Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Beta 2 toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A colitis in a three-day-old foal.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
- Year:
- 2011
- Authors:
- Hazlett, Murray J et al.
- Affiliation:
- University of Guelph · Canada
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A three-day-old foal was found to have a serious intestinal condition called colitis, caused by a bacteria known as beta 2 toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A. The foal had been treated with a medication called gentamicin. During a post-mortem examination, the veterinarians noticed that the foal's intestines were swollen and filled with a watery, rust-colored fluid, and there were signs of tissue damage in the colon. They also found that about half of the inner lining of the colon was damaged, with small ulcers and a lot of bacteria present in the affected areas. Unfortunately, the treatment did not prevent the severe effects of this condition.
Abstract
Beta 2 (β2)-toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A was recovered in large numbers from the intestine of a neonatal foal with colitis. The foal had been treated with gentamicin. Necropsy revealed marked distension of cecum and colon with watery, rust-colored homogeneous fluid and gastric infarction. Microscopic colonic lesions were superficial necrosis of 50% of the colonic mucosal surface and scattered 1-3-mm ulcers with subjacent neutrophilic infiltration and large Gram-positive bacilli in the necrotic mucosa. Beta-2 toxin was demonstrated in the lesions by immunohistochemical staining.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21398467/