CLOSTRIDIUM Flashcards
What is the causative agent of tetanus?
C. tetani
It is the best know of all anerobic spore-forming bacilli.
C. tetani
Give the morphology of C. tetani.
- Straight slender rod, 0.4-0.6 um x 2-5 um
- Occurs singly in tissues and culture
- Spores: formed after 24-48 hours at ends of rods 2-3x width of the rod (badminton-racket or drumstick-like)
- Gram variable, peritrichous flagella
Give the cultural characteristics of C. tetani.
- Colonies in deep agar fluffy, cottony spheres
- Brush-like effect in gelatin
- Does not ferment CHO
C. tetani is highly resistant to what agents?
Sporicidal agents and technics
How many minutes of boiling are required to kill a C. tetani spore?
15 mins
How many serotypes of C. tetani are present today?
9 serotypes
Give the different types of antigen present in C. tetani.
- Glycopeptide antigen
- Heat labile flagellar antigen
- Somatic antigen
C. tetani is commonly found in what habitat?
- Soil
- Common in horse manure
What are the three toxins emitted by C. tetani?
- Tetanospasmin
- Tetanolysin
- Peripherally active non-spasmogenic toxin
What C. tetani toxin is responsible for characteristic feature of tetanus?
Tetanospasmin
What C. tetani toxin causes local tissue necrosis which is favorable for multiplication; hemolytic for RBC and lethal in lab animals?
Tetanolysin
C. tetani toxins: How many subunits are present in Tetanospasmin?
2
C. tetani toxins: The 2 subunits of Tetanospasmin contains heavy and light chains which are toxic when separated. True or False?
False, non-toxic
C. tetani toxins: Tetanospasmin can be destroyed by what body components?
Gastric juices
C. tetani toxins: Tetanospasmin is heat resistant and poorly absorbed across mucous membranes. True or False?
True
C. tetani toxins: Tetanospasmin is extremely potent. True or False?
True, e.g. LD50 for mice is equivalent to 2x10-8 mg
C. tetani toxins: What is the principle/mode of action of Tetanospasmin in relation to Tetanus?
- Binds gangliosides which are bound to cerebrosides, 2 gangliosides to 1 molecule toxin
- prevents the release of glycine, transmitter substance
responsible for inhibitory nerve network of spinal cord -> prevents contraction of muscle when its opposite counterpart contracts - > continuous stimulation and tetanic spasms of groups of
muscles - Paralytic action on PNS and inactivation of inhibitory nerve network -> inhibition of protein synthesis in brain
- Neuromuscular activity favors migration of toxin along both motor and sensory nerves
- Toxin travels up regional motor nerves where tetanus develops
first -> spreads upward in opposite limbs and subsequently in muscles of the trunk (ascending tetanus) - Tetanus develops first in susceptible motor nerves of the head and neck then descends to voluntary muscles of forelimbs, upper trunk and hindlimbs -> descending tetanus,
usually in humans and horses, affecting nictitating membrane, facial and jaw muscles causing lockjaw or risus sardonicus
C. tetani toxins: Tetanospasmin has longer incubation period and has less severe prognosis. True or False?
False, shorter; worse prognosis
C. tetani toxins: Tetanospasmin is spasmogenic toxin. True or False?
False, non-spasmogenic
Give the portals of entry of C. tetani.
- Nail wounds in horses
- Castration and docking in lambs
- Calving, dehorning, castration, and nose ringing in cattle
- Autointoxication
- Castration in swine
- Wound infection in dogs and cats
- Umbilical cord in newborn
Birds are naturally resistant to C. tetani. Why?
No antibodies, brain has no affinity
How can sheep and goat be immunized against C. tetani?
Neutralizing antibodies
Horse, dogs, pics, and human have antitoxin against C. tetani. True or False?
False, no antitoxins thus the power of binding with toxin
Hyperimmuned serum from horse which has 1500 units protective for 2-3 weeks is one way of C. tetani immunization. True or False?
True
Give the composition of C. tetani vaccine and its doses.
– 0.4% formalin -> precipitated with aluminum potassium sulfate suspended in saline
- 3 doses at 3-week intervals
In horses, toxoids are given in what intervals? How many months can a booster shot be administered?
6 to 8 week intervals followed by 6-12 months later, then annual booster
What are the 2 ways to treat C. tetani infection?
