Changes

===Laboratory Tests===

===Laboratory Tests===

merk Smears of intestinal contents reveal many short, thick gram-positive rods. Confirmation requires demonstration of ɛ toxin in the small-intestinal fluid. Fluid, not ingesta, should be collected in a sterile vial within a few hours after death and sent under refrigeration to a laboratory for toxin identification. Chloroform, added at 1 drop for each 10 mL of intestinal fluid, will stabilize any toxin present. Although immunologic tests have been developed to replace the traditional mouse assay for detection of toxin, they are less sensitive than the mouse assay. A PCR protocol for detection of the gene for ɛ toxin is effective in identifying isolates as either type B or D.

 

Short, thick gram-positive rods are easily visualised on smears of intestinal contents. An ELISA may be used to demonstrate the presence of ɛ toxin in the small intestinal or peritoneal fluid. A positive toxin ELISA supports but does not confirm a diagnosis, since immune animals may experience elevated toxin levels without suffering ill effects. PCR can also be used to identify ɛ toxin indirectly by detecting its gene.

 

===Pathology===

===Pathology===