Clostridium piliforme

• Spore-forming filamentous Gram negative intracellular pathogen
• Only grows in tissue culture or embryonated eggs
• Causes Tyzzer's disease - severe hepatic necrosis
• Sporadic disease in foals, calves, dogs, cats
• Foals under 6 weeks, found dead or comatose
• Incubation period up to 1 week
• Depression, anorexia, fever, jaundice, diarrhoea
• Hepatomegaly and necrosis on post mortem
• Diagnosis: Warthin-Starry silver impregnation technique demonstrates organisms in hepatocytes