Genotyping of Clostridium perfringens associated with sudden death in cattle

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: S Miyashiro, L Baldassi, AFC Nassar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2009
• Subjects: Clostridium perfringens; iota toxin; sudden death; PCR; cattle; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992009000300010; https://doaj.org/article/c807154a190a490cbb8afa1c4f71c6a6

Toxigenic types of Clostridium perfringens are significant causative agents of enteric disease in domestic animals, although type E is presumably rare, appearing as an uncommon cause of enterotoxemia of lambs, calves and rabbits. We report herein the typing of 23 C. perfringens strains, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, isolated from small intestine samples of bovines that have died suddenly, after manifesting or not enteric or neurological disorders. Two strains (8.7%) were identified as type E, two (8.7%) as type D and the remainder as type A (82.6%). Commercial toxoids available in Brazil have no label claims for efficacy against type E-associated enteritis; however, the present study shows the occurrence of this infection. Furthermore, there are no recent reports on Clostridium perfringens typing in the country.