Clostridium novyi

Clostridium novyi is a gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacteria of the class clostridia.

• 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