CORYNEBACTERIUM

SPECIES HABITAT HOSTS DISEASES PREVENTION/ OTHERS

TREATMENT

Teat canal of cows cattle Subclinical mastitis

Corynebacterium bovis

• Mucous membranes Laboratory • Caseopurulent foci in:

of carrier rodents rodents  - Skin
• Environment  - Liver
Corynebacterium  - Kidney
kutscheri  - lungs
 - lymph nodes
(C. murium) • superficial abscesses

whitish colonies; isolates are hemolytic

• Skin • Sheep Antibiotics: Enhancement of
• mucous membranes • goats • Caseous lymphadenitis Hemolysis test:
Corynebacterium • GIT of normal sheep (previously C. ovis) Penicillin Hemolysis produced by
soil of sheep pen Tetracyclines C.pseudotuberculosis is
pseudotuberculosis • Environment - Infection results in abscessation and Erythromycin
enhanced when the
enlargement of superficial or internal lymph Chloramphenicol
small, whitish colonies surrounded by a nodes
organisms are
narrow zone of complete hemolysis; - I.P – 3 months Therapy is ineffective inoculated across a
after several days colonies become dry, - Infection spread by pus from ruptured streak of Rhodococcus
crumbly and cream-colored abscesses; oral and nasal secretions Control measures – equi
Types: - Present for several months in the environment determined by the
prevalence of the
non-nitrate reducing biotype disease in the country

• environment Horses (cattle) • Ulcerative lymphangitis - Systemic antibiotic

- Infection occurs through skin wounds, therapy combined with
Nitrate reducing biotype arthropod bites or by contact with topical tx
contaminated harness (iodophor shampoo)
 - lymphangitis of the lower limbs or - Isolation of affected
abscessation in the pectoral region animals
- onset of lymphangitis is slow and becomes - Disinfection of
chronic contaminated areas
- Affected lymphatic vessels are swollen and
firm
- Edema develops in affected limbs
- Ulcerated nodules exude a thick, odorless,
greenish, blood-tinged pus
- in cattle - lymphadenitis & lymphangitis with
abscess formation and ulceration

• Pigeon fever
• contagious acne
(Canadian horse pox)

Renale group (Type I to III)

- produce small non-hemolytic colonies after 24 hours incubation
- Biochemical reactions: ovine/caprine strains – lack nitrate reducing capacity equine/bovine strains – can reduce nitrate
- produce urease and hydrolyze urea
- Possess fimbriae – allow attachment to urogenital mucosa
- Bovine male and female genital tracts –vulva, vagina, and prepuce of apparently healthy cattle
- Mode of infection: All spp. can be transmitted venereally---Indirectly by contaminated urine---infections may also be endogenous

• Prepuce Cattle • Pyelonephritis

• semen of • cystitis
Corynebacterium renale asymptomatic bulls
(type 1)
• Prepuce Male sheep and
goat Ulcerative (enzootic) balanoposthitis (pizzle rot)

- Animals - can hydrolyse urea to ammonia = cause

grazing mucosal irritation and ulceration
pastures - Ulcerative (enzootic) balanoposthitis (pizzle
containing rot) - common in Merino sheep and Angora
high estrogen goats
levels
- Castrated
sheep
- Heavy wool
or mohair
around the
prepuce
• unknown pigs Kidney abscesses
Corynebacterium pilosum • Bovine genital tract Cattle • Pyelonephritis
and urine • cystitis
(type II)
• Bovine genital tract Cattle • Severe cystitis
• rarely Pyelonephritis (Most severe form)
Corynebacterium - Stress of parturition and shortness of urethra -Antibiotic therapy
cystitidis (type III) in the cow predispose to infection of the (Based on AST)
urinary tract • Penicillin
- C.S. fever, anorexia and decreased milk • Tx at least for 3 weeks
production
- Restlessness and kicking at the abdomen
- Dysuria, arched back and blood-tinged urine
Corynebacterium ulcerans • Human pharyngeal Cattle mastitis
mucosa
Sheep • Docking wounds in lambs
• inflammation of the interdigital spaces
(“scald”)
• scabs of the brisket
Corynebacterium
minutissimum Humans • Chronic, contagious dermatitis of the axillary
and pubic regions called erythrasma (scaly
plaques)
• infrequent bacteremia
• endocarditis

Non-pathogenic
Corynebacterium parvum
(now renamed Propionibacterium
acnes)

immunological adjuvant in tumor

therapy. It has immunopotentiating
effects, mainly by activating
macrophages.

