Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A necrotic enteritis in a foal

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998 Nov 1;213(9):1305-7, 1280.

Abstract

A Thoroughbred-Quarter Horse crossbred foal developed hemorrhagic enteritis and died < 48 hours after birth. Gross and histologic findings were suggestive of Clostridium perfringens type C infection, and large numbers of C perfringens were isolated from intestinal contents. However, genotyping of isolates indicated that they were enterotoxigenic C perfringens type A, and isolates were found to produce C perfringens enterotoxin in vitro. This case suggests that enterotoxigenic C perfringens type A may cause enteric disease in horses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Blotting, Western / veterinary
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology
  • Clostridium Infections / pathology
  • Clostridium Infections / veterinary*
  • Clostridium perfringens / classification*
  • Clostridium perfringens / genetics
  • Clostridium perfringens / metabolism
  • Enteritis / microbiology
  • Enteritis / pathology
  • Enteritis / veterinary*
  • Enterotoxins / analysis
  • Enterotoxins / biosynthesis*
  • Enterotoxins / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology*
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Intestines / chemistry
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Necrosis

Substances

  • Enterotoxins
  • enterotoxin, Clostridium