Intestinal Strangulation in Clostridium perfringens -Monocontaminated Rats

Experimental cecitis in gnotoxenic chickens monoassociated with Clostridium butyricum strains isolated from patients with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

An animal model for Clostridium butyricum necrotizing cecitis has been developed in axenic chickens inoculated orally between 2 and 50 days of life. Cecitis was obtained with two C. butyricum strains isolated from neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and not with a Clostridium beijerinckii strain from dairy products; the rate of colonization of the intestinal tract by this strain was lower than that obtained with C. butyricum strains. The clinical findings showed a slow gain in body weight. The cecitis lesions were well developed 3 and 4 weeks after oral inoculation, including enlargement with an increase of the cecum weight-body weight ratio, a marked hyperplasia, congestion, inflammatory infiltrate and pneumatosis of the cecal wall and mesentery, hemorrhage in the lamina propria and submucosa, and ulcerations and necrotic areas in the mucosa. By immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, the bacterial cells were located in the cecal lumen and in necrotic areas of the mucosa. The presence of 4% lactose in the diet seemed to be a prerequisite for the development of cecitis in chickens. A gradual rise of fluorescent antibodies in the sera was observed.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is an uncommon disease of previously unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of gas-filled cysts in the walls of some portion of the gastrointestinal tract. This investigation showed that PCI was readily produced in the germfree rat by inoculating its peritoneal cavity with a pure culture of either C. perfringens or C. tertium. Similar inoculation of the germfree animal with any one of eight other clostridia species did not result in the formation of PCI. The bacterial theory for the formation of at least some cases of PCI is now established. This work suggests that part of the treatment of those fulminating diseases known to be frequently associated with PCI should be directed at controlling a possible clostridial infection.

Etiology of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition of previously unknown etiology. Experimental work is discussed which proves that either one of at least two clostridial species can produce PCI after relatively atraumatic contamination of the peritoneal cavity of germfree animals. This work strongly supports the bacterial etiology of PCI. It further suggests that vigorous and early treatment be directed toward control of the clostridial organisms in those cases where fulminating conditions associated with PCI are present.