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Enterotoxaemia due to ''Clostridium perfringens'' type B causes severe enteritis and dysentery with a high mortality in young lambs and also calves, pigs, and foals. The β toxin highly necrotizing and lethal β toxin that is responsible for severe intestinal damage. This toxin is sensitive to proteolytic enzymes, and disease is associated with inhibition of proteolysis in the intestine. Sow colostrum, which contains a trypsin inhibitor, has been suggested as a factor in the susceptibility of young piglets. Type C also causes enterotoxemia in adult cattle, sheep, and goats. The diseases are listed below, categorized as to cause and host. C perfringens also has been associated with hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs. (See also intestinal diseases in horses, Intestinal Diseases in Horses and Foals: Introduction.)
Enterotoxaemia due to ''Clostridium perfringens'' type B causes severe enteritis and dysentery with a high mortality in young lambs and also calves, pigs, and foals. The β toxin highly necrotizing and lethal β toxin that is responsible for severe intestinal damage. This toxin is sensitive to proteolytic enzymes, and disease is associated with inhibition of proteolysis in the intestine. Sow colostrum, which contains a trypsin inhibitor, has been suggested as a factor in the susceptibility of young piglets. Type C also causes enterotoxemia in adult cattle, sheep, and goats. The diseases are listed below, categorized as to cause and host. C perfringens also has been associated with hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs. (See also intestinal diseases in horses, Intestinal Diseases in Horses and Foals: Introduction.)
Lamb dysentery: type B in lambs up to 3 wk of age
Lamb dysentery: type B in lambs up to 3 wk of age
Laimb dysentery is aI peracute and fatal disease of youLng
lamiibs caused by the beta and epsilon toxins of Clost-
i'ridiiio peJri-ingens type B. Over the past 20 years, the
disease had become rai-e due to the svidespread LIse of
clostr-idial xvaccines. Howverer, lamb dysenltery is becom-ing a conimon problem again due to reductions in ewe
vaccinations in many flocks. Affected lambs are usually
less than twvo vxeeks old and most commonly one to three
days old. The majority of cases are characterised by the
sporadic sudden death of stronger single lambs which
had been consuming the largest quantities of milk.
Outbreaks of lamb dysentery can occur during cold and
wvet springs wvhen lambing ewes are confined to small
sheltered areas and conditions become unhygienic. In
extreme cases, losses of between 20 and 30 per cent of
animals in a flock have been reported.
Outbreaks of lamb dysentery are initially characterised
by the sudden death of young lambs, but slower
onset disease, manifesting as acute abdominal pain and
non-specific nervous signs, is sometimes seen in older,
two- to three-\veek-old lambs. Faeces may be semi-fluid
and blood stained although, in most cases, they are normal
due to the rapid course of the disease.
The diagnosis of lamb dysentery depenids on postmortemii
findings. At postmortem examination. localised
areaLs ot the intestinies appear dark red and distended,
with ulceration otl the mucosa and serous, blood-stained
peritoneal fluid. The liver may be pale and friable and
the kidnieys enlarged. Numerous Gram-positixe rods are
present in smears from intestinal scrapings. Almost pure
anaerobic cultures of C pe):frili,genis from intestinal coIntents,
and positixe beta and epsiloni toxin ELISA results
fiom intestinal conitents or peritoneal fluid support, but
do not confirm, the diagnosis.
==Signalment==
==Signalment==