Toxin typing of Clostridium perfringens Associated with Enterotoxaemia in Sheep in Fars Province

Clostridium perfringens is implicated in the etiology of some diseases including fatal enterotoxaemia. Determining dominant toxin types of this microorganism can be helpful in epidemiologic surveys and the formulation of more proper vaccines. To understand the pathogenicity of this bacterium, it seems necessary to describe the toxin and virulence genes content of strains involved in enterotoxaemia and other associated diseases. The current study aimed to isolate and type the toxins of C. perfringens in sheep with suspected enterotoxaemia in Fars province by culture-PCR and ELISA methods and to compare them to isolates of a healthy group. Samples of intestinal contents were collected from enterotoxaemia cases and a healthy group of sheep. The presence of alpha, beta, and epsilon toxins were evaluated by ELISA method. After culture and isolation of C. perfringens, toxin typing and screening of isolates for the presence of beta-2 and enterotoxin were performed by PCR method. C. perfringens was isolated from 102 of 167 suspected enterotoxaemia cases of sheep and from 22 of 50 healthy sheep. The PCR results showed that type A was the most prevalent toxin type in both groups, but according to ELISA type D was the dominant toxin type in the clinical group. The enterotoxin gene was detected in 10% of all isolates from healthy and suspected group isolates of types A and D. The beta-2 gene was identified in 35% and 63.6% of enterotoxaemia-associated isolates and isolates not associated with disease, respectively. In conclusion, Type D of C. perfringens was the dominant causative organism of fatal enterotoxaemia in sheep in Fars province.

Proportional mortality: A study of 152 goats submitted for necropsy from 13 goat herds in Quebec, with a special focus on caseous lymphadenitis

The objectives of this study were to determine the main causes of mortality, with a special focus on caseous lymphadenits as a cause of death or wasting in caprine herds from Quebec. Goats (n = 152) from 13 herds were submitted for necropsy; the cause of mortality, and the presence, location, and cause of abscesses (if present) were recorded. Proportional mortalities were distributed as: Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxemia (17.1%), pneumonia (13.8%), paratuberculosis (10.5%), listeriosis (6.6%), pregnancy toxemia (5.3%), caprine arthritis-encephalitis (4.6%), and caseous lymphadenitis (3.9%). Caseous lymphadenitis was diagnosed in 24.3% of the submitted goats, but was not a major cause of wasting or mortality. Abscesses were localized internally in 54.1% of the cases. Paratuberculosis was diagnosed in 29 goats (16 as cause of death) and was considered a major cause of wasting and/or mortality.

An epidemiological survey of Clostridium perfringens-associated enterotoxemia at an army veterinary treatment facility

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of Clostridium perfringens-associated vomiting and diarrhea in canine and feline patients at the Okinawa Branch Veterinary Service and to establish a relationship between dietary indiscretion and the presence of clostridial enterotoxemia. Stool samples were obtained from 38 control animals and 44 animals with vomiting and diarrhea during a 3-month period. For each sample, fecal cytology were examined for the presence of C. perfringens, white blood cells, and red blood cells. A survey was also completed by the animal's owner, which provided the researcher with information on the owner's pet feeding practices. After the data were analyzed, 27% of animals with vomiting and diarrhea were found to have C. perfringens upon examination of their fecal samples (p < 0.05), compared with 11% for control animals. Results of our survey revealed that when owners were questioned regarding their feeding practices, 45% of the animals with C. perfringens-positive fecal samples and with clinical signs of vomiting and/or diarrhea had an episode of dietary indiscretion soon before the illness (p < 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that C. perfringens is an important cause of vomiting and diarrhea in our patient population and that a causal relationship may exist between dietary indiscretion and C. perfringens-associated intestinal disease.

[Characterization of a Cl. Perfringens type D strain, isolated in the field and optimization of epsilon toxin biosynthesis in a cell culture]

A field strain of cl. perfringens, named Dt001, was isolated from kidney of ovine enterotoemia case. The isolate characterized as Cl. perfringens, type D was based on its cultural and biochemical characters and its factors of virulence. The strain was very toxinogenic and well adapted to culture conditions of biofermentation when the parameters related to ptt, incubation time, substrat ... were optimized. Thus, the use of carbon source as polymer (destrine), the continuous control of pH allowed improvement of the rate of biosynthesis of Epsilon toxine by 10 times. The study of the immunogenicity of the isolate showed that preparations of anacultures were more immunogenic then those of anatoxine type. The fact that the two forms of epsilon antigens (protoxin and active toxin) show similar immune response in rabbits, indicates that the proteolytic action of trypsin is limited only to the toxic sites and does not affect the immunogenic epsitopes of the toxin. It also suggests a molecular organization of epsilon toxin in which the immunogenic epsitopes and the toxin sites are apart. The biotechnological performances and the immunogenicity and toxinogenical of the Dt001 isolate are in favor of its possible use as a component of an inactivated vaccine against enterotoxenia.

