Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in the dog associated with Clostridium welchii

Two cases of peracute haemorrhagic enteritis in the dog are reported. Gram-positive bacilli, which were shown in one case to be Clostridium welchii were found adhering to the necrotic epithelial surfaces in parts of the gastrointestinal tract in both cases. Large numbers of C welchii were recovered from the intestines of both dogs.

Ulcerative enteritis caused by Clostridium colinum in chickens

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Experimental induction of bacillary hemoglobinuria in cattle

An open-surgery technique for intrahepatic inoculation of Clostridium haemolyticum spores, suspended in calcium chloride as the hepatic debilitant, was used to produce bacillary hemoglobinuria in cattle. All calves (n=3) died of the disease, and the controls (n=2) given calcium chloride without spores survived. Clinical signs and gross pathologic changes produced by this method resembled those described for the disease in its natural form.

Suspected infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease) in Oregon cattle

Suspected infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease) in a herd of 436 cattle in Douglas County, Oregon, resulted in 79 deaths during a 2-week period. Although Clostridium novyi could not be isolated from hepatic lesions, the clinical course of the disease, gross and histopathologic findings, and fluorescent antibody identification of C novyi in various tissues were suggestive of the disease. The epizootic was preceded by a long drought, during which grazing conditions were sparse. A few days before the 1st dead animal was found, the drought was relieved by about 10 cm (4 in) of rainfall, resulting in the growth of young succulent grass. The cattle, attempting to eat this new grass lying close to the ground, consumed large quantities of soil. It was speculated that the soil contained C novyi and that the proliferation of these ingested organisms in necrotic tissue cuased by Fasciola hepatica resulted in fatal toxemia.

The pathology of necrotic enteritis of chickens following infusion of broth cultures of Clostridium perfringens into the duodenum

Necrotic enteritis was consistently reproduced when enough active broth culture of Clostridium perfringens type A was infused intraduodenally. Typical lesions of necrotic enteritis were seen as early as 5 hr after infusion was begun. The histologic lesions observed at 1 hr were characterized by edema in the lamina propria and desquamation of epithelial cells. Large numbers of clostridia were seen among these sloughed cells. Coagulation necrosis of the tips of villi became evident at 3 hr and was marked at 5 hr. Many clumps of clostridia were obvious among the necrotic tissue. At 8 and 12 hr the necrotic lesions extended to involve most of the villus structures. Morphologically abnormal erythrocytes were evident in the visceral organs at 12 hr.

The interaction of Clostridium perfringens and its toxins in the production of necrotic enteritis of chickens

The intraduodenal administration of large numbers of Clostridium perfringens cells harvested from broth cultures and resuspended in PBS or fresh sterile thioglycollate broth produced a very mild form of necrotic enteritis. Administering an appropriate number of cells in culture supernatant, however, produced typical field-type disease. Alpha toxin was shown to be the significant toxin recoverable from broth-culture supernatant fluids. Requirements to produce the disease are minor intestinal damage and sufficient numbers of toxigenic C. perfringens in the intestine.

Clostridial myositis in cattle: bacteriology and gross pathology

In a bacteriological study of 173 cases of clostridial myositis in cattle, Cl chauvoei either alone or with Cl septicum was demonstrated in 97 (56 %)min a further 62 (36%) cases Cl novyi was demonstrated either alone or with Cl septicum. On 11 (6%) occasions Cl septicum only was recovered, and on another three 1-7%) Cl sordelli only. The gross pathology of the lesions was correlated with the bacteriological findings, and prophylaxis in relation to the infections identified is discussed.

The generalized Shwartzman reaction in association with E. coli enterotoxemia in a pig

A pig at the age of approx. 10 weeks died after four days of illness. Distinct necrotic changes were found both in the skin and the cortex of the kidneys. The histological examination revealed fibrinoid thrombi in skin vessels. In the kidneys similar thrombi were observed in capillaries of the glomeruli and in their afferent arterioles and in the interlobular arteries. In these vessels there were also a fibrinoid mural necrosis. These changes were in accordance with those expected to occur in the generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR). The diagnosis of Escherichia coli enterotoxemia was based on the pathomorphological changes in the alimentary tract. The E. coli enterotoxemia was considered the cause of the GSR-changes.

[Necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. III. Study of the factors favoring the multiplication of Clostridium perfringens and the experimental transmission of the disease]

Necrotic enteritis was reproduced experimentally in two week old broiler chickens by intravenous injection and also by oral administration of a pure culture of Clostridium perfringens. In the first experiment, gross and microscopic intestinal lesions, typical of necrotic enteritis, were observed in all diseased birds and mortality was obtained only in the group of birds that were injected with 0.4 ml or more of the pure culture of the microorganism. In the second experiment, the highest mortality was noted in the group of birds that received orally, in addition to the Clostridium culture, a solution of sodium bicarbonate, to obtain an alkaline intestinal content and opium to decrease the intestinal peristaltism. The gross and microscopie intestinal lesions of the diseased and killed birds were more severe than those observed in the other groups and were similar to those encountered in field outbreaks of necrotic enteritis.

Mucormycotic hepatic lesions resembling bacillary hemoglobinuria infarcts in irradiated calves

To produce hematopoietic chimeras, 3 young, healthy calves were exposed to whole-body irradiation and, 6 days after irradiation, were injected with a bone-marrow suspension prepared from an unrelated, normal donor calf. Antibiotics were administered daily to control bacterial infection. One calf died 8 days postirradiation (PI), another died 10 days PI, and the third calf was killed in extremis 11 days PI. In addition to lesions of acute radiation injury, one to several spherical, firm, dry, reddish-black nodules were found in the liver of each calf. Hepatic changes and blood-stained urine were suggestive of bacillary hemoglobinuria. Fungi, identified by their morphologic features as members of the class Phycomycetes, were widely distributed in the tissues and lesions.

The importance of clostridia in experimental intestinal strangulation

Hemorrhagic and ischemic strangulation of closed intestinal segments was sutdied in germ-free rats individually monocontaminated with one of eight separate species of clostridia. Ischemic strangulation was found to be as deadly as hemorrhagic strangulation in the presence of clostridia. Some clostridia were very toxic whereas others were relatively innocuous. The clostridia, ranked in the order of decreasing lethality, were: Clostridium perfringens type A, C. septicum, C. histolyticum, C. haemolyticum, C. bifermantans, C. sporogenes, C. tertium, and C. novyi type A. All species were readily established in the gastrointestinal tract of the nonoperated germ-free rat. The clostridia appear to be one of the most potentially lethal groups of organisms commonly found in the intestinal tract of human beings and animals.

The size pH, and redox potential of the cecum in mice associated with various microbial floras

Cecal size and in situ redox potential and pH of cecal contents were determined in conventionally reared mice and mice reared under a variety of gnotobiotic conditions: germfree, monoassociated with a cecal Clostridium sp., hexaflora-associated and thermoduric polyflora-associated. The mean Eh was approximately +200 mV in germfree and -200 mV in conventional mice. The Eh was close to zero in the monoassociated mice, thus occupying a position intermediate between the germfree and conventional mice. The potentials observed in the hexaflora and the thermoduric flora groups were indistinguishable from those of conventional animals. The degree of normalization was more advanced with respect to the redox potential than to the cecal size in the various gnotobiotic groups. In the thermoduric polyflora-associated group, normalization was observed in both cecal size and redox potential. This demonstrates that normalization can be accomplished with a relatively simplified microflora, at least with regard to the parameters studied.

Clostridium septicemia following biliary surgery in a gastrectomized patient

A 75-year-old woman was subjected to biliary surgery 38 years after partial gastrectomy for ulcer. There was a history of gallstones of 10 years duration, pentagastrin-resistant achylia, cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis complicated by stenosis of papilla of vater, cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Peroperative cholangiography and biliary tract surgery were performed. On the third postoperative day heavy jaundice and hemolysis developed, leading to death of the patient. Culture of bile taken at operation revealed strains of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. Autopsy showed a picture of gas gangraena of the liver and Clostridium septicemia. The role of achylia, blind loop, and biliary obstruction in bile surgery is stressed.