F120
Clostridial Diseases

blackleg | malignant edema | black disease | big head | red water disease | enterotoxemia (lamb dysentery, struck, goat enterotoxemia) | enterotoxemia (overeating disease and pulpy kidney disease) | tetanus

Causative Agent: This disease, which often comes after some form of injury or procedure (docking, castration), affects animals of all ages. It is caused by soilborne bacteria called Clostridium chauvoei.

Clinical Signs: The most common sign is sudden death. Often, the disease develops so rapidly that death can occur before the owner has noticed any sickness in the flock/herd. Other signs are lameness, lethargy, fever, and swellings that appear in various muscles of the body. In the later stages of the disease, these swellings spread and gas forms under the skin, producing a crackling sound when pressed with the hand.

Disease Transmission: The disease is spread by ingesting the bacteria.

Diagnosis: A necropsy examination of the affected animal reveals areas of black dead (necrotic) muscle that has pockets of gas bubbles. Specimens of affected muscle tissue must be sent to a laboratory as soon as possible for confirmation of the disease.

Treatment: If cases are noted in the early stages of infection, they may respond to immediate treatment with large doses of penicillin or other antibiotics.

Prevention: Prevention is accomplished by using blackleg vaccines.

Causative Agent: This disease is caused by the bacterium Clostridium septicum. It is found in animals of all ages, but is more common in older animals. The disease is very similar to blackleg.

Clinical Signs: Some signs of disease are lethargy, loss of appetite, and a wet, doughy swelling around a wound, which can gravitate to lower portions of the body such as the belly wall or lower limbs. High fevers are associated with the infection, and death frequently occurs within 24 to 48 hours.

Disease Transmission: The organism often enters the body through puncture wounds or injuries contaminated by soil or feces that contains the bacteria; it can even be introduced through deep vaginal or uterine wounds following a difficult birth.

Diagnosis: Necropsy lesions are usually wet, darkened, foul smelling areas under the skin, often extending into muscle. Unlike blackleg, very little gas, if any, is associated with these swellings. Laboratory confirmation is required for a final diagnosis.

Treatment: Occasionally, if the condition is noted early, treatment with high doses of penicillin is successful.

Prevention: Vaccination and boosters using a combination vaccine are the best prevention.

Clinical Signs: Animals that are sick with this disease normally do not show signs of infection. Sudden death is often the first indication that there is a problem.

Causative Agent: This disease is caused by Clostridium sordellii and C. novyi. It causes problems in the head and neck of young rams or bucks.

Clinical Signs: Clinical signs include swelling in the head, face, and neck.

Disease Transmission: When young males continually butt one another, the tissues around the head and horns become bruised and damaged. This provides an ideal environment for the bacteria to enter the body and grow.

Diagnosis: Most of the time this problem is diagnosed based on the appearance and location of the lesions.

Treatment: Treatment involves antibiotics (penicillin).

Prevention: Vaccination and boosters using a combination vaccine are the best prevention.

Causative Agent: Clostridium haemolyticum causes this infection. This disease is somewhat limited geographically and is associated primarily with marshy lowlands.

Clinical Signs: Some signs of infection are lethargy, anemia, bloody diarrhea, red-stained urine, fever, collapse, and death in 1 to 3 days. The disease was named red water because of the red colored urine in the infected animal.

Disease Transmission: This organism is taken in by mouth when contaminated soil is ingested. Disease is often associated with liver flukes that damage the liver allowing the bacteria to proliferate.

Diagnosis: A necropsy finds an extremely pale (anemic) animal, red-stained urine in the bladder, thin/watery blood, and usually a large, dark area of dead tissue in the liver. Laboratory testing is required to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment: Treatment is of no value unless it is begun in the early stages with large doses of penicillin.

Prevention: Vaccination and boosters using a combination vaccine are the best prevention. More frequent vaccination may be necessary in heavily infected areas.

Causative Agent: This type of enterotoxemia is caused by Clostridium perfringens type B and type C. These organisms are found in the intestines of humans and animals throughout the world. Enterotoxemia occurs in animals of all ages when feces containing the bacteria enters the mouth. This often occurs when contaminated hands and equipment are used on newborns.

Clinical Signs: Young animals show signs of lethargy, refuse to nurse, and have foul smelling, blood-tinged diarrhea. Many young and even adult animals die before signs are even noticed.

Treatment: Treatment is difficult once signs begin; however, injections of C. perfringens antitoxin may be beneficial. The use of oral antibiotics may also be of benefit in a few cases.

Prevention: The disease is best controlled by vaccinating the pregnant mothers during the last third of pregnancy.

Causative Agent: This type of enterotoxemia is caused by Clostridium perfringens type D and is often seen in growing animals that are 3-8 weeks old or in feedlot lambs.

Clinical Signs: An abrupt death of an apparently healthy animal is often the first sign. In some cases, excitement, circling, incoordination, and diarrhea are seen. Adult sheep may show the same signs, with death occurring within 24 hours. Adult goats may experience diarrhea and nervous system signs, often with a slower progression to death.

Disease Transmission: C. perfringens normally lives in the intestinal tracts of almost all animals. For overgrowth of this organism to occur, there must be an abundance of nutrients present in the gut, especially carbohydrates like those found in milk and grain. There must also be a slowing of intestinal tract movement caused by ingesting a particularly large amount of feed. This allows the C. perfringens to overgrow, accumulate, and be absorbed from the gut.

Diagnosis: Necropsy shows lesions on sections of the small intestine. A blood tinged, thick fluid is found when the gut is opened. Hemorrhages may be found on the heart and thymus as well. An exact (definitive) diagnosis can be made in the laboratory from a refrigerated sample of gut fluid that was collected under sterile conditions.

Treatment/Prevention: Treatment is difficult once signs begin, so the best method of control is prevention. Prevention includes vaccinating all breeding females twice in their first year and then boostering them again each year 3-6 weeks before giving birth. All lambs/kids should be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks and then boostered again 3-4 weeks later. Reducing the amount of grain (concentrate) in the diet can also help. Goats require more frequent vaccination because they do not seem to be protected as well as sheep are after vaccination.

Clinical Signs: At first, the animal shows signs of stiffness in the head and neck region and the inability to move in the hind end. The muscles of the mouth, head, and neck become extremely stiff (lockjaw) and often spasm. As the disease progresses, the animal has difficulty turning, backing, and eating. Death occurs in approximately 80% of the non-protected animals.

1. Prevent additional spread of the toxin in the animal.
   1. Administer 3.3 mLs of procaine penicillin G per 100 lbs., intramuscularly (IM), twice a day. Inject some of the antibiotic around/in the injured area.
   2. It is also necessary to administer 3,000 - 15,000 IU (International Units) of tetanus antitoxin, IM.
2. Provide supportive care.
   1. Because the animal has little to no muscle control, provide areas with good footing.
   2. Provide plenty of water and food that is easily accessible.
   3. Allow plenty of straw and soft bedding to prevent sores, since the animal may spend much of its time down.
3. Establish protection in the future.
   1. Give a tetanus toxoid shot, and booster it again in one month.