Clostridium perfringens (cattle/calves)

Pathogen / Biology

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, toxin-producing rod-shaped bacterium that is classified into several toxin types (including A, B, C, and E). Type A is a component of the calf’s normal intestinal flora and can also be detected in the feces of healthy animals. Under favorable conditions, individual strains can cause disease through necrotizing toxins.

Transmission / Epidemiology

The pathogen is ubiquitous in the environment and the intestine. Clinical disease, in the form of enterotoxemia, occurs sporadically and occasionally as a herd outbreak. Those affected are often healthy calves just a few days old with a good appetite and ample milk supply.

Course & Symptoms

Characteristic features include hyperacute hemorrhagic abomasitis and enteritis with acute onset of apathy, weakness, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The course is rapid and often fatal within a few hours, frequently before treatment can take effect.

Diagnostic Relevance

: Due to the hyperacute course and overlap with other causes of diarrhea, proper classification within the spectrum of diarrhea is important. Since Clostridium perfringens is also present in clinically healthy animals, a positive result must always be evaluated within the clinical context and in conjunction with other detected pathogens.

Rapid Test Components

The Fassisi® BoDia Plus and Fassisi® BoDia Advanced MPX tests detect Clostridium perfringens alongside other calf diarrhea pathogens (rotavirus, bovine coronavirus, E. coli K99/F5, Cryptosporidium parvum, and—in the case of BoDia Advanced MPX—Giardia as well) in calf feces. This allows for the differentiation of single and mixed infections from a single sample.

References can be found here.