English
Pathology of Clostridium perfringens type 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.
Publication Date: 2011-04-18
PubMed ID: 21502373DOI: 10.1177/0300985811404710Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article studies C. perfringens type C, a bacterium causing severe intestinal diseases in horses, particularly foals. The paper provides an extensive description of the pathological symptoms observed in eight cases of C. perfringens type C infection.
Overview of the Disease
- Clostridium perfringens type C is the bacterium responsible for causing severe inflammation of the intestines in horses, more common in foals than in adult horses. This disease is categorised as enterotoxemia, where toxins produced in the intestine are absorbed and lead to systemic disease.
The Role of Toxins
- The disease mainly develops due to the effects of beta toxin, one of the two major toxins produced by C. perfringens type C. This toxin instigates enteric lesions (wounds in the lining of the gut) and systemic effects.
Case Study Analysis
- The researchers carefully studied eight documented cases of type C enterotoxemia in foals and adult horses, providing a detailed description of physical abnormalities caused by the disease.
- Most commonly, some of the gross symptoms included multifocal to segmental haemorrhage (bleeding), and thickening of the intestinal wall mainly in the small intestine. However, the colon and cecum were often affected too.
- All the affected horses had varying amounts of fluid, often including bloody intestinal content.
Microscopic Symptoms
- At a microscopic level, the horses showed necrotizing or necrohemorrhagic enteritis, an inflammation of the intestines causing cell death and bleeding.
- Mucosal and/or submucosal thrombosis, meaning the blood clotting in the inner lining of the intestine and/or under the innermost layer, was also identified.
- Gram-positive rods, a type of bacterium, were occasionally seen in the affected areas of the intestine.
Diagnosis
- To diagnose C. perfringens type C enterotoxemia in these cases, researchers used a holistic approach. The diagnosis was based on a combination of the clinical history of the horses, visible and microscopic abnormalities, and detecting the presence of beta-toxin in the intestinal content of the animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Diab SS, Kinde H, Moore J, Shahriar MF, Odani J, Anthenill L, Songer G, Uzal FA.
(2011).
Pathology of Clostridium perfringens type C enterotoxemia in horses.
Vet Pathol, 49(2), 255-263.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985811404710
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, 105 West Central Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
- Clostridium perfringens / genetics
- Clostridium perfringens / isolation & purification
- Clostridium perfringens / metabolism
- Enterotoxemia / microbiology
- Enterotoxemia / mortality
- Enterotoxemia / pathology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Intestines / microbiology
- Intestines / pathology
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
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