- Antitoxin asap in single IV or intracisternal dose of 100,000 to
200, 000 units - Large doses of penicillin
How do you diagnose C. tetani?
- Characteristic symptoms
- Drumstick-like spores
- Injection to mice
Specie of Clostridium that is a source of potent neurotoxin which causes botulism, a disease characterized by flaccid paralysis and eventual death due to respiratory failure.
C. botulinum
Where is C. botulinum first discovered and from what?
Belgium; imperfectly smoked ham
Give the forms of disease of C. botulinum.
- Intoxication
- Wound infection
- Infant botulism - intestinal colonization
Give the morphology of C. botulinum.
Spores oval, centric and excentric
What is the major metabolic product of all strains of C. botulinum?
Acetic acid
Non-proteolytic type of C. botulinum acidify and coagulate milk. True or False?
False, does not coagulate milk.
Proteolytic type of C. botulinum slowly curdle milk and partially digest darken curd. True or False?
True
All strains of C. botulinum are strict anaerobes but they are not fastidious. True or False?
True
How many serotypes and toxin types of C. botulinum are present today?
6 serotypes; 7 toxin types
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain A and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Humans - Botulism
- Cattle, horses - Forage poisoning
- Chicken - Limberneck
- Mink - Botulism
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain B and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Humans - Botulism
- Cattle, horse
- Chicken
- Mink
- Foal - Shaker foal syndrome
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain C and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Ducks and wild birds - Limberneck, Western duck disease
- Humans - Botulism
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain D and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Cattle - Lamsiekte
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain E and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Humans - Botulism
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain F and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Humans - Botulism
What are the hosts of C. botulinum Strain G and the corresponding induced diseases?
- Humans - Botulism
A complex consisting of toxin molecules and hemagglutiin moiety.
Botulinum toxin
In C. botulinum, toxins of non-proteolytics strains require _____ enzymes such as _____ to fully express its toxic activty.
proteolytic; trypsin
Botulinum toxin is released during ?
Lysis of cells
What are the sources of C. botulinum?
- From ingestion of food contaminated with preformed toxin
- From decaying carcass, ingested or contaminating other food stuffs
It causes depraved appetite for decaying carcasses which leads to the occurrence of botulism.
Aphosphorosis
This syndrome of foal caused by C. botulium infection is characterized by dysphagia, tremors, weakness, recumbency, then followed by death.
Shaker foal syndrome
Give the mechanism of infection of C. botulinum.
Ingestion -> intestinal wall (protected by hemagglutinins from
digestive processes) -> ruminal bacteria inactivate substantial
quantity of ingested toxin -> bloodstream -> peripheral nervous
system -> binds to gangliosides at neuromuscular junction -> inside
surface of cell membrane -> functional change, vesicles
containing acetylcholine no longer able to release AC
Botulinum toxin affects both adrenergic and cholinergic nerves of the PNS blood-brain barrier which protects those nerves. True or False?
False, only cholinergic nerves
After Botulinum toxin affects cholinergic nerves of the PNS blood-brain barrier, what is the succeeding effect?
Flaccid paralysis which progresses to involve the respiratory muscles resulting to death
Give the clinical signs when an animal is infected with C. botulinum.
- Disturbance in vision
- Locomotion difficult
- Paralysis of the tongue
- Pharyngeal paralysis
- Respiratory paralysis
- Nictitating membrane disturbance (poultry)
Swine and carnivores are resistant to Botulinum toxin. True or False?
True
In immunization against C. botulinum, homologous antitoxin is protective but not universally practiced in _____.
birds
In immunization against, C. botulinum, polyvalent antitoxin is no longer effective when?
Once toxin is bound to nerve membranes
How do you diagnose C. botulinum?
- Demo of toxin in serum, intestinal contents and suspected foodstuffs
What are the toxin-forming and non-invasive group of Clostridium?
- Clostridium tetani
- Clostridium botulinum
Give the species of Clostridium that are tissue-invading and enterotoxigenic.
- C. perfringens
- C. hemolyticum
- C. noyvi
- C. chauvoei
5 C. septicum - C. colinum
- C. spiriforme
- C. difficile
- C. villosum
Give the induced diseases of C. perfringens Type A.
