Clostridial disease Flashcards
Why are clostridial bacteria so bad?
They produce ENDOSPORES which are extremely resistant to heat, drought, and disinfectants. When they reach a favorable microenvironment in the host, they grow and release toxins.
Common name for Clostridium chauvoei?
Blackleg is the common name for C. chauvoei
C. chauvoei transmission
- endospores are ingested and then cross GI tract into the bloodstream
- endospores become deposited throughout the body, or enter through a wound
- bacteria become activated and multiply in an anaerobic environment, particularly in **bruised or damaged muscle tissue ** (this commonly occurs after transport, handling, injection, or other rough activity)
C. chauvoei CS:
- lameness, fever, depression, anorexia
- swelling with possible palpable crepitus from gas bubbles
- animals die rapidly without signs of illness (within 12-48 hours)
Diagnosis of C. chauvoei
- presumptive diagnosis can be based on gaseous swelling in a young animal
- necropsy will show the infected area is black and necrotic with gas bubbles
- *foul, sweet odor, * often described as resembling “rancid butter” is present
Treatment of C. chauvoei
-dz is fatal unless identified early and treated with penicillin (survivors may have permanent deformity)
Prevention of C. chauvoei
- carcass should be immediately disposed of without contaminating the environment
- dz is prevented by vaccination with 7-way bacterin vaccine (2 doses at one month intervals)
Malignant edema is caused by ___
various Clostridium species (all in the 7 way bacterin vaccine)
Malignant edema features
- affects cattle, sheep, goats, and horses of any age
- dz develops when an OPEN WOUND is infected with bacteria (may be introduced from injury, castration, difficult parturition, fighting, etc.)
Malignant edema CS
- localized swelling/edema that may gravitate to dependent portion of the wound
- depression, anorexia, high fever
- death often occurs within 24-48 hours
Malignant edema diagnosis/lesions
on necropsy, the infected area is darkened with a foul odor. There is swelling without gas accumulation
Malignant edema treatment
-often fatal unless identified early and treated with penicillin
Malignant edema prevention
-prevented by vaccination with 2 doses of 7-way bacterin vaccine, clean surgery, and clean environment post sx procedures
What is the common name for C. haemolyticum?
Redwater disease is the common name for C. haemolyticum
C. haemolyticum transmission
- affects cattle and sheep
- endospores are ingested and the bacteria lodge in the liver
- when damage occurs int he liver (often due to the LIVER FLUKE), the bacteria replicates
- the toxin released results in RBC lysis
C. haemolyticum CS
- reddish discoloration of urine due to HEMOGLOBINURIA
- labored breathing
- ANEMIA, icterus
- dehydration, fever
C. haemolyticum diagnosis/lesions
- extremely pale animal with red urine and thin, watery blood
- often a large necrotic area in the liver
C. haemolyticum treatment
-penicillin or tetracycline and antitoxin serum
C. haemolyticum prevention
- prevented with 2 doses of bacterin with booster given every 6 months
- control liver flukes
What is the common name for Clostridium novyi Type B?
Black disease/Infectious Necrotic Hepatitis is the common name for C. novyi Type B
C. novyi Type B transmission
- primarily affects sheep, occasionally cattle on a high grain ration
- endospores are ingested, bacterial lodge in the liver
- toxins released cause severe liver damage and result in RBC destruction
C. novyi Type B CS
- sheep often found dead with no evidence of CS
- dz is less common in cattle and CS may be reluctance to move, inappetance, dull/listless appearance
C. novyi Type B diagnosis/lesions
-large areas of damaged tissue in liver appear gray to black with a foul smell
What is the common name for Clostridium tetani?