SPECIES
Anthracoid- Bacilli organisms
other than B. anthracis; e.g., B.
cereus, B. subtilis
Bacillus cereus
- same with B.anthracis,
larger with greenish tinge;
hemolytic
Bacillus licheniformis
- colonies are dull, rough
- wrinkled and strongly
adherent to the agar
-
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus piliformis
(Clostridium piliforme)
Bacillus thuringensis
Bacillus
stearothermophilus
Bacillus larvae
BACILLUS
HOSTS DISEASE
- cows - gangrenous mastitis
- ewes - abortion
- humans - implicated in food
poisoning
- ocular infection
Two syndromes are seen:
emetic and diarrheal
• emetic type is caused
by a heat-stable toxin
• diarrheal type by a
heat-labile toxin
- Cattle Abortion
- sheep
occasionally causes
conjunctivitis in man
- Lab. Mice Tyzzer’s disease
- foals - an acute fatal infection
- other animals causing hepatitis,
- enteritis and colitis
-
- Gastroenteritis
- Opportunistic infections
bees American foulbrood
PHYSIOLOGY/
STRUCTURE
- Spore forming
- Facultative anaerobe
- Non fastidious
VIRULENCE:
- Heat stable enterotoxin
- Heat labile
- Spore survives in soil
- Tissue destruction and is
mediated by cytotoxic
enzymes (cereolysin &
phospholipase C.)
TREATMENT/PREVENTION
Gastrointestinal infections
- Treated symptotically
Ocular infection/diseases
- Removal of foreigh bodies
Treatment:
- Vancomycin
- Clindamycin
- Ciproflaxin
- Gentamicin
OTHERS
- Present in soil
- Food contamination
- Penetrating injuries
- Who receive
intravenous injections
Associated with feeding
silage or moldy hay
BT corn; Other GMO’s
(genetically modified
organisms)
Spores used to test
efficiency of killing in
autoclaves
Bacillus anthracis------ ANTHRAX (Splenic fever)
HOSTS VIRULENCE DISEASE IN ANIMALS
1. capsule formation - capsular polypeptide (poly-D-glutamic acid) is antiphagocytic, but does not elicit
protective antibodies - predominant sign in cattle
Hosts susceptibility: with anthrax is a
2. toxin production progression from a normal
1. cattle, sheep and goat – most • Capsule appearance to dead in a
susceptible • Inhibits phagocytosis and interfere with opsonization matter of hours
2. Horses, pigs and humans – • Its role appears to be limited in the establishment of infection and is not apparent in the terminal phase of the - Most animals are simply
moderately susceptible disease found dead
3. carnivores – comparatively
-
resistant/ less susceptible Anthrax exotoxin complex or holotoxin
4. Bird – highly resistant Once an outbreak begins in the
(Tripartite protein toxin) Three thermolabile components herd animals may be observed
with signs of:
Factor Name Pathogenic Properties Effects
EPIDEMIOLOGY - Weakness
character
- Fever
I Edema Edema Adenylate – increased • damage and kill
- Severe disease affecting virtually all factor cyclase - excitement followed by
levels of cyclic phagocytes
depression
mammalian spp. including humans cause edema • increase capillary cell
AMP, causes - difficulty breathing
- Endemic in some countries with low permeability
fluid mortality - uncoordinated movements
- Endospore formation – most important • damage the clotting
accumulation
factor in the persistence and spread of mechanism - Bloody discharges from the
- necrosis • inhibit the bactericidal
anthrax (survive for decades in soil) II Protective Anti- Receptor
natural body
effect of pathogenesis - openings as well as edema
- Soil that is alkaline, rich in calcium and factor phagocytic binding of the disease
nitrogen with high moisture content molecule • may also play role the in different parts of the
- Infection is acquired by ingestion of or EF or early stage of infection body
spores LF through resisting - After death, the animal's
- Less common: inhalation or skin III Lethal Lethality Lethal for causes death when phagocytosis by PMN, body rapidly decomposes.