- Yellow lamb disease
Give the induced diseases of C. perfringens Type B.
- Lamb dysentery
- Hemorrhagic enteritis of sheep and goats
Give the induced diseases of C. perfringens Type C.
- Necrotic enteritis
- Struck in sheep
Give the induced diseases of C. perfringens Type D.
- Enterotoxemia - overeating ds, pulpy kidney ds.
Give the induced diseases of C. perfringens Type E.
- Enterotoxemia in lambs and calves
Give the induced diseases of C. hemolyticum.
- Red water disease
- Hemorrhagic disease
- Infectious icterohemoglobinuria
Give the induced diseases of C. noyvi.
- Big head in rams
- Black diseases (necrotic hepatitis in sheep)
Give the induced diseases of C. chauvoei.
- Blackleg
- Black quarter
- Quarter evil
- Symptomatic anthrax
Give the induced diseases of C. septicum.
- Malignant edema
- Braxy or bradsot
Give the induced diseases of C. colinum.
- Ulcerative enteritis or quail ds.
Give the induced diseases of C. spiriforme.
- Iota enterotoxemia in rabbits
Give the induced diseases of C. difficile.
- Enterotoxemia in hamsters
Give the induced diseases of C. villosum.
- Subcutaneous abscesses in cats
What are the other names of C. perfringens?
- C. welchii
- Gas bacillus
- Welch bacillus
Give the morphology of C. perfringens.
- Spores oval, not much swelling
- Old cultures pleomorphic, clubbed types, ballooned
cells and filaments - Capsules in tissues, non-flagellated
Describe the zone of hemolysis of C. perfringens.
Inner zone of complete and outer zone of incomplete hemolysis
C. perfringens produces phospholipase C. What is the other term for phospholipase C?
Lecithinase
When C. perfringens is inoculated on litmus milk, what is emitted?
Stormy fermentation
Give the 4 toxins produced by C. perfringens.
- Alpha (phospholipase)
- Beta
- Epsilon
- Iota
C. perfringens is part of normal intestine flora. True or False?
True
C. perfringens is ubiquitous in nature. True or False?
True
What is the most common cause of necrotizing myositis in horses?
C. perfringens
Strain A is found in _____ while B-E is in _____.
soil; intestines
C. perfringens Type A has alpha toxin that resides in small intestine. When it is absorbed, what does it induces?
Massive intravascular hemolysis and capillary damage
What type of C. perfringens induces lamb dysentery?
C. perfringens Type B
What diseases does C. perfringens Type B induces?
Beta toxin produces hemorrhagic zones and ulcerations of the small intestines.
C. perfringens Type C induces what diseases?
- Enterotoxemia
- Acute hemorrhagic enteritis in pigs
- Struck or Romney Marsh disease in sheep
(Beta toxin, labile and denatured by enzymes in the intestine; produces necrosis of mucosa in the abomasum and small intestine)
C. perfringens Type E is associated with what toxin?
Epsilon toxin
Give the mode of action of epsilon toxin.
Epsilon toxin which requires trypsin or chemotrypsin
activation and has a permease effect on the
mucosa enhancing absorption -> results to foci of liquefactive necrosis, perivascular edema and hemorrhages especially in the meninges -> receptor site on vascular
endothelium of the brain -> breakdown of intercellular
junctions and escape of fluids
What happens if epsilon toxin is activated?
It has pressure activity which increases blood pressure
Give the diseases induced by C. perfringens Type E.
- Hemorrhagic, necrotic enteritis in calves
What is the mode of immunization against C. perfringens infection?
Alum precipitated type-specific toxoid
How do you diagnose C. perfringens?
Toxin in intestinal contents
Clostridium hemolyticum is closely related to what another specie?
C. noyvi (type D)
Give the morphology of spores of C. hemolyticum.
Spores are oval and subterminal, causes bulging; motile
What is the type of toxin emitted by C. hemolyticum?
Beta toxin
What is the toxin emitted by C. noybi and C. perfringens Type B?
Alpha and beta toxins
C. hemolyticum has predilection for what type of water?
Alkaline water
Where is the site of toxin production of C. hemolyticum in the body?
Liver
Give the pathogenesis of C. hemolyticum infection.