Tetanus is the common name for Clostridium tetani
C. tetani transmission
- worldwide/all animals, horses and pigs most susceptible
- organism is found in the soil and introduced through injuries such as puncture wounds, castration sites, banding, and dehorning
- the organism does not actively invade or create a larger wound
C. tetani CS
- sawhorse stance
- lock jaw
- stiff tail, prolapsed 3rd eyelid, flared nostrils
- sensitivity to noise and movement
- severe muscle tremors/spasms
C. tetani diagnosis/lesions
-dx based on CS, often no postmortem lesions present
C. tetani treatment
-tranquilization and penicillin, tetanus antitoxin, supportive care to prevent dehydration or starvation
C. tetani prevention
-prevented by vaccination and by diligent cleaning of sx instruments, placing animals in clean environment after sx procedures
What is the common name for Clostridium botulinum?
Botulism is the common name for C. botulinum
C.botulinum transmission
-usually *introduced through contaminated feed (dead cat or rabbit in silage or hay) where the organism has already produced high levels of toxin into the foodstuff
C. botulinum types
- produces type A/B/C toxins
- relatively rare in livestock but outbreaks do occur (horses esp. susceptible to type B)
C. botulinum diagnosis/lesions
- no specific postmortem signs
- detection of toxin in serum, intestine, or feed for confirming the diagnosis and type
C. botulinum treatment
-no effective tx
C. botulinum prevention
-there is a type B vaccine available; requires 3 doses at 4 week intervals.
What is the common name for Clostridium perfringens type B, C, & E?
Enterotoxemia is the common name for Clostridium perfringens type B, C, & E
C. perfringens type B/C/E transmission
- seen in calves, lambs, kids, piglets, or foals less than 77 days old
- a normal GI tract inhabitant that only causes disease under certain circumstances
C. perfringens type B/C/E CS
sudden onset (some calves may die without showing any CS)
- weakness
- abdominal distension
- bloody diarrhea
- convulsions
C. perfringens type B/C/E diagnosis/lesions
-extremely reddened sections of fluid-filled small intestines aka “purple gut”
C. perfringens type B/C/E treatment
-usually fatal once signs are present. can attempt to treat by correcting dehydration/electrolyte imbalances with IVF and giving broad spectrum abx and specific anti-toxin
C. perfringens type B/C/E prevention
- herd vaccination
- can administer anti-toxin at birth or can vaccinate the dam twice with bacterin/toxoid
What is the common name for Clostridium perfringens Type D?
Overeating disease (or “pulpy kidney disease”) is the common name for Clostridium perfringens Type D
C. perfringens Type D transmission
- more common in sheep/goats vs. cattle. most commonly less than 2yrs old, typically on a high grain ration or fattening lambs on rich pasture
- a normal GI tract inhabitant that only causes disease after excessive ingestion of feed or grain
C. perfringens Type D CS
- decrease in appetite
- weakness/incoordination
- diarrhea
- nervous signs, death
- glucosuria
C. perfringens Type D treatment/prevention
- no treatment
- prevented by 2 doses of 7-way bacterin vaccine
What is the common name for Clostridium perfringens Type A?
no common name!
C. perfringens Type A epidemiology
- causes jejunal hemorrhage syndrome (JHS also called hemorrhagic bowel syndrome, or hemorrhagic enteritis in adult dairy cattle)
- causes yellow lamb disease
- causes intestinal clostridiosis in horses
C. perfringens Type A CS
- cows affected with HS may be found dead acutely or have normal to subnormal temp, increased HR, ileus, and may have digested or clotted blood in feces if they live long enough
- lambs show icterus, weakness, and death occurs rapidly
C. perfringens Type A diagnosis/lesions
- cows with JHS can be diagnosed using AUS and finding increased SI diameter. hyperglycemia and electrolyte abnormalities occur
- lambs with yellow lamb disease have hemolysis, anemia, hemoglobinuria, icterus, fever. death occurs rapidly
C. perfringens Type A treatment/prevention
- increasing the amount of long stem fiber int he diet has decreased the number of JHS cases
- no C. perfringens type A vaccines exist in the USA
