Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: Clostridiacea.
• Genus: Clostridium.
• Species: perfringens.

Etymology

• Clostridium: Gk: kloster - spindle.
• Latin: Perfringens - breaking through.

Active Forms

Resting Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• C. perfringens type A occurs in the intestinal tract of animals and human beings and in most soils.
• Types B-E are found mostly in the intestines of animals.

Lifecycle

• Germinate in the intestine and soil in anaerobic conditions.
• Relatively aerotolerant, therefore spores are rarely seen.

Transmission

• Ingestion.
• Wound infection.

Pathological effects

• Immunity is antibody-mediated; correlates with antitoxin levels.

• Gas gangrene: type A, histotoxins produced are not as potent as the neurotoxins but the organisms are invasive.
• Disease caused varies from cellulitis to fatal gas gangrene.
• Enterotoxemias Clostridial enterotoxicosis : caused by the major enterotoxins of types B, C and D, occasionally type A. Usually in young animals. Caused by beta toxin (types B and C) or epsilon toxin (type D; 'pulpy kidney' in lambs). Older animals may get chronic form.
• Must differentiate from commensal clostridia.

Other Host Effects

• May be carried in intestine of healthy animals.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• Penicillin G Benzylpenicillin active against most strains of C. perfringens.

Vaccination

• Toxoid vaccines are available for cattle and sheep.
• Antitoxin of appropriate type may be given to sick animals, although cases of enterotoxemia generally too acute.
• Commercial products for use mainly in sheep generally cover C. perfringens types C and D.

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. J Vet Intern Med 15 (4), 374-378 PubMed.
• Daube G, Simon P, Limbourg B et al (1996) Hybridization of 2,659 Clostridium perfringens isolates with gene probes for seven toxins (alpha, beta, epsilon, iota, theta, mu, and enterotoxin) and for sialidase. Am J Vet Res 57 (4), 496-501 PubMed.
• Turk J, Fales W, Miller M et al (1992) Enteric Clostridium perfringens infection associated with parvoviral enteritis in dogs: 74 cases (1987-1990).​ JAVMA 200 (7), 991-994 PubMed.
• Kruth S A, Prescott J F, Welch M K et al (1989) Nosocomial diarrhea associated with enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens infection in dogs. JAVMA 195 (3), 331-334 PubMed.