Diseases produced by Clostridium perfringens type C

Clostridium perfringens type C is an important enteric pathogen, causing necrotizing enteritis or enterocolitis in domestic animals and humans. The disease occurs mostly in neonatal animals, but it also occurs in adult sheep and, occasionally, in older individuals of other animals. C. perfringens type C is a gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium, and the principal virulence factor is beta toxin, a pore-forming toxin targeting vascular endothelial cells, leading to hemorrhagic necrosis and rapid death. The prevalence of necrotizing enteritis by C. perfringens type C varies among animal species, but fatality is usually high, particularly in neonates. The disease occurs naturally and has been reproduced experimentally in several animal species. Young animals are particularly susceptible due to immature gut flora and low intestinal trypsin activity. Of the domestic animals, neonatal piglets and foals are more commonly affected. This chapter reviews the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, pathology, treatment, and prevention of necrotizing enteritis or enterocolitis in domestic animals caused by this organism.