Clostridium Flashcards
What is the causative agent of Tetanus
Clostridium tetani
Best known of all anaerobic spore-forming bacilli
Clostridium tetani
What is the primary habitat of Clostridium species?
Soil, intestinal tracts of animals, and decaying organic matter
What is the shape of Clostridium spores?
Oval, central to subterminal, and not swollen (except C. tetani, which has drumstick-shaped spores)
What is the primary mode of infection for Clostridium species?
Through wounds, ingestion, or contamination of food
What is the oxygen requirement for Clostridium species?
Strict anaerobes
What disease does C. tetani cause?
Tetanus
What is the primary toxin produced by C. tetani?
Tetanospasmin
What toxin Prevents the release of glycine, causing continuous muscle contraction (tetanic spasms)
tetanospasmin
What is the primary mode of infection for C. tetani?
Through deep, penetrating wounds (e.g., nail wounds, castration, docking)
What is the incubation period for tetanus?
3 to 6 days to 3 weeks or longer
What is the primary symptom of tetanus?
Muscle spasms and paralysis (ascending tetanus)
What is the primary treatment for tetanus?
Antitoxin (100,000 to 200,000 units) and penicillin
What is the primary method of prevention for tetanus?
Toxoid vaccine (3 doses at 3-week intervals, followed by boosters)
What disease does C. botulinum cause?
Botulism
What is the primary toxin produced by C. botulinum?
Botulinum toxin
What kind of toxin is Botulinum toxin
neurotoxin
What toxin causes flaccid paralysis by blocking acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions
botulinum toxin
What are the three forms of botulism?
Intoxication, wound infection, and infant botulism (intestinal colonization)
What is the primary mode of infection for C. botulinum?
Ingestion of preformed toxin in contaminated food
What C. botulinum type only affects Ducks, wild birds
Type C
What C. botulinum type causes Shaker Foal Syndrome
Type B
What C. botulinum type causes limberneck, Western duck disease
Type C
What C. botulinum type only affects Cattle
Type D
What C. botulinum type causes Lamsiekte in Cattle
Type D
What C. botulinum type only affects fish and aquatic animals
Type E
What C. botulinum type only affects Humans
Type F and G
What is the primary treatment for botulism?
Polyvalent antitoxin
What is the primary method of prevention for botulism?
Proper food preservation and handling
What disease does C. perfringens cause?
Gas gangrene, necrotizing enteritis, enterotoxemia
What are the five types of C. perfringens?
Types A, B, C, D, E
What is the primary toxin produced by C. perfringens Type A?
Alpha toxin (phospholipase C)
Gas gangrene, necrotizing enteritis, yellow lamb disease is caused by C. perfringens Type?
Type A
What is the primary toxin produced by C. perfringens Type B?
Beta toxin
Lamb dysentery, hemorrhagic enteritis in sheep and goats is caused by C. perfringens type?
Type B
Necrotic enteritis, struck in sheep, hemorrhagic enteritis in pigs is caused by C. perfringens type?
Type C
What is the primary toxin produced by C. perfringens Type C?
Beta toxin
What is the primary toxin produced by C. perfringens Type D?
Epsilon toxin
Enterotoxemia (overeating disease, pulpy kidney disease) in sheep and goats is caused by C. perfringens type?
Type D
What is the primary toxin produced by C. perfringens Type E?
Iota toxin
Enterotoxemia in lambs and calves is caused by C. perfringens type?
Type E
What is the primary treatment for C. perfringens infections?
Antibiotics (penicillin) and antitoxin
What is the primary method of prevention for C. perfringens infections?
Vaccination with type-specific toxoid
What disease does C. hemolyticum cause?
Red water disease (hemoglobinuria, liver necrosis)
What is the primary toxin produced by C. hemolyticum?
Beta toxin (phospholipase C)
What is the primary mode of infection for C. hemolyticum?
Ingestion of spores from alkaline water or contaminated feed
Black disease (necrotic hepatitis) in sheep is caused by what species of Clostridium?
C. novyi
What is the primary toxin produced by C. novyi?
Alpha toxin (phospholipase C)
Blackleg (myonecrosis) in ruminants is caused by what species of Clostridium?
C. chauvoei
Malignant edema is caused by what species of Clostridium?
C. septicum
What is the primary mode of infection for C. septicum?
Through wounds or umbilicus
Ulcerative enteritis in quails is caused by what species of Clostridium?
C. colinum
Iota enterotoxemia in rabbits is caused by?
C. spiroforme
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea in humans and enterotoxemia in hamsters is caused by what species of Clostridium?
C. difficile
Subcutaneous abscesses in cats is caused by what species of Clostridium?
C. vilosum
