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

Abstract

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.

Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin: A Malevolent Molecule for Animals and Man?

“…Sheep and goats are the most frequent, natural hosts for C. perfringens Etx, cattle less so [54,55]. C. perfringens type D strains are more common than type B for epsilon-induced disease, although both toxin types produce Etx.…”

“…C. perfringens type D strains are more common than type B for epsilon-induced disease, although both toxin types produce Etx. Various factors can play a role in disease, including: (1) consumption of feed rich in fermentable carbohydrates; (2) poor nutritional status; (3) parasite infestation; (4) pregnancy toxemia; (5) tranquilizer (phenothiazine) use; and (6) overdose of a broad spectrum anthelmintic (netobimin) [54,55]. Although Etx can be found in the heart, lungs, liver and stomach following intoxication, it noticeably accumulates in the kidneys, causing what veterinarians classically refer to as pulpy kidney, or overeating, disease [1,2,31,56,57,58]; however, evidence for pulpy kidney disease is inconsistent, probably a post-mortem effect and thus not considered diagnostic.…”

Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Increases the Small Intestinal Permeability in Mice and Rats

“…This fluid imbalance may explain the diarrhea or watery intestinal contents observed in C. perfringens type D enterotoxaemia, particularly if the animals survive longer than a few hours [4], [11]. However, the physio-pathological mechanisms of fluid imbalance induced by ETX in the small intestine are unknown [12].…”

Detection of theetxgene (ε-toxin inducer) in plasmids of high molecular weight inClostridium perfringenstype D

“…C. perfringens type D, the causative agent of enterotoxemia in sheep and goats, produces important economic losses. What is more, there is evidence of an important epizootiological prevalence of infections in animals by C. perfringens type D in Argentina [2].…”