An investigation of the prevalence of the toxigenic types of Clostridium perfringens in horses with anterior enteritis: preliminary results.

This research investigates the link between the bacterium Clostridium perfringens and equine anterior enteritis. The study reveals a higher prevalence of the bacteria in horses suffering from the condition compared to healthy horses or those with other illnesses.

Research Scope and Methodology

• The research began with an aim to uncover the relationship between Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium, and anterior enteritis, an acute syndrome found in horses. The cause of the syndrome currently remains unknown, with the bacteria along with salmonellosis being potential causes.
• This preliminary study focused on comparing the prevalence of toxigenic types of Clostridium perfringens in healthy horses and those diagnosed with anterior enteritis.
• For the research, samples of gastric reflux, small intestinal contents, and faeces were obtained from horses admitted with colic at Phillip Leverhulme Large Animal Hospital, during 1995-1996. Of these horses, five were reported to have anterior enteritis.

Findings

• All five horses suffering from anterior enteritis had cultures showing the presence of C. perfringens.
• In two horses, bacterial counts revealed high numbers of C. perfringens, at 10(6) CFU/g faeces.
• Furthermore, when gastric reflux and small intestinal contents were examined from one horse, the bacterium was found in similarly high concentrations.
• The study found that these counts were notably higher than those found in healthy horses or horses suffering from colic or other diagnoses.
• Initial findings suggest that C. perfringens type A is commonly found in healthy horses and horses with different diagnoses, while type D strains are isolated in horses with anterior enteritis.

Research Techniques and Future Directions

• Researchers made use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to investigate the major toxigenic types of C. perfringens present in both healthy and diseased horses. This molecular technique amplifies target DNA sequences of the toxin genes.
• The DNA sequences of enterotoxin, alpha, beta, epsilon, and iota toxin genes were taken from previously published data and used to design primers.
• PCR products obtained from NCTC strains of C. perfringens were cloned and sequenced, validating the amplicon sequence accuracy.
• The initial findings of this study open up possibilities for further investigations within this domain, especially for confirming the link between C. perfringens type D and anterior enteritis.