Category:Histotoxic Clostridia

• Exotoxins cause local tissue necrosis and systemic effects which can be fatal - toxaemia
• C. chauvei and C. septicum present in muscle as latent spores which can germinate to cause infection
• C. novyi type B and C. haemolyticum have latent spores in the liver
• When inoculated into wounds, cause malignant oedema and gas gangrene
• Endospores persist in the soil
• Most ingested spores excreted in faeces, but some become dormant in tissues
• Tissue injury leads to reduced oxygen tensions allowing germination and replication of bacteria
• Exotoxins cause local necrosis
• Activated spores in the liver and muscles cause endogenous infections including blackleg, infectious necrotic hepatitis and bacillary haemoglobinuria
• Inoculation of wounds causes exogenous infections including malignant oedema and gas gangrene

<ncl style=bullet maxdepth=2 headings=bullet headstart=2 showcats=1 showarts=1>Category:Histotoxic Clostridia</ncl>

Treatment of histotoxic infections

• Early penicillin
• Vaccination with bacterin or toxoid at 3 months and booster after 3 weeks, then annually