Bacillary Haemoglobinuria

Clostridium haemolyticum AKA Clostridium novyi Type D
cattle and sheep
highly fatal
similar pathogenesis to C. novyi
beta toxin produced
- causes hepatic necrosis and intravascular haemolysis
C. haemolyticum found in soil, poorly drained/wet pastures
spores found routinely in liver and GIT and faeces of grazing animals in affected pastures
need disease in liver casing anaerobic conditions to allow bacterial growth and toxin production
normally associated with Liver Fluke damage
disease occurs in some areas and some farms - distribution is poorly understood

found dead/sudden death
- lateral recumbency
- bloat
- little signs of struggle
- blood in nostrils, mouth, rectum, vagina
IF seen alive
- depressed, reluctant to move, pyrexia, respiratory distress
- red urine (haemoglobinuria) but not consistent
- pale mucous membranes/jaundice
- bloody froth in nostrils

post mortem is confirmatory finding
rapid decomposition of carcass
- organs decomposed
subcutaneous hameorrhages, odema, emphysema
blood stained abdominal and thoracic fluid, large quantity and pericardium
animal is severely anaemic
may be jaundiced
red urine in bladder, therefore haemoglobin in urine
kidneys speckled with haemoglobin
blood in lungs/trachea
ischaemic hepatic infarct
- usually a single large necrotic focus in the liver
- area of necrosis, sometimes partially liquefied centre, irregular outline with a hyperaemic edge

presence of Clostridia post mortem must be interpreted with great caution as they are common post mortem invaders
FAT for organism
identification of toxins
- need this for diagnosis

NB: Distinguish Red Water from Black Disease! The former will have bleeding out of any orifice while the latter does not

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