Clostridium novyi

  • Infectious necrotic hepatitis/black disease:
    • Acute disease of sheep, occasionally cattle
    • Hepatic necrosis caused by exotoxins of C. novyi type B in liver damaged by Fasciola hepatica
    • Rapid death
    • Dark discoloration of skin caused by subcutaneous venous congestion
    • Fluorescent antibody test diagnostic
  • Causes gas gangrene and myositis.
  • May be involved in cutaneous lesions
  • Causes big head in rams - oedema of subcutaneous tissues of the head, neck and cranial thorax; necrotising lethal alpha toxin