Clostridium perfringens type C

• Acute enterotoxaemia in adult sheep, 'struck'
• Sudden death or terminal convulsions in sheep at pasture
• Beta toxin (lethal, necrotising) plays major role in pathogenesis of the disease - increases intestinal and capillary permeability
• Also alpha toxin (lecithinase)
• Post mortem: jejunal ulceration; hyperaemia in small intestine; fluid accumulation in peritoneal cavity; congestion of peritoneal vessels; petechial haemorrhages
• Haemorrhagic enteritis in piglets
  • Peracute enterotoxaemia often of entire litter with mortality rates 80%
  • Infection from sow's faeces
  • Death within 24 hours in young piglets
  • Chronic disease in older piglets
  • Dullness, anorexia, bloody faeces, perianal hyperaemia
  • Post mortem: necrosis of terminal small intestinal mucosa, caecum and colon and blood-stained contents; serosanguinous fluid in pleural and peritoneal cavities
• Necrotic enteritis in chickens:
  • Broilers under 12 weeks
  • Acute enterotoxaemia, sudden onset and high mortality
  • Necrosis of small intestine
  • Predisposing factors include diet changes, coccidial infection and intestinal hypomotility
• Acute enterotoxaemia with haemorrhagic enteritis in calves, lambs, foals, goats
• Peritonitis in cattle - sudden death in feedlot cattle