Category:Enteropathogenic and Enterotoxaemic Clostridia

  • General:
    • Clostridium perfringens types B, C and D
    • Found in soil, feaces and intestinal tract
    • Survive in soil as spores
    • Husbandry, changes in diet and environment predispose to proliferation in the intestine
    • Abrupt changes to rich diets and intestinal hypomotility due to overeating
  • Pathogenesis and pathogenicity:
    • Clostridial replication and overgrowth in the interstinal tract of sheep
    • Production of potent exotoxins which cause local and systemic effects of enterotoxaemia
    • Type of toxins produced determine clinical syndrome
    • Haemolysins, collagenases and hyaluronidases also produced



Clostridium perfringens type D

C. perfringens type C

C. perfringens type D

C. perfringens type E

  • Enteritis in rabbits, haemorrhagic enteritis in calves
  • ALpha and iota toxins


Treatment and control of enterotoxaemic infections

  • Hyperimmune serum
  • Vaccination - vaccinate ewes with toxoid 6 weeks before lambing to allow passive protection of lambs
  • Vaccination of lambs with toxoid before 2 months of age to protect against pulpy kidney
  • Avoid sudden dietary changes

Pages in category "Enteropathogenic and Enterotoxaemic Clostridia"

The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.