Changes

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

A presumptive diagnosis of pulpy kidney can be made based on a history of sudden deaths in lambs recently introduced to carbohydrate-rich feed. If animals are seen before they die, certain clinical signs may be suggestive of pulpy kidney, and post-mortem examination may also aid diagnosis. Laboratory tests support, but do not confirm, a diagnosis of pulpy kidney.  

A presumptive diagnosis of pulpy kidney can be made based on a history of sudden deaths in lambs recently introduced to carbohydrate-rich feed. If animals are seen before they die, certain clinical signs may be suggestive of pulpy kidney, and post-mortem examination may also aid diagnosis. Laboratory tests support, but do not confirm, a diagnosis of pulpy kidney. Histopathology of the brain is the most useful diagnostic test.  

===Clinical Signs===

===Clinical Signs===

===Laboratory Tests===

===Laboratory Tests===

diseases of sheep: intestinal contents will be positive for episilon toxin but negative for beta toxin. Anaerobic cultures will yield ''C. perfringens'', usually in pure culture. These can be confirmed as ''C. perfringens'' type d by PCR techniques.

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.

 

Short, thick gram-positive rods are easily visualised on smears of intestinal contents. Culture under anaerobic conditions usually gives pure cultures of ''C. perfringens'', which can be demonstrated as being type D by PCR techniques. An ELISA may be used to demonstrate the presence of  ɛ toxin in the small intestinal or peritoneal fluid. In contrast to lamb dysentery, in pulpy kidney ε toxin will be demonstrated in the absence of β toxin^dos. A positive toxin ELISA supports but does not confirm a diagnosis, since immune animals may experience elevated toxin levels without suffering ill effects.

===Pathology===

===Pathology===

 

[[Image:pulpy kidney gross.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pulpy kidney disease- gross (Courtesy of Bristol BioMed Image Archive)]]

[[Image:pulpy kidney gross.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pulpy kidney disease- gross (Courtesy of Bristol BioMed Image Archive)]]