Changes

In healthy animals, there is a balance between multiplication of ''Clostridium perfringens'' and its passage in the faeces. This ensures that infection is maintained at a low level.  However, ''C. perfringens'' is saccharolytic and is therefore able to multiply rapidly when large quantities of fermentable carbohydrate are introduced to the anaerobic conditions of the abomasum and small intestine, leading to build-up of exotoxin. Gut statis, for example due to insufficient dietray fibre or a high gastrointestinal parasite burden, can also contribute to the accumulation of toxins.  

In healthy animals, there is a balance between multiplication of ''Clostridium perfringens'' and its passage in the faeces. This ensures that infection is maintained at a low level.  However, ''C. perfringens'' is saccharolytic and is therefore able to multiply rapidly when large quantities of fermentable carbohydrate are introduced to the anaerobic conditions of the abomasum and small intestine, leading to build-up of exotoxin. Gut statis, for example due to insufficient dietray fibre or a high gastrointestinal parasite burden, can also contribute to the accumulation of toxins.  

  In extreme cases, losses of 10-15% have been reported.

 

Enterotoxaemia due to ''Clostridium  perfringens''  type D causes sudden death in well-grown lambs of between 4 and 10 weeks of age, and in fattening lambs of 6 months to one year old. The condition is associated with a change in diet, which causes rapid multiplication of the bacterium and excessive production of its ε toxin. The incidence of pulpy kidney declined over the past 20 years or so, due to the widespread use of clostridial vaccines³, but the condition is now becoming a problem again as complacency reduces the use of vaccination. Outbreaks of lamb dysentery typically occur during cold,  wet lambing periods when lambing ewes are confined to small areas of shelter which rapidly become unhygienic. Most cases are seen in stronger, single lambs³ because these animals consume the largest quantities of milk, which functions as a growth medium for ''C. perfringens''.

In extreme cases, losses of 10-15% have been reported.

 

Enterotoxaemia due to ''Clostridium  perfringens''  type D causes sudden death in sheep of any age, particularly well-grown lambs of between 4 and 10 weeks of age and fattening lambs of 6 months to 1 year old. The condition is associated with a change in diet, which causes rapid multiplication of the bacterium and excessive production of its ε toxin. The incidence of pulpy kidney declined over the past 25 years or so, due to the widespread use of clostridial vaccines³, but the condition is now becoming a problem again as complacency reduces the use of vaccination.

Pulpy kidney disease, which is caused by C perfringens

Pulpy kidney disease, which is caused by C perfringens