;采用BP神经网络模型构建不同精油对熟制鸡胸肉中C.perfringens的预测模型,肉桂精油对ATCC13124和C1的R~2分别为0.963和0.976,RMSE分别为0.327和0.271CFU/g,预测效果最佳;利用验证集对模型鲁棒性进行验证,结果表明R~2均在0.917以上,RMSE在0.200～0.640 CFU/g之间,结果表明,BP神经网络模型可以较好的预测熟制鸡胸肉中产气夹膜梭菌的生长/残存情况;为肉类加工过程中控制C.perfringens提供理论依据。     

D型产气荚膜梭菌ε毒素蛋白结构及抗原表位分析

利用生物软件对D型产气荚膜梭菌ε毒素的蛋白结构、抗原表位进行预测与分析。综合ε毒素蛋白亲水性、表面可能性、抗原指数、二级结构预测结果显示,肽链13-19、44-47、59-63、79-82、94-97、151-153、200-204、211-221、245-250、257-260位可能存在B细胞抗原表位,三级结构预测的94、151结合位点位于94-97、151-153抗原表位区内。     

表乳糖对长双歧杆菌抑制产气荚膜梭菌生长的影响

产气荚膜梭菌是一种常见的人畜禽共患的病原菌,可引起人的急性食物中毒和慢性肠道感染,或导致动物的坏死性肠炎等,严重危害人体健康和畜禽养殖业的发展。采用对长双歧杆菌和产气荚膜梭菌单独培养和共培养的方式,研究表乳糖及其同分异构体乳糖、乳果糖等特异性碳源对双歧杆菌的生长特性及其抑制产气荚膜梭菌生长的影响。结果表明,长双歧杆菌能够在以表乳糖为碳源的m TPY培养基中生长良好,并显现出与乳糖相似的生长趋势。在与产气荚膜梭菌共培养的过程中,长双歧杆菌能够显著地抑制产气荚膜梭菌的生长,且表乳糖相较于乳糖和乳果糖,能显著提高长双岐杆菌的存活率。还利用牛津杯法对长双歧杆菌培养上清液对产气荚膜梭菌的抑菌效果进行评价,证明其培养上清液对于产气荚膜梭菌具有较好的抑菌活性。上述结果为应用长双歧杆菌抑制产气荚膜梭菌提供理论依据,对深入研究表乳糖调控机制具有重要的指导意义。     

RAPD技术在产气荚膜杆菌基因分型中的应用研究

采用随机扩增多态性ＤＮＡ技术对产气荚膜杆菌进行ＰＣＲ扩增。结果产气荚膜杆菌Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ，Ｄ４个型均可扩增出约４３０ｂｐ的条带，Ｂ，Ｃ型还扩增出约２１０ｂｐ条带，Ｂ，Ｄ型还扩增出约１２１０ｂｐ条带，Ａ型还扩增出约２４０ｂｐ和６９０ｂｐ条带，各型之间的条带差别明显，从而为产气荚膜杆菌的基因分型、ＰＣＲ快速诊断提供可靠的依据。     

Cloning,Expression of Clostridium perfringens α-toxin Gene and Preparation of its Antisera

One pair of primers had been designed and synthesized based on the α-toxin gene of Clostridium perfringens.The complete α-toxin gene fragment was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then was cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector to construct pGEM-T-α.Digested with EcoRⅠ and Hind Ⅲ, a fragment of 1125 bp was cloned into the expression plasmid vector pET-28a(+).The recombinant plasmid was transformed into the BL21(DE3)plys and induced by 1.0 mmol/L IPTG at 37 ℃.The expression product was found to be 46.1 ku as expected one identified by SDS-PAGE, and confirmed by Western blotting with Clostridium perfringens type A antisera, indicating similar reactivity with native α-toxin.Recombinant α-toxin protein was simultaneously found in culture supernatant, postsonic supertanant and inclusion bodies, most protein was expressed in inclusion bodies, which indicated recombinant α-toxin protein was expressed in the extracellular, periplasm and cytoplasm.Recombinant α-toxin protein in postsonic supertanant could not make mice die, indicating its non-toxicity.Toxin-antitoxin neutralization test showed that antisera of recombinant α-toxin protein were specific to α-toxin.Upon immunization of rabbit with the recombinant α-toxin protein, antisera with high antibody titer neutralizing 100 MLD toxin per 1 mL were prepared.     

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。