Difference between revisions of "Clostridium difficile"

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''Clostridium difficle'' is a gram positive bacteria of the family ''Clostridiaceae''.  They are normally part of the normal flora, so known as a commensal bacteria.  The problem arises when the bacteria competing within the host are destroyed by antibiotics. 
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''C. difficle'' become overpopulated, and begin to produce pathogenic strains producing toxins, namely enterotoxin and cytotoxin.  These may cause diarrhoea, and abdominal pains, or pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) under more severe circumstances.
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*Dogs with chronic diarrhoea
 
*Dogs with chronic diarrhoea
 
*New born foals with haemorrhagic enterocolitis
 
*New born foals with haemorrhagic enterocolitis

Revision as of 12:42, 17 July 2010

Clostridium difficle is a gram positive bacteria of the family Clostridiaceae. They are normally part of the normal flora, so known as a commensal bacteria. The problem arises when the bacteria competing within the host are destroyed by antibiotics.

C. difficle become overpopulated, and begin to produce pathogenic strains producing toxins, namely enterotoxin and cytotoxin. These may cause diarrhoea, and abdominal pains, or pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) under more severe circumstances.


  • Dogs with chronic diarrhoea
  • New born foals with haemorrhagic enterocolitis
  • Possibly associated with acute colitis in adult horses following antibiotic therapy or grain overload