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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Am Vet Med Assoc / Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin and Clostr...
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association1999; 215(3); 358-361;

Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin and Clostridium difficile toxin A in feces of horses with diarrhea and colic.

Abstract: To determine prevalence of clostridial enterotoxins in feces of horses with diarrhea and colic, and to determine whether an association exists between detection of clostridial enterotoxins in feces and development of diarrhea as a complication of colic. Methods: Prospective case series and case-control study. Methods: 174 horses with diarrhea, colic, or problems not related to the gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Horses were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: colic with diarrhea (group 1; n = 30); colic without diarrhea (group 2; 30); diarrhea without colic (group 3; 57); and control (group 4; 57). Feces were evaluated by use of ELISA to detect Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) and C difficile toxin A (TOXA). Frequency of detection of CPE or TOXA in groups 1 and 3 was compared with that in groups 2 and 4, respectively. Results: Prevalence of enteric clostridiosis in horses in group 3 was 25%. Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin was detected in 9 of 57 (16%), TOXA in 8 of 57 (14%), and both toxins in 3 of 57 (5%) fecal samples collected from these horses. Neither toxin was detected in feces of the age-matched horses in group 4. Clostridial enterotoxins were detected in feces of 7 of 60 (12%) horses with colic (groups 1 and 2), however, a significant association was not found between detection of enterotoxins in feces and development of diarrhea as a complication of colic. Conclusions: Clostridia are important etiologic agents of diarrhea in horses. Additionally, changes in intestinal flora of horses with colic may allow for proliferation of clostridia and elaboration of enterotoxins regardless of whether diarrhea develops.
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Publication Date: 1999-08-06 PubMed ID: 10434974
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 research paper investigated the prevalence of clostridial enterotoxins in horses suffering from diarrhea and colic, with an intention to identify if there’s a connection between the presence of these enterotoxins and the development of diarrhea as a result of colic.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a prospective case series and case-control study involving 174 horses. These horses were experiencing diarrhea, colic, or problems not related to the gastrointestinal tract.
  • These horses were divided into four groups: those with colic and diarrhea; those with colic but without diarrhea; those with diarrhea but without colic; and the control group of horses with non-gastrointestinal issues.
  • The scientists used an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) test to detect the presence of two types of clostridial enterotoxins – Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) and Clostridium difficile toxin A (TOXA) in the feces of the horses.

Research Findings

  • The results identified a 25% prevalence of enteric clostridiosis (a diarrheal syndrome caused by Clostridium bacteria), in horses of the group that had diarrhea without colic.
  • Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) was detected in 16% of the feces sample from these horses. Likewise, Clostridium difficile toxin A (TOXA) was found in 14% of the samples and both toxins together were detected in 5% of the fecal samples.
  • In contrast, neither toxin was detected in the control group of horses that were not having any gastrointestinal issues.
  • The detection rate of the clostridial enterotoxins in horses with colic (with or without diarrhea) was 12%.
  • However, the study did not find a significant correlation between the detection of these enterotoxins in horse feces and the development of diarrhea as a consequence of colic.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that clostridia, the bacteria that produce these toxins, are key causative agents of diarrhea in horses.
  • The study also noted that changes in intestinal flora in horses with colic can result in the proliferation of clostridia and production of enterotoxins, regardless of whether diarrhea develops or not.

Cite This Article

APA
Donaldson MT, Palmer JE. (1999). Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin and Clostridium difficile toxin A in feces of horses with diarrhea and colic. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 215(3), 358-361.

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 215
Issue: 3
Pages: 358-361

Researcher Affiliations

Donaldson, M T
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348, USA.
Palmer, J E

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Bacterial Toxins
    • Case-Control Studies
    • Clostridioides difficile / pathogenicity
    • Clostridium Infections / epidemiology
    • Clostridium Infections / veterinary
    • Clostridium perfringens / pathogenicity
    • Colic / microbiology
    • Colic / veterinary
    • Diarrhea / microbiology
    • Diarrhea / veterinary
    • Enterotoxins / isolation & purification
    • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
    • Feces / chemistry
    • Feces / microbiology
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases / microbiology
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horse Diseases / microbiology
    • Horses
    • Prevalence
    • Prospective Studies
    • Salmonella / pathogenicity

    Citations

    This article has been cited 14 times.
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      doi: 10.1177/1040638719899081pubmed: 31904312google scholar: lookup
    5. Kachrimanidou M, Tzika E, Filioussis G. Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile in Food-Producing Animals, Horses and Household Pets: A Comprehensive Review. Microorganisms 2019 Dec 9;7(12).
      doi: 10.3390/microorganisms7120667pubmed: 31835413google scholar: lookup
    6. Rodriguez C, Taminiau B, Van Broeck J, Delmée M, Daube G. Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review. Adv Exp Med Biol 2016;932:65-92.
      doi: 10.1007/5584_2016_27pubmed: 27350639google scholar: lookup
    7. Rodriguez C, Taminiau B, Brévers B, Avesani V, Van Broeck J, Leroux A, Gallot M, Bruwier A, Amory H, Delmée M, Daube G. Faecal microbiota characterisation of horses using 16 rdna barcoded pyrosequencing, and carriage rate of clostridium difficile at hospital admission. BMC Microbiol 2015 Sep 16;15:181.
      doi: 10.1186/s12866-015-0514-5pubmed: 26377067google scholar: lookup
    8. Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Parreira VR, Nowell VJ, Nicholson VM, Oliphant K, Prescott JF. A novel pore-forming toxin in type A Clostridium perfringens is associated with both fatal canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and fatal foal necrotizing enterocolitis. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0122684.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122684pubmed: 25853427google scholar: lookup
    9. Gohari IM, Arroyo L, Macinnes JI, Timoney JF, Parreira VR, Prescott JF. Characterization of Clostridium perfringens in the feces of adult horses and foals with acute enterocolitis. Can J Vet Res 2014 Jan;78(1):1-7.
      pubmed: 24396174
    10. Costa MC, Arroyo LG, Allen-Vercoe E, Stämpfli HR, Kim PT, Sturgeon A, Weese JS. Comparison of the fecal microbiota of healthy horses and horses with colitis by high throughput sequencing of the V3-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene. PLoS One 2012;7(7):e41484.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041484pubmed: 22859989google scholar: lookup
    11. Lemee L, Dhalluin A, Testelin S, Mattrat MA, Maillard K, Lemeland JF, Pons JL. Multiplex PCR targeting tpi (triose phosphate isomerase), tcdA (Toxin A), and tcdB (Toxin B) genes for toxigenic culture of Clostridium difficile. J Clin Microbiol 2004 Dec;42(12):5710-4.
      doi: 10.1128/JCM.42.12.5710-5714.2004pubmed: 15583303google scholar: lookup
    12. Weese JS, Greenwood SJ, Staempfli HR. Recurrent diarrhea associated with enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in 2 dogs. Can Vet J 2001 Apr;42(4):292-4.
      pubmed: 11326633
    13. Salvarani FM, Oliveira HGDS, Uzal FA. Clostridioides difficile in Animal Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A One Health Perspective on Emerging Zoonotic Threats. Microorganisms 2025 May 28;13(6).
      doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13061233pubmed: 40572121google scholar: lookup
    14. Haywood LMB, Sheahan BJ. A Review of Epithelial Ion Transporters and Their Roles in Equine Infectious Colitis. Vet Sci 2024 Oct 7;11(10).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci11100480pubmed: 39453072google scholar: lookup
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