Clostridium chauvoei

• Black leg:
  • Acute disease of cattle and sheep
  • Endogenous infection in young cattle with latent spores in muscles, activated by trauma
  • Exogenous infection via wounds in sheep of any age
  • Gangrenous cellulitis and myositis caused by exotoxins leads to rapid death
  • Skeletal muscle damage with lameness, swelling and crepitus due to gas accumilation
  • Dyspnoea due to lesions in tongue and throat muscles
  • Myocardial and diaphragmatic lesions can cause sudden death
  • Fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis
• Causes gas gangrene, along with Clostridium septicum