Bacteriology - Clostridium Flashcards
is clostridium aerobic or anaerobic
anaerobic
is clostridium gram positive or negative
positive
is clostridium rods or cocci
rods
how do clostridium cause disease
release of toxins
enterotoxemia
toxins that are generated in the intestines and absorbed into circulation to act on distant organs
is C. perfringens endogenous
yes - most have C. perf in gut without causing disease
culturing it does NOT always indicate disease - requires typing or toxin ID
C. perfringens type A
alpha toxin only
- produced in all clostridial types; does not cause disease in most animals
can C. perfringens type A cause disease
yes but rarely; caused by over production of alpha toxin leading to intravascular hemolysis
Yellow Lamb disease
- anemia, icterus, depression, diarrhea
how to diagnose C. perfringens type A disease
culture w/ typing AND colony count - must be >10^6 CFUs/gram
C. perfringens type B
alpha + beta + epsilon toxins
causes Lamb Dysentery - rarely diagnosed in US
C. perfringens type C - toxins & signalment
alpha + beta toxins
occurs in NEONATAL ruminants, horses, pigs, humans
beta toxin
highly necrotizing - causes necrotizing enteritis
inactivated by TRYPSIN
pathogenesis of C. perfringens type C
- ingestion of C. perfringens type C
- proliferates in intestines
- lack of trypsin (ex. neonates - colostrum inactivates trypsin)
- beta toxin remains active
- necrotic enteritis
clinical signs of C. perfringens type C
hemorrhagic diarrhea
neurologic signs
sudden death
diagnostics for C. perfringens type C
toxin ELISA for beta toxin
culture w/ typing, histology, clinical signs are all suggestive but not diagnostic
C. perfringens type D - toxins and signalment
alpha + epsilon toxins
occurs in ADULT sheep and goats
epsilon toxin
increases vascular permeability
activated by TRYPSIN
pathogenesis of C. perfringens type D
- excess carbohydrate ingestion
- carbohydrates do not get fermented in rumen
- starch enters directly into SI
- promotes C. perf type D growth
- production of epsilon toxin
- travels to brain, heart, lungs, etc
clinical signs of C. perfringens type D
sheep: neurologic disease, respiratory difficulty
- NO diarrhea
goats: neurologic disease, alimentary disease, or BOTH
- can have diarrhea
diagnosis of C. perfringens type D
toxin ELISA for epsilon toxin
culture w/ typing, clinical signs are suggestive
C. perfringens type E
alpha + iota toxins
not a significant cause of disease in animals
C. perfringens type F
alpha + CPE (CP enterotoxin)
causes food poisoning in humans
- not a significant cause of disease in animals