factor CNS mice of component which accumulate in the
abrasions depression III is included,
macrophages lesion **** animals may be saved if
- Sporadic outbreak – associated with the there is
importation of contaminated meat- including maximum treated very early with
NOTE:
andbone meal, fertilizers of animal origin dendritic cells, lethality. penicillin or tetracyclines
protective antigen –
and hides neutrophils, **** Vaccination (Full
binding moiety/domian
epithelial and Act immunity 10 to 14 days)
Note: endothelial synergistically for both edema factor
to produce and Lethal factor
cells ****Antibiotics must not be
the toxic
- Vegetative form killed at 60C, 30 mins effects seen used at the same time as
- -Spore killed at autoclaving 121C, 15 in anthrax vaccines are given, since they
mins, 100C, 6 hrs. and dry heat at 150C, interfere with the
1 hour development of immunity.
 CLINICAL SIGNS & PATHOLOGY
- I.P. – hours to days
- C.s pyrexia (42oC), depression,
congested mucosae, petechiae
- May abort or display subcutaneous
edema and dysentery
- rapid bloating,
- incomplete rigor mortis
Cattle
- widespread ecchymotic
hemorrhages
- edema
- dark unclotted blood
blood-stained fluid in
body cavities
- Large soft spleen
edematous swelling of the
Pigs throat ang head along with
regional lymphadenitis
- extensive subcutaneous
edema of the thorax,
Horses abdomen and legs
- swelling of the pharynx
Less common: colic and
dysentery due to severe
hemorrhagic enteritis
PM: splenomegaly and
extensive ecchymoses
Dogs disease and pathological
changes resemble those seen
in pigs
DISEASE IN HUMANS: Read PPT * tinatamad na ako
DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Brownish colored blood in all body High doses of: Three well-defined cycles
openings that do not clot. ✓ Oxytetracycline
✓ Penicillin-G • Survival of spores in the soil
Anthrax’ suspects: DO NOT OPEN THE
• Animal infection
CARCASS. ✓ Chloramphenicol • Infection in humans
• Medusa head colonies or Judge’s wig - ✓ Sulfa
colonies in BAP after 24 hours of CONTROL Three types of anthrax:
incubation. Rough, flat and gray and Endemic regions Non-endemic regions
• skin (cutaneous) – malignant
usually nonhemolytic and the edges of
pustule
colonies are wavy resembling a tangled ✓ Annual vaccination - Sterne ✓ Prohibit movement of • lungs (inhalation) –
mass of curly hair. strain spore vaccine – given 1 animals, waste woolsorter’s dss • digestive
• String of Pearl Test - cocci in chain like month before anticipated products, feed and (gastrointestinal)
appearance of B. anthracis when grown outbreaks bedding from affected
in solid medium in the presence of 0.5 ✓ L.A. Penicillin – and adjacent premises ✓ Enzootic in certain foreign
units of penicillin chemoprophylaxis - Killed countries (e.g., Turkey,
• Ascoli Test - test for capsular antigen in vaccine for humans ✓ Biosecurity Iran, Pakistan,and Sudan)
tissues and hides (ring precipitation or gel ✓ Biologic warfare
✓ Scavenger animals experiments (annual tests
diffusion test using anthrax antiserum)
should not be allowed
• Cherry Gamma Phage (Brown and for 20 years)
access to suspect ✓ Primarily a disease of
Cherry, 1955) - sensitivity test (lysis)
carcasses herbivorous animals
based on the susceptibility of B. anthracis
to gamma phage, a variant bacteriophage ✓ Most commonly
• McFadyean reaction test - or polychrome transmitted to humans by
✓ Immediate disposal of direct contact with animal
methylene blue stain test (oxidized
carcasses, bedding, products (e.g., wool and
methylene blue) used in staining of blood
manure, fodder hair)
smear to demonstrate capsule of B.
anthracis (pink) while the vegetative cells ✓ Also acquired via
✓ Isolation of in-contact