- Tissue destruction caused by migration of liver flukes which
provides suitable microenvironment for germination of spores - Beta toxin (phospholipase C) causes massive intravascular
hemolysis and capillary damage -> hemorrhage into lumen of intestine and Hb in urine -> dark red or port-colored, clear
but foamy -> no intact RBC - At time of hemoglobinuria, 40 to 50% of hemoglobin
destroyed - Death caused by anoxemia due to massive destruction of RBC.
- Most characteristic lesion is large infarct in liver as a result of occluding thrombosis
Give the immunization method against. C. hemolyticum.
- Alum-precipitated, formalinized whole culture
Give ways on how to diagnose C. hemolyticum.
- Culture from liver lesions
- Demonstration of phospholipase C in liver lesions
Other term for C. noyvi
Novy’s bacillus edematis maligni II
How many types of C. noyvi are existing?
3; A, B, C
Give the morphology of C. noyvi.
Spores oval and subterminal; Motile
In reduced form, C hemolyticum requires what?
Cysteine
C. hemolyticum is more strictly aerobic. True or False?
False, anaerobic
Give the pathogenesis of C. noyvi.
- In soil and intestinal tract of herbivores
- Multiply in wounds contaminated by soil and cause gas
gangrene - Big head in rams as result of infection of wounds sustained
In fighting - Alpha toxin damages capillary endothelium at site of invasion, brain, muscle, liver, heart -> elevation of intracellular enzymes lactic dehydrogenase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
Necrotic hepatitis in sheep caused by C. noyvi is otherwise known as?
Black disease
Give the pathogenesis of Black disease caused by C. noyvi.
- Liver damage from migration of immature Fasciola
hepatica - Alpha and lesser beta toxin
- Necrotic areas on surface of liver
- Extensive blood-stained edema under skin -> black disease
Give the immunization method against C. noyvi.
- Alum precipitated, formalinized whole culture
- Vaccination before heavy fluke activity
Give the methods of diagnosis on C. noyvi.
- Demo of alpha toxin in tissues and exudates
- FAT - fluorescein antibody technique
What is the other name of C. chauvoei?
C. feseri
In ruminant, what is most common disease induced by C. chauvoei?
Blackleg
Give the morphology of C. chauvoei.
Spores oval and excentrical, swelling rods into lemon-shaped structures
C. chauvoei has low requirement for cysteine. True or False?
False, high
C. chauvoei is strictly anaerobic. True or False?
True
Give the antigens present in C. chauvoei.
- Flagellar antigens
- Somatic antigens
- Spore antigens
Give some of the toxins emitted by C. chauvoei.
- Alpha toxin
- Hyaluronidase
- Deoxyribonuclease
Give the pathogenesis of C. chauvoei.
- In soil, unknown if it lives in the soil and multiplies in the intestine
- Entry via oral route during grazing -> multiplies in the intestine -> lymphatic and blood circulation -> muscle and liver -> dormant until muscle mass becomes altered of damaged
- May enter thru alveoli of the teeth
- necrotizing, leukocidic and spreading factor of alpha toxin and
hyaluronidase promote development of myonecrosis - Area reddish brown to black, crepitant with spongy texture
due to entrapped gas, dry on cut surface - Affected area first swollen, painful and crepitant -> sensation lost and skin becomes tighter
Give the immunization method against C. chauvoei.
- Formalinized whole culture or anacultures with alum
Give the ways of diagnosis on C. chauvoei.
- Organism in heart, liver, and peritoneal fluid
- FAT
What are the other names of C. septicum?
- Ghon-Sachs bacillus
- Malignant edema bacillus
Give the morphology of C. septicum.
Spore oval, excentrical and swell cells
C. septicum grows readily on all ordinary media with good anaerobic condition. True or False?
True
Give the antigens present in C. septicum.
- Somatic antigen
- Flagellar agglutinogens
C. septicum is common in?
- Soil
- Intestinal tract
Give the pathogenesis of C. septicum.
- In lambs thru wounds, umbilicus and abomasal lining (braxy
or bradsot) - Wound infection -> malignant edema -> swellings are soft
and pit on pressure -> large amounts of gelatinous exudate,
muscular tissue dark red but contains little or no gas - Parablackleg bacillus
Give the 4 toxins of C. septicum.
- Alpha toxin
- Beta toxin
- Gamma toxin
- Delta toxin