Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Genus: Clostridium.
• Family: Clostridiaceae.

Etymology

• Gk: Clostridium: closter - a spindle.

Active Forms

Resting Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Commensals in gastrointestinal tract.
• Saprophytic in soil.
• Most species are found in the environment and the gastrointestinal tract of animals.

Lifecycle

• Reproduce using endospores.
• Spores germinate in anaerobic environments.
• Strictness of the anaerobic requirement varies with species.

Transmission

• May be exogenous or endogenous.

Pathological effects

• Immunity usually depends on the production of antitoxins.

• Infection may be endogenous from the host's gut or exogenous from the environment.
• Pathogenic species can be divided into 4 groups:
  • Neurotropic - produce potent neurotoxins, eg Clostridium botulinum Clostridium botulinum.
  • Histotoxic - produce less potent toxins and are invasive, eg Clostridium perfringens type A.
  • Enterotoxic - toxins are absorbed from the gut, eg Clostridium perfringens types A-E Clostridium perfringens.
  • Produce enteric disease. In some host species, this is a consequence of antibiotic use, eg Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile.

Other Host Effects

• Many Clostridium spp are commensals, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.

Control

Control via animal

• Control methods depend on whether disease is due to an invasive, eg C. perfringens Clostridium perfringens or non-invasive, eg C. tetani Clostridium tetani species.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Weese J S, Staempfli H R, Prescott J F et al (2001) The roles of Clostridium difficile and enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in diarrhea in dogs. JVIM 15 (4), 374-378 PubMed.
• Jang S S, Breher J E, Dabaco L A et al (1997) Organisms isolated from dogs and cats with anaerobic infections and susceptibility to selected antimicrobial agents. JAVMA 210 (11), 1610-1614 PubMed.
• Thomson M J & Eger C E (1997) Management of a femoral fracture complicated by clostridial myositis. JSAP 38 (2), 70-73 PubMed.
• McDonough P L & Simpson K W (1996) Diagnosing emerging bacterial infections - salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, clostridial toxicosis, and helicobacteriosis. Semin Vet Med Surg 11 (3), 187-197 PubMed.
• Rutgers H C, Batt R M, Elwood C M et al (1995) Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in dogs with chronic intestinal disease. JAVMA 206 (2), 187-193 PubMed.