appear blue. inhalation & ingestion
animals and close
**** Collection of blood from tail vein
observation for at least
(ruminants) and peritoneal fluid (pigs). Thin 2 weeks
smears using polychrome methylene blue
 MYCOBACTERIUM
SPECIES HOSTS DISEASE SHED IMPORTANCE VIRULENCE
Cattle bovine TB organisms leave the host in Important in cattle and
respiratory discharges, feces, occasionally in other domestic - trehalose-6,6’
Mycobacterium milk, urine, semen, and genital
Species occasionally animals and humans dimycolate inhibits
bovis infected: deer, badgers, discharges
chemotaxis
possums, humans, cats, - sulfatides promotes
small, moist colonies other mammalian survival in macrophages
that break up easily species
- sulfolipids induce
Mycobacterium cattle, sheep, goats, deer paratuberculosis or Johne’s shed in feces Important in cattle and other
Disease, a chronic enteritis, changes in phagocytic
avium subsp. _______________________ ruminants
protein losing enteropathy Note: grows very slowly, has a cell function
Species occasionally
paratuberculosis or infected: other strict requirement for - stress proteins protect
Mycobacterium disease is known as Johne’s mycobactin, an iron-chelating from hydrolytic enzymes
ruminants
disease or paratuberculosis, agent
paratuberculosis chronic bacterial enteritis,
- superoxide dismutase
- mycobactin P- from M. phlei
chronic hypertrophic enteritis protects toxic effects of
- mycobactin J- from M.
paratuberculosis, better reactive superoxide
source radicals
most avian species Avian Tuberculosis (TB) shed in feces and are acquired Important in free-range domestic
Mycobacterium except psittacines mainly by ingestion of poultry, oppor-tunistic infections
contaminated food, water and in humans and domestic animals
avium complex Species occasionally soil; lung lesions are
infected: pigs, cattle infrequent
whitish, sticky colonies
that break up easily
Mycobacterium goats, cattle Tuberculosis (TB) DIAGNOSIS
caprae
Species occasionally
- direct exam- Ziehl-
infected: wild boar,
Neelsen stain
sheep, pigs
- isolation using egg yolk-
Mycobacterium humans, captive cause of human organisms are shed in Important in humans and
primates Tuberculosis (TB) respiratory discharges based agar slant media
tuberculosis occasionally in dogs
and Lowenstein-Jensen
- rough, tough and buff and Stonebrinks media
colonies Species occasionally
infected: dogs, cattle, - gas liquid
- colonies are hard to chromatography-
psittacine birds, canaries
break identification of clinically
- virulent strains important mycobacteria
produce a “cord - nucleic acid probes
factor” causing the
organisms to grow in
 a rope-like fashion, so
called “serpentine GROUPS
cords”
Mycobacterium Humans Tuberculosis (regions in
Africa) A. slow growers
africanum - require a number of
Mycobacterium Humans Leprosy weeks to produce
leprae observable colonies
Species occasionally - M. tuberculosis complex
infected: nine-banded (M. tuberculosis, M.
armadillo, chimpanzees bovis, M. microti, and M.
Mycobacterium Voles vole TB africanum)
microti
Species occasionally B. more rapid growers
infected: rarely other - produce colonies in 3-21
mammalian species days
Mycobacterium fish fish TB
Species occasionally
- M. avium complex (M.
marinum avium and M.
infected: humans,
aquatic mammals, intracellulare) and at
amphibians least 80 “environmental”
Seals Tuberculosis species sometimes
Mycobacterium
referred to as the
pinnipedii atypical mycobacteria or
Species occasionally
infected: humans, cattle, nontuberculous
other mammalian mycobacteria
species
Mycobacterium rats, mice Rat Leprosy, feline leprosy
lepraemurium
Species occasionally
infected: cats
cattle Implicated in bovine farcy
Mycobacterium
senegalense,
M. farcinogenes

BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin) vaccine is sometimes used instead of tuberculin to detect hypersensitivity in dogs and cats
 CLOSTRIDIUM
SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS HABITAT HOSTS DISEASE Tx/CONTROL
NEUROTOXIC CLOSTRIDIA
- Terminal spores - Spores in soil - Humans and horses - - Tetanus (LOCK JAW) • Antitoxin – IV or into
Clostridium (Appearance of badminton rackets - Parasites in most susceptible, Potent neurotoxin (tetanus toxin) subarachnoid space for 3
or drumsticks) gastrointestinal tracts of followed by pigs. consecutive days
tetani - Motile animals - Ruminants (Cattle, Result : small puncture wound • Toxoid – SC route, to
- Fermentative (Sheep, cattle, dogs, sheep) and pigs – becomes contaminated with C. promote active immune
- Part of the normal flora of the chickens, horses, rats, moderately tetani spores migrates along neural response
- 11 strains,
soil guinea pigs) susceptible paths from local wound • Penicillin – in large doses
differing in - -
- Has been isolated frequently Endospores prevalent in Carnivores (dogs and given IM or IV
capability of manure-treated soils cats) – comparatively Disease is charac.by convulsive
from the intestinal tract of • Surgical debridement of
producing toxins contractions of voluntary muscles
animals - Endospores prevalent resistant wounds and removal of
- Obligate anaerobes on human skin and in - poultry are resistant foreign bodies
- Heat sensitive contaminated heroin FORMS of tetanus: • Affected animals housed
in a quiet dark
EXOTOXIN ENDOSPORE CAUSES: 1. Descending tetanus – most environment
common in horses and humans,
Cl. Tetani (ENDOSPORE) Circumstances that involves nictitating mem. Followed IN HUMANS:
1.tetanospasmin or neurotoxin - - Heat resistant contribute to tetanus in by mm. of forelimb and hindlimb –3 Foci
(descending and ascending (can survive autoclaving at animals: 2.Ascending tetanus • Control of muscle spasms
tetanus) 121 C for 10-15 min) - Docking and • Halting of toxin production –
- one of the most powerful - Antiseptic resistant castration Common Classifications of Metronidazole and
exotoxins known - Chemical agent - wounds umbilical Tetanus intramuscular penicillin G
- responsible for the resistant (ie: phenol infections (tetanus Common types: • Neutralization of toxin effects
characteristic spastic neonatorum)
paralysis of tetanus - parturition (puerperal – Local tetanus: persistent muscle CONTROL:
- prevents the release of tetanus) contraction in region of injury
glycine (inhibitory - dehorning – Rigorous hygienic
transmitter) - ringing – Cephalic tetanus: concurrent with response to injury
- minimum human lethal otitis media, associated with head –Vaccination
dose: 2.5 ng/kg body injuries and cranial nerves • First 4 immunization shots
weight (DPT: diphtheria- pertussis-
- Zinc-dependent – Generalized tentanus: tetanus) given within 2 years
metalloproteinase (80% prevalence) lockjaw other • Every 10 years: booster shot
2. tetanolysin symptoms include elevated blood • Tetanus toxoid vaccination to
- function not determined pressure, sweating, elevated farm animals
temperature, rapid episodic heart • Horses – prompt surgical
Tetanospasmin rate, spasms continue for 3-4 weeks debridement of
Targets: wounds is desirable
– Neonatal tetanus: born without • Antitoxin given to
– Several sites within the CNS,
passive immunity, usually through unvaccinated animals
including spinal cord and brain infection of unhealed umbilical with deep wounds
– PNS: Peripheral nerve terminals stump
– ANS
– SNS (prolonged stimulation
leads to hypertension) GENERAL FACTS:

Mode of Action - Mortality rates: 40-78%

- Incubation time : between 3-21
o Blocks inhibitory impulses via days and in neonatal tetanus
interference with between 4-14 days of birth
neurotransmitter - Opisthotonos and Risus
release,including that of sardonicus: classic rigidity of
glycine and gamma-amino body
butyric acid – Nosocomial and secondary
infections are a greater risk
o Prevents neurotransmitters by – Laryngospasm can evoke serious
cleaving synaptobrevin II, injuries including spinal fractures
component of synaptic
vesicles
o spastic paralysis results
o Causes unopposed muscle
contraction and spasm and
seizures
 SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS HABITAT HOSTS DISEASE
- Anaerobic bacillus that - Found in soil, cause most outbreaks in ❖ Botulism
forms sub-terminal sediments of lakes, domestic animals: - is a serious potentially fatal intoxication usually acquired by ingestion
Clostridium endospores ponds, coastal of pre-formed toxin
botulinum - Heat resistant waters, decaying ❖ Waterfowl, cattle, TOXIN SOURCE HOSTS DESCRIPTION
- Seven toxigenic vegetation horses, sheep, mink, Meat, canned Humans
subtypes of the - Intestinal tracts of poultry and farmed fish Type A products implicated in botulism in
organism: – A, B, C birds, mammals and – most susceptible mink and chickens
(alpha and beta), D, E, F fish ❖ Pigs and dogs – Toxico- infection Infants
and G – Differ by pre- - Gills and viscera of relatively resistant
synaptic proteins bound
crabs and shellfish ❖ Domestic cats –
Meat carcasses Mink, dogs,
at exocytosis stage pugs
- Spores are not killed by
- Neutral or low acid resistant (rare cases)
environments Type B Meat, canned Humans
boiling, survive
inadequate pressure seen in canned foods Sources of infection: products
sterilization • Horses and
- Toxins are considered ruminants Toxico-infection Infants
the most lethal to man SIGNS – poor quality baled silage Toxico-infection Foals (up to
- 8 types of botulinum - I.P. 3-17 days or hay containing rodent
toxin designated by
2 mos.)
- Dilated pupils carcasses
letters: Type C Dead Waterfowl, - botulism occurs in cattle,
- Dry mucous • Carnivores
Humans- A, B , E and F invertebrates, poultry sheep, turtles, chickens
membranes – contaminated raw meat
Cattle and poultry : B, C, maggots, rotting (“limberneck”) and wild
and D - Decreased salivation and carcasses
• waterfowl and other vegetation and fowl, particularly
- Tongue flaccidity carcasses of waterfowl that have been
neurotoxin (botulinum - Dysphagia birds
toxin) – dead invertebrates and poultry eaten rotting vegetation
- Incoordination Ensiled poultry Cattle, - Type C (alpha) primarily
prevents release of decaying vegetation
acetylcholine at the motor
- knuckling of fetlocks litter, baled sheep, affects birds and turtles;
plate, responsible for the Limberneck – paralysis of silage (poor horses - type C (beta) toxicosis is
characteristic flaccid muscles of the neck in quality), hay or seen mainly in catle, sheep
paralysis long-necked spp. silage and horses; not neurotoxic
Action of toxin: TREATMENT contaminated but affects vascular
- Blocks release of Ach =  Polyvalent antiserum is effective in neutralizing with rodent permeability and has
failure to release unbound toxin carcasses enterotoxic activity
neurotransmitter
 Tetraethylamide and guanidine hydrochloride
- Zinc-dependent
endopeptidase that given IV – enhance NT release at NMJ Type D Carcasses, bones Cattle, causes “lamziekte” or
cleaves synaptobrevins  Good nursing should complement the therapeutic sheep “loin disease” in cattle
- Flaccid Paralysis regime Feed Horses with pica (phosphorus
- Permanent damage contaminated deficiency); toxin is
with carcasses produced in bones and
tissues of dead animals
 ALTERNATIVE USE OF BOTULISM

• Botox
– A-Type botulism is an active ingredient
• Biological Warfare
– Poisonous to Humans
– World War II
– Stanley Lovell
o gelatin capsules with a lethal dose
o slipped into food or drink
o tested on donkeys
– 1gram crystalline toxin dispersed evenly and inhaled = 1 million deaths
o 70μg orally = lethal (70kg person)
0.09μg – 0.15μg intravenously = lethal (70kg person)

****READ HUMAN BOTULISM IN PPT dahil ako ay tamad na tamad na

CHARACTERISTICS HABITAT VIRULENCE CASE REPORTS WOUND

INFECTIONS

- Gram positive
- Anaerobic bacillus
Clostridium - Formed oval spores
sordelli with smooth tubular
appendages
- resides on soil Virulence and clinical manifestations determined • Pneumonia • Myonecrosis
- Colonizes gastrointestinal or by two exotoxins: • Endocarditis • Tissue
genital tract of healthy humans. • Arthritis allograft
- uncommonly found in surveys • Lethal Toxin • Peritonitis infections
of stool and vaginal flora • Hemorrhagic Toxin • Corneal Ulcer • Neonatal
- -solated from musculoskeletal • Bacteremia omphalitis
tissue of 3% cadaver donors C.sordelli TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME • Postpartum
- Acute onset and rapid progression • myositis in cattle, endometritis
- Low grade fever sheep and horses
- Refractory tachycardia and hypotension (alphatoxin:lecithinase)
- Leukemoid reaction Hemoconcentration
- High case fatality • abomasitis in lambs
(beta toxin: edema
producing lethal factor)
HISTOTOXIC CLOSTRIDIA
Pathogenesis
• Majority of ingested endospores are excreted in the feces
• Some may leave the intestine and become distributed in the tissues where they remain dormant
• Activation if dormant spores in muscle or liver results in endogenous infection
SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS
• Infection is endogenous
– latent spores in muscle
activated thru traumatic injury
Clostridium chauvoei
• exogenous infection
– thru skin wounds
- Produces subterminal
spores
- Pathogenic
- Occurrence of infection
Clostridium septicum caused by two or more
species
Usual habitats
• Widely distributed in the environment
• Soil
HOSTS DISEASE OTHERS
Cattle, sheep (pigs) Dx: FAT & PCR
Seen in 3mos.-2 years of age Black leg (black quarter)
Gangrenous cellulitis and myositis due to
exotoxins may cause rapid death
• Muscles affected – mm.of the
limbs,back and neck
- Malignant edema – C.septicum - Source of infection is usually the
contaminated wound containing
Cattle, sheep and pigs - gas gangrene – C.perfringens devitalized tissue
typeA
- The gas produce by the organism
• Infection followed by contamination of appears to remain limited on the area of
wounds, parturition injuries or injection metastasis and does not invade healthy
sites tissue
• Malignant edema manifests as cellulitis
with minimal gangrene and gas formation
Sheep - Occur during periods of heavy frost or
Braxy snow
- Abomasitis in sheep - Due to ingestion to ingestion of frozen
herbage
- Cause local devitalization of abomasal
tissue at its point of contact with the
rumen
- Anorexia , depression and fever seen
before death
- Necrotic dermatitis
Chickens
Sheep Big head of rams
Clostridium novyi Gas gangrene
type A Cattle and sheep

