Clostridium perfringens is an important pathogen that can cause various animal diseases, especially in livestock and poultry. These diseases not only pose a serious threat to animal health, but also affect the economic benefits of animal husbandry.

Clinical symptoms

Sheep intestinal toxemia (“purpura disease”)

Symptoms: Sheep, especially lambs, infected with Clostridium perfringens usually present with acute diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weakness. Sick sheep may suddenly die, especially when death is more common at night or in the morning.

Lesions: Postmortem autopsy usually shows blood red or black contents in the small intestine, with severe bleeding and necrotic lesions in the intestinal wall.

Black Leg Disease of Cattle:

Symptoms: Sick cows usually present with high fever, limping, muscle swelling, and subcutaneous emphysema. The affected muscle appears dark red or black, accompanied by a putrid odor.

Pathological changes: Muscle tissue necrosis, bleeding, and obvious bubbles can be seen during autopsy.

Gas gangrene of horses

Symptoms: After trauma or surgery, infection with Clostridium perfringens may cause local pain, swelling, and emphysema, which quickly spreads to surrounding tissues. The condition progresses rapidly and may lead to sepsis and death.

Lesions: Tissue necrosis at the site of infection, accompanied by bubbles and pus, and a smell of decay can be smelled during autopsy.

Necrotic enteritis in pigs:

Symptoms: Mainly occurring in piglets, manifested as acute diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and rapid weight loss. Sick pigs may die in a short period of time.

Pathological changes: Autopsy revealed necrotic ulcers in the intestine, thickening of the intestinal wall, and often accompanied by blood and mucus in the contents.

Transmission route

Feed dissemination

Animal ingestion of feed or water sources contaminated with Clostridium perfringens, especially when the feed is improperly stored or contaminated, can easily lead to infection.

Wound transmission

If animals are injured in natural environments (such as cuts, bites) or undergo surgery, and the wound is exposed to an environment contaminated with Clostridium perfringens, bacteria may enter the body through the wound, causing local or systemic infections.

Environmental Communication

Clostridium perfringens is widely present in soil and feces, and animals may be infected when feeding, drinking water, or coming into contact with contaminated environments.

Clinical diagnosis

Clinical symptom observation

Based on typical clinical manifestations of animals, such as acute diarrhea, abdominal pain, emphysema, and rapid death, a preliminary suspicion of Clostridium perfringens infection can be made.

Pathological Anatomy

For animals that suddenly die, autopsy is an important diagnostic tool. By observing typical lesions in the intestines, muscles, and other areas (such as bleeding, necrosis, and bubble formation), diagnostic clues can be provided.

Laboratory testing

Bacterial culture: Sampling from diseased tissues (such as intestines and muscles) and conducting anaerobic culture to isolate Clostridium perfringens.

Toxins detection: By using ELISA or PCR methods to detect pathogenic toxin genes or their products, the type of infection can be confirmed.

Preventive measures

Vaccination

Effective vaccines have been developed for certain diseases caused by Clostridium perfringens, such as enterotoxemia in sheep and black leg disease in cattle. Routine vaccination of susceptible animals can greatly reduce the incidence rate.

Feed management

Ensure the hygiene of feed and drinking water, and avoid mold growth or contamination of feed. For feed stored for a long time, its quality should be checked regularly.

Environmental management

Keep the animal pens clean and dry to reduce the exposure of animals to polluted environments. Regularly disinfect the animal breeding environment, especially after the outbreak of the epidemic.

Treatment measures

Antibiotic therapy

For early detected infections, antibiotics such as penicillin, clindamycin, or metronidazole can be used for treatment. But for severe gas gangrene or necrotizing enteritis, the effect may be limited.

Surgical treatment

For cases of wound infection, timely debridement, removal of necrotic tissue and gas, combined with antibiotic treatment, can reduce mortality rates.

Support treatment

Symptomatic treatments such as fluid replacement, nutritional support, and pain relief can help infected animals recover their health.

Clostridium Perfringens Antibody Rapid Test

Antigene has developed a Clostridium Perfringens Antibody Rapid Test, which has fast detection speed, convenient operation, and high detection accuracy. It can provide effective assistance for veterinarians or farmers in detecting related bacterial infections.