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Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2019; 32(2); 246-251; doi: 10.1177/1040638719877844

Clostridium sordellii-associated gas gangrene in 8 horses, 1998-2019.

Abstract: Gas gangrene occurs in several animal species and is caused by one or more clostridial species. In horses, the disease is most often caused by Clostridium perfringens type A. Although Clostridium sordellii has been associated with gas gangrene in ruminants and humans, cases of the disease associated with this microorganism have not been described in horses, to our knowledge. We report herein 8 cases of gas gangrene caused by C. sordellii in horses. These cases were characterized by myonecrosis and cellulitis, associated with systemic changes suggestive of toxic shock. The diagnosis was confirmed by gross and microscopic changes combined with anaerobic culture, fluorescent antibody test, immunohistochemistry, and/or PCR. The predisposing factor in these cases was an injection or a traumatic skin injury. C. sordellii should be considered as a possible etiologic agent in cases of gas gangrene in horses.
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Publication Date: 2019-10-04 PubMed ID: 31585515PubMed Central: PMC7081493DOI: 10.1177/1040638719877844Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study details eight cases of gas gangrene in horses caused by a bacterium, Clostridium sordellii, previously unnoted as causing this condition in horses. These cases, characterized by muscle tissue death, skin inflammation, and systemic changes indicating toxic shock, were typically sparked by an injection or trauma to the skin.

Background

  • The research seeks to highlight the presence of gas gangrene, a severe infection, in horses. This infection results from the presence of the bacterium Clostridium sordellii. Traditionally, it’s believed to be caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in horses.
  • While Clostridium sordellii has been linked with gas gangrene in both humans and ruminants (cud-chewing animals such as cows and sheep), it hasn’t been recognised as a cause for the disease in horses prior to this study.

Case Examines and Findings

  • The researchers reported on eight cases of gas gangrene in horses caused by Clostridium sordellii.
  • The symptoms that characterised these incidents included myonecrosis (muscle tissue death), cellulitis (inflammation of the skin and its subcutaneous structures), and systemic changes that were suggestive of a fatal complication known as toxic shock.

Diagnosis Verification

  • The researchers used several techniques to confirm the diagnosis made in these cases including examination of visible and microscopic changes, culturing the bacterium under conditions devoid of oxygen (anaerobic culture), fluorescent antibody testing, immunohistochemistry, and PCR (polymerase chain reaction, a method used to make numerous copies of a specific DNA segment).

Predisposing Factors and Conclusions

  • The researchers identified injections or traumatic skin wounds as the major triggering factors in these instances of gas gangrene.
  • Based on their study, they assert that Clostridium sordellii should be considered as a potential cause of gas gangrene in horses, altering the traditional perception limited to another bacterium.

Cite This Article

APA
Sacco SC, Ortega J, Navarro MA, Fresneda KC, Anderson M, Woods LW, Moore J, Uzal FA. (2019). Clostridium sordellii-associated gas gangrene in 8 horses, 1998-2019. J Vet Diagn Invest, 32(2), 246-251. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638719877844

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 2
Pages: 246-251

Researcher Affiliations

Sacco, Sofia C
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Ortega, Joaquín
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Navarro, Mauricio A
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Fresneda, Karina C
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Anderson, Mark
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Woods, Leslie W
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Moore, Janet
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Uzal, Francisco A
  • Veterinary Sciences Institute of Litoral and Morphological Sciences Department, Veterinary Sciences School, National University of Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Sacco).
  • Pathology and Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, CEU Universities, Moncada, Valencia, Spain (Ortega).
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis, CA (Anderson, Woods).
  • San Bernardino (Navarro, Fresneda, Moore, Uzal) branches, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cellulitis / diagnosis
  • Cellulitis / microbiology
  • Cellulitis / veterinary
  • Clostridium sordellii / physiology
  • Gas Gangrene / diagnosis
  • Gas Gangrene / microbiology
  • Gas Gangrene / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Necrosis / diagnosis
  • Necrosis / microbiology
  • Necrosis / veterinary
  • Shock, Septic / diagnosis
  • Shock, Septic / microbiology
  • Shock, Septic / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Ryu SH, Forbes E, Kim BS, Park KT. Injection site abscesses associated with commensal and environmental bacteria following intramuscular vaccination in horses. Vet Anim Sci 2025 Sep;29:100484.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2025.100484pubmed: 40791848google scholar: lookup
  2. Oddsdóttir C, Sigurðardóttir ÓG, Friðriksdóttir V, Svansson V, Bragason BÞ, Björnsdóttir S. Severe subcutaneous infection with Clostridium septicum in a herd of native Icelandic horses. Acta Vet Scand 2025 Feb 6;67(1):8.
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