Pathology ofClostridium perfringensType C Enterotoxemia in Horses

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens type C is an important cause of enteritis and enterocolitis in foals and occasionally in adult horses. The disease is a classic enterotoxemia, and the enteric lesions and systemic effects are caused primarily by beta toxin, 1 of 2 major toxins produced by C. perfringens type C. Until now, only sporadic cases of C. perfringens type C equine enterotoxemia have been reported. We present a comprehensive description of the lesions in 8 confirmed cases of type C enterotoxemia in foals and adult horses. Grossly, multifocal to segmental hemorrhage and thickening of the intestinal wall were most common in the small intestine, although the colon and cecum were also frequently affected. All horses had variable amounts of fluid, often hemorrhagic intestinal contents. The most characteristic microscopic lesion was necrotizing or necrohemorrhagic enteritis, with mucosal and/ or submucosal thrombosis. Numerous gram-positive rods were occasionally seen in affected mucosa. A definitive diagnosis of C. perfringens type C enterotoxemia in all 8 cases was based on the clinical history, gross and histologic lesions, and detection of the beta toxin in intestinal contents.

Endoscopically Visualized Lesions, Histologic Findings, and Bacterial Invasion in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa of Dogs with Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome

“…It has now been clearly established that certain C. perfringens strains are capable of inducing necrotic enteritis in broilers, pigs, lambs, horses, felines, and humans 13, 35, 36, 37, 38. Currently, the cause of C. perfringens overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans or other mammals, including dogs, is not always known.…”

Clostridium perfringens: a review of the disease in pigs, horses and broiler chickens

“…On post mortem examination, the small intestine, and eventually also the large intestine, is diffusely hemorrhagic and necrotic, sometimes with the presence of ulcers and pseudomembrane. Mucosal and submucosal thrombosis is also common (HOWARD-MARTIN et al, 1986;DROLET et al, 1990;DIAB et al, 2012).…”

“…For older foals or adult horses, the predisposing factors are not completely known; however, malnutrition, trypsin deficiency, pancreatic diseases and a diet rich in trypsin inhibitors may predispose an animal to C. perfringens type C infection (DIAB et al, 2012). Some authors also reported that certain antibiotics could play a role in C. perfringens type C infection, although this is only speculative (DIAB et al, 2012). Co-infection of C. perfringens type C and C. difficile, another common clostridial foal enteropathogen, could also be possible (UZAL et al, 2012).…”

“…The absence of bloody diarrhea does not exclude the diagnosis of C. perfringens type C infection, as some animals can show acute colic without diarrhea or even sudden death (DIAB et al, 2012). Because C. perfringens type C is rare as part of the microbiota of horses, the isolation of this microorganism in combination with the typical lesions has a high diagnostic value.…”

“…However, it is possible that C. perfringens type C may not be isolated, leading to some toxin-positive but isolation-negative cases. This might be due to the growth of C. perfringens type C in only some intestinal segments, leading to lesions and enterotoxemia despite a lack of the microorganism in the content of some segments (SONGER, 1996;DIAB et al, 2012).…”