Disease is caused by exotoxins – dark discoloration of the skin caused by SC

replicating in liver tissue Sheep – acute Infectious necrotic hepatitis venous injection observed at necropsy
Clostridium novyi (previously damaged by F. Cattle – occasional (Black disease)
type B hepatica)
• Endogenous infection but
possible that migrating flukes
carry the bacteria, or spores to
the liver

- endospores are Cattle Dx: FAT / CAMP Test/ Culture in BAP

dormant in the liver Bacillary hemoglobinuria Nagler reaction – plate neutralization test
(Kupffer cells) Sheep (occasionally) - – RBCs destruction identifies the α toxin of C.perfringens which has
Clostridium - Fluke migration – main lecithinase activity
haemolyticum factor that facilitates
spore germination and TREATMENT AND CONTROL:
replication
- Beta toxin produced – • Penicillin and other broad spectrum
a phospholipase causes antibiotics in early disease
intravascular hemolysis, • Vaccination with bacterin and toxoid
hepatic necrosis components in adjuvant
- • Multicomponent vaccines
• Vacc. at 3 mos. of age and a booster
inj. 3 weeks later
• Annual vaccination

ENTEROPATHOGENIC AND ENTEROTOXEMIA PRODUCING CLOSTRIDIA

Replicate in the intestinal tract and elaborate toxins which produce both localized and generalized effects
perfringens types B, C, and D are of particular significance

• Factors which predispose to clostridial proliferation in the intestine:

1. Inappropriate husbandry methods
2. Sudden dietary changes
3. Local environmental influences
 ENTEROPATHOGENIC AND ENTEROTOXEMIA PRODUCING CLOSTRIDIA

Clostridium HOSTS DISEASE TOXIN BIO ACT DESCRIPTION

perfringens

Type A Humans Food poisoning, gas gangrene enterotoxin Cytotoxic

most widespread type

Lambs Enterotoxemic jaundice

Dogs Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis enterotoxin Cytotoxic

Pigs Necrotizing enterocolitis (mild) Lamb dysentery

- Morbidity up to 30 % with high mortality

alpha lecithinase - abdominal distention, pain and blood
Chickens Necrotic enteritis (occasional cases) stained-feces
- High susceptibility is attributed to the
absence of microbial competition and low
Type B Lambs (under Lamb dysentery proteolytic activity in the neonatal
three weeks old) intestine
- At postmortem – entensive hemorrhagic
enteritis with areas of ulceration in the SI
is present
- Increased capillary permeability induced
by the toxin results in fluid accumulation
in the peritoneal cavity and in the
pericardial sac

Necrotic enteritis of chickens

- Affects broilers up to 12 weeks of age

- Acute enterotoxemia charac.by sudden
onset and high mortality
- PME – confluent necrotic areas in the
mucosa of S.I.
- P.Factors – dietary changes, intestinal
hypomotility and mucosal damage
caused by coccidia and other pathogens
 Neonatal calves Enterotoxemia beta Lethal, necrotizing
and foals

Type C Piglets, lambs, Haemorrhagic enterotoxemia enterotoxin Cytotoxic Hemorrhagic enteritis in piglets

calves, foals
- Seen in newborn piglets
- Mortality – 80 %
- Acquired from the sow’s feces
- P.F – poor husbandry
- Course of the disease is short – death
within 24 hrs
- Chronic disease – older piglets up to 2
wks of age
- C.S. dullness, anorexia, blood stained
feces
- Necrosis of the intestinal mucosa and
blood-stained contents

