Spontaneous Tyzzer’s Disease with the Central Nerve Involvement in a Newborn Common Marmoset

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A new-born (8-day-old) male marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) was found dead in a zoo. The littermate and parents had no clinical abnormalities. By gross observations at necropsy, there were moderate to severe multiple necrotic foci in the liver and heart. Histopathological examinations also revealed mild focal necrosis with neutrophilic infiltration in the cerebral cortex. By Giemsa stained sections, intracytoplasmic bundles of large bacilli were observed in the hepatocytes, intestinal epithelial cells, cardiac myocytes and neuronal cells around the necrotic lesions. Immunohistochemically, these bacilli were intensely positive for rabbit sera against Clostridium piliforme, RT and MSK strains. Although Tyzzer's disease has been rarely reported in primates, the central nervous system (CNS) lesions by Clostridium piliforme infections are very unusual.

Pathobiology and diagnosis of clostridial hepatitis in animals

“…The disease occurs in numerous domestic, laboratory, and exotic species. 3,13,33,35,39,40,46,58,63,74,83,84 The majority of cases have been documented in horses, particularly foals, and laboratory rabbits, mice, rats, and guinea pigs. 12,22,24,30…”

“…24 Microscopic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) have been reported in a few species including gerbils, 80 a weaver bird, 39 passerine birds, 40 and a marmoset. 84 CNS changes included regionally extensive areas of gliosis, neuropil rarefaction, and microabscess formation, mainly involving the cerebral cortex. At the periphery of these lesions, the characteristic filamentous bacteria may be found in neuronal perikarya.…”

Bacterial Diseases

“…Tyzzer's disease has been described in common marmosets [33] and cotton-top tamarins [32] where it was recognized in neonatal animals. The disease is rapidly progressive, and neonatal animals are generally found dead with no antemortem clinical signs recognized.…”

“…The organism may further disseminate to the myocardium where it can cause myocarditis. Although unusual, involvement of the central nervous system was recognized in the common marmoset where necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration were observed [33] ( Fig. 16.3).…”

Diseases of the Gastrointestinal System

“…Pathology: Affected animals have classic lesions of Tyzzer's disease including dissemination of bacteria to heart, liver, and/or GI tract with resultant multifocal hemorrhagic necrosis in these locations [105,106].…”