• Exotoxins cause local tissue necrosis and systemic effects which can be fatal - toxaemia
  • C. chauvei and C. septicum present in muscle as latent spores which can germinate to cause infection
  • C. novyi type B and C. haemolyticum have latent spores in the liver
  • When inoculated into wounds, cause malignant oedema and gas gangrene
  • Endospores persist in the soil
  • Most ingested spores excreted in faeces, but some become dormant in tissues
  • Tissue injury leads to reduced oxygen tensions allowing germination and replication of bacteria
  • Exotoxins cause local necrosis
  • Activated spores in the liver and muscles cause endogenous infections including blackleg, infectious necrotic hepatitis and bacillary haemoglobinuria
  • Inoculation of wounds causes exogenous infections including malignant oedema and gas gangrene


<ncl style=bullet maxdepth=2 headings=bullet headstart=2 showcats=1 showarts=1>Category:Histotoxic Clostridia</ncl>

Treatment of histotoxic infections

  • Early penicillin
  • Vaccination with bacterin or toxoid at 3 months and booster after 3 weeks, then annually

Pages in category "Histotoxic Clostridia"

The following 6 pages are in this category, out of 6 total.