[Oral long-term administration of probiotic B. cereus--an alternative for the the prevention of enterotoxemia?]

Aetiology and epizootiology of enterotoxaemia, especially the connection between development of the disease and the management of feeding are described and newer knowledge about the physiopathology of the disease is presented. A comparative description of prophylactic schemes which include immuno- and chemoprophylaxis follows. The principles of the application and the effect of probiotic organisms as a new approach to prevent the disease are explained. The probiotic effect of apathogenic non-haemolysing and non-toxic B. cereus strains which have proven to be able to suppress enteropathies and also enterotoxaemia is described.

The characteristics and causes of sheep losses in the Victorian Mallee

The extent and causes of sheep losses in the semi-arid Mallee region of north-western Victoria were assessed by interviewing the owners of 79 randomly selected farms running 241 flocks in 1987/88 and 245 flocks in 1988/89. Mean annual losses were higher in ram flocks (21%) than in ewe flocks (7%), in flocks of non-Merino sheep (rams 24%, ewes 11%, weaners 5%) than in Merino (rams 11%, ewes 6%, wethers 4%, weaners 4%) and in ewe flocks 3 or more years old (10%) than in young ewe flocks (3.5%). In flocks where losses exceeded 5%, the causes most often reported by farmers were blowfly strike (especially in Merino sheep and weaners), ewe losses in autumn close to lambing, and heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum) poisoning. Heliotrope poisoning was considered by the authors to be the main reason for the higher losses in old ewes than in young ewes and in non-Merino sheep than in Merino sheep. Losses of ewes associated with pregnancy and lambing were considered by the authors to be often predisposed by liver damage caused by heliotrope poisoning, and high losses in non-Merino ram flocks were attributed to both heliotrope poisoning and their ability to escape through boundary fences. Reasons for continuing high losses due to enterotoxaemia are discussed. Losses due to gastro-intestinal parasites, footrot and foot abscess were low.

An outbreak of enterotoxaemia caused by Clostridium perfringens type D in goats in Patagonia

Forty-four of a flock of 117 angora goats in the Rio Negro province of Argentina died within four days. Most of the animals died shortly after the onset of clinical signs, but in a few the clinical course lasted for several days. Post mortem the small and large intestines were filled with watery contents, blood and fibrin clots, and there were numerous ulcers on the mucosa. Small areas of malacia were observed histologically in the brain. Clostridium perfringens type D in pure culture was isolated from the kidneys and gut contents of the affected animals. Epsilon toxin was identified by the mouse seroneutralisation test in the supernatant solution from cultures of these isolates and in the intestinal contents of the affected animals. Heavy infestations with coccidia, nutritional and environmental stress, and an anthelmintic overdose were possible predisposing factors for the outbreak.

An outbreak of enterotoxaemia in suckling camels

An outbreak of enterotoxaemia was observed for the first time in suckling camels in Saudi Arabia. The animals were weak, diarrhoeic and succumbed quickly to exertion. The main pathological findings were those of acute catarrhal enteritis and acute myocardial degeneration. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the enteric lesions; Aeromonas hydrophila was also identified. The properties of both isolates were studied.

Rates of diseases and their associated costs in two Colorado sheep feedlots (1985-1986)

Data related to rates of disease and their associated costs were collected for 12 months from 2 sheep feedlots in northern Colorado. There was an apparent seasonal occurrence of many of the diseases. Pneumonia, enterotoxemia, acidosis, and transport tetany accounted for most of the diseases seen in these feedlots and were responsible for most of the economic losses. There was a large difference in the incidence of diseases between the 2 feedlots and in the expenditures for disease prevention between the 2 feedlots.

Enterotoxemia in neonatal calves

The incidence, bacterial characteristics, disease syndromes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of enterotoxemia of neonatal calves caused by Clostridium perfringens (Types A, B, C, D, and E) are reviewed.