Clostridium perfringens Type C Enterotoxemia.

Forms of enteric disease caused by Clostridium perfringens type C are critically reviewed with emphasis on practical aspects and recent research findings. Available data indicate that more animal species may be fatally infected by type C of this organism than by any other type of C. perfringens.

Toxigenic characteristics of Clostridium perfringens type C in enterotoxemia of domestic animals.

Eleven Clostridium perfringens type C strains isolated from fatal cases of hemorrhagic enterotoxemia of Canadian calves, a piglet, and a foal were studied for the production of soluble antigens. All the isolates from calves and a foal failed to produce delta toxin, but were capable of producing large amounts of lethal beta toxin. A strain isolated from a piglet produced delta, but very little beta toxin.

Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibody to Brucella ovis was compared with a standard complement fixation test. Sera of 176 rams from uninfected flocks gave 175 negative and one suspect ELISA reaction (diagnostic specificity 99.4%) whereas the complement fixation test yielded 167 negative, seven suspect and two anticomplementary reactions (diagnostic specificity of 96.

Ovine brucellosis in alberta.

Two parallel surveys of rams from Alberta sheep flocks were conducted to determine the presence of infection with Brucella ovis. In a retrospective study over a period of 24 months, using complement fixation test, 12 flocks out of 142 tested were considered infected. In another 17-month survey of slaughter rams by serology and culture methods 11 flocks out of 124 were found to be infected.

Experimental production of hemorrhagic enterotoxemia by Clostridium perfringens type C in maturing lambs.

Maturing lambs, eight to nine months old, were dosed by the intraduodenal route with various preparations of Clostridium perfringens type C. Whole cultures of this organism or cells suspended in fresh medium, both supplemented with soybean flour as a protease inhibitor, produced acute fatal hemorrhagic enterotoxemia in these animals. The latter preparation was more effective than the former in causing disease.

Immunoglobulin transfer and weight gains in suckled beef calves force-fed stored colostrum.

Concentrations of immunoglobulins and total proteins in second-day post-partum serum samples of 62 beef calves from multiparous dams were measured by zinc sulphate turbidity, electrophoresis, radial immunodiffusion and refractometry. These results, together with health records and weight gains, were used to evaluate the practice of routinely force-feeding 1 L of stored colostrum to suckled beef calves immediately after birth. There was no apparent benefit from such force-feeding.

Clinical and antibody responses to Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin in experimental sheep and calves.

Clostridium perfringens type A live cultures or sonicated sporulating cells, all containing enterotoxin, were repeatedly inoculated into sheep and calves by the intraduodenal route over periods of 30 to 35 days. Serum antibody to C. perfringens enterotoxin, tested by ELISA, developed in four of seven sheep and in two of four calves.

A Reevaluation of Routine Force-feeding of Dam's Colostrum to Normal Newborn Beef Calves.

Forty-seven beef calves born to a group of second-calf Hereford and Hereford x Angus cows were used to assess the practical value of force-feeding dam's colostrum. The first 40 calves born were assigned alternately to two equal groups (I and II). One group was force-fed up to I L of dam's colostrum per calf.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin antibody.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adapted to test serum antibody to enterotoxin of Clostridium perfringens type A. The test was evaluated using sheep, calf and guinea pig sera and compared with passive hemagglutination and immunodiffusion tests. The ELISA was found to be more sensitive than the other two tests and was completely free from nonspecific reactions.

Hemorrhagic Enterotoxemia Caused by Clostridium perfringens Type C in a Foal.

A four day old Appaloosa foal in Alberta died from hemorrhagic enterotoxemia. Beta-toxin of Clostridium perfringens was demonstrated in the intestinal contents of the foal and a pure culture of C. perfringens type C was grown from the small intestine.

Some pathophysiological changes associated with infection of Eimeria zuernii in calves.

Twelve Holstein-Friesian calves were divided into two groups, one of which was infected with Eimeria zuernii. Fecal oocyst output, weight changes and various blood, cellular, protein and biochemical constituents were examined for both groups. Maximal fecal oocyst output occurred 21 days after infection.

A survey of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin antibody in human and animal sera in western Canada.

Sera from human, cattle, sheep, swine, and horse populations in western Canada were tested for the presence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin antibody by the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test, supplemented by an immunodiffusion test and by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. A total of 224 human, 345 cattle, 165 sheep, 620 swine, and 768 horse serum samples were examined. Low-titer reactions in the PHA test were detected in human, cattle, horse, and swine sera, in that order, with no titers demonstrated in sheep.

Clostridium perfringens in animal disease: a review of current knowledge.

The diseases caused by various types of Clostridium perfringens are critically reviewed in the light of current knowledge. Particular emphasis is placed on information concerning these diseases in Canadian livestock. There are two etiologically clearly-defined acute C.

Some observations on serum gammaglobulin concentrations in suckled beef calves.

Gammaglobulin concentrations were measured in serum samples collected from 23 single-suckled beef calves immediately after birth and from 346 calves at 48 +/- 12 hours postpartum. Considerable variation in these levels appeared to be associated with age and breed of dam. There were also indications that they might be influenced markedly by herd management.

Identification of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A in mixed cultures.

Three known enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A strains were mixed in various combinations with three nonenterotoxigenic strains and three lots of animal intestinal contents. They were grown as mixed cultures and tested for the presence of enterotoxin by the fluorescent antibody, reversed passive hemagglutination and immunodiffusion techniques. The fluorescent antibody and reversed passive hemagglutination tests detected enterotoxin in all 16 cultures prepared but the immunodiffusion test failed on two cultures.

Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A isolated from intestinal contents of cattle, sheep and chickens.

One hundred and fourteen strains of Clostridium perfringens, isolated from the intestinal contents of cattle, sheep, and chickens with enteritis or other disease conditions were studied for their ability to produce enterotoxin. Reversed passive hemagglutination, fluorescent antibody and immunodiffusion tests were used. On the basis of the reversed passive hemagglutination titres, supported by the other two tests, enterotoxigenicity of the strains was arbitrarily classified into two categories: highly enterotoxigenic and potentially enterotoxigenic, with 12% falling into each category.

Efficacy of laboratory tests for the detection of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens.

Nineteen Clostridium perfringens strains with positive erythemal and ligated intestinal loop reactions, and 22 strains with negative reactions, originating from food-poisoning cases, were tested comparatively using the fluorescent antibody (FA), reversed passive hemagglutination (RPHA), and immunodiffusion (ID) tests. All the biologically positive strains were detected by the three immunological tests used. The FA test detected five additional strains among the biologically negative group which did not react in RPHA or ID tests.

Enterotoxin formation by Clostridium perfringens type A studied by the use of fluorescent antibody.

Fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antibody to purified enterotoxin of Clostridium perfringens was used to study the intracellular formation of enterotoxin by this organism. Enterotoxin was detected at 4 h of growth at the end of the cell containing forespore. With the development of the spore, enterotoxin accumulation continued and involved the entire length of the cell until its lysis with the release of enterotoxin and mature spore.

The effect of enterotoxin of Clostridium welchii (perfringens) type A on fowls.

Lethal doses of enterotoxin of Clostridium welchii (perfringens) type A injected intravenously into young fowls caused immediate lassitude, with partial recovery, followed by death seven to 35 h after inoculation. Lesions found were ascites, hydropericardium, oedema of the muscles, hepatic congestion, urate deposits on the peritoneum and the pericardium, and intestinal hyperaemia. Sublethal doses produced no clinical signs or lesion.