Adult sheep Struck alpha lecithinase Struck

- occurs in sheep at pasture manifests as

sudden death although some animals
may be found in terminal convulsions
- Toxin plays the major role in the
pathogenesis of the disease

• Postmortem findings:

- Jejunal ulceration
- Patchy hyperemia in the S.I.
- Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal
cavity along with the congestion of
peritoneal vessels and petechial
hemorrhages
 Chickens Necrotic enteritis enterotoxin Cytotoxic

Type D Sheep (all ages Pulpy kidney disease Pulpy kidney-overeating disease

except neonates) - Occurs in sheep worldwide

alpha lecithinase - Over-eating disease – gorging on a high
(goats, calves)
grain diet or on succulent pasture
predisposes to its devt.
- Ingestion of excessive quantities of food
Type E Calves Haemorrhagic enteritis leads to “carry-over” of partially digested
food from the rumen into the intestine
- Dullness, opisthotonos, convulsions and
terminal coma
- CNS signs – blindness and head
pressing may be present in subacute
disease
- Bloating may be evident in the later
stages of illness
- Hyperglycemia and glycosuria are
constant features of the disease

Rabbits Enteritis Iota - Significant lethal

toxin

Diagnostic procedures Treatment and control

• Sudden deaths of unvaccianted groups of animals - C.perfringens type B, C or D • Hyperimmune serum

• Post mortem exam • Vaccination with toxoids - Ewes vacc.6 weeks before lambing - Annual revaccination -
Avoid sudden changes in the diet
• Direct smears – mucosa or contents of S.I

• Glycosuria – in pulpy kidney disease

• Toxin neutralization tests using mouse and guinea pig inoculation

• ELISA
OTHER SPECIES CHARACTERITICS HOSTS DISEASE TX/CONTROL OTHERS
Clostridium Predisposing factors: oral administration of Rabbits and guinea pigs Spontaneous and • Fatal within 48 hrs.
spiroforme antibiotics and low fiber diets antimicrobial-induced
diarrhea
Clostridium Organism is shed in feces of clinically affected and Game birds, young Quail disease (ulcerative PME – intestinal ulceration and
colinum carrier birds chickens and turkey enteritis hepatic necrosis
poults
Mortality – 100 % in quail, 10 % in
chickens

Clostridium Sporadic in foals (6 Tyzzer’s disease – Not applicable PM finding – hepatomegaly with
piliforme weeks of age) , rarely in severe hepatic necrosis in extensive areas of necrosis
calves, dogs and cats mice and lab.animals

Depression, anorexia,
fever, jaundice and
diarrhea
Clostridium - occurs occasionally along with the other bacteria rabbits enterotoxemia
sporogenes in clostridial gas gangrene
- - possibly involved in the causation of
cerebrocortical necrosis (polioencephalomalacia)
of ruminants by virtue of its production of
thiaminase in the intestine and rumen

Clostridium
villosum - part of the normal oral flora of cat
-isolated form fight wounds and pyothorax in cats

Clostridium Produces two toxins: Humans Pseudomembranous Antibiotic therapy

difficile - Toxin A (causes fluid accumulation) Colitis such as
- Toxin B (harmful toxin) Target Area of Infection: cephalosporins
Colon and clindamycin,
– Gram-positive which are
– Anaerobic SIGNS: frequently used in
– Spore-forming • Diarrhea hospital settings.
– Cell Morphology: rods rod shaped Bacillus • Fever
– Pathogen disease causing Pseudomembranous • Abdominal pain • Fecal
Colitis • Toxic mega-colon Bacteriotherapy
– Commensal Bacterium – Increased abdominal • Two Specific
– Resistant to most antibiotics pain Antibiotics can be
– Produces Cytotoxin and Enterotoxin – Abdominal bloating used as
– Abdominal tenderness treatment
– Fever
• Habitats – Tachycardia (rapid heart – Metronidazole
– Gastrointestinal tract of Humans and other rate) – Vancomycin
animals – Dehydration – 20-30% of
– Soils patients treated
– Marine Sediments with this method
experience a
relapse.
Foals, pigs, dogs, FOALS: Antibiotic Associated colitis
hamsters, rabbits (calves)  Hemorrhagic - Inflammation of the intestines
enterocolitis due to antibiotics
 Associated with acute
colits in horses ffg.
Antibiotic therapy or
grain overload

 associated chronic
diarrhea in dogs