Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens are among the most commonagents of enteric disease in both humans and domestic animals. The former continues to increase in prevalence and diseases caused by the latter persist. Infection with a recently emergedhypervirulent strain (NAP1/027/III) of C. difficile is increasingly common andserious sequelae and fatalities are much more common in these patients. In neonatalpiglets, C. difficile infection (CDI) has become a common occurrence. Historically,isolation of C. perfringens type A from patients with enteric disease has been consideredinconsequential due to its presence in the normal intestine and to the mild nature ofdisease syndromes such as porcine enteritis. However, both CDI and type A diseasecause losses to the swine industry and pigs have been implicated as a possible source ofC. difficile for infection in humans. We investigated the epidemiology and pathogenesisof porcine CDI, and immunity against porcine CDI and type A enteritis. The occurrenceof CDI in integrated swine production facilities was most common in neonatal pigs.Infection in sows was rare, and finisher pigs were culture negative. All C. difficile strainswere ribotype 078. Hypervirulent strain NAP1/027/TTIII was more virulent in neonatalpigs than both a historic human historic human strain and a porcine strain with toxinproducing potential similar to ribotype 027 strains. Inoculation of anti-microbial-treatedadolescent pigs with NAP1/027/III did not cause disease. Ingra-gastric inoculation ofpigs with purified TcdA resulted in severe small intestine damage which isuncharacteristic of natural disease; effects of TcdB were minimal. Passive immunizationof piglets against C. difficile TcdA or C. perfringens type A alpha (CPA) and beta 2(CPB2) toxins did not prevent disease.

No description available.

La enterotoxemia, causada por el Clostridium perfringens, es la enfermedad infecciosa más importante que afecta a las alpacas, debido a que ocasiona elevadas tasas de mortalidad neonatal de hasta 70%. Recientes estudios han sugerido la participación de la Cp-PLC (C. perfringens fosfolipasa C) como factor de virulencia responsable del cuadro enterotoxemico en alpacas y otras especies domesticas. El presente estudio evaluó las características toxigénicas de la Cp-PLC y de sobrenadantes de diferentes aislados de C. perfringens obtenidos de casos de enterotoxemia en alpacas relacionándolos con sus niveles de producción de Cp-PLC. El protocolo de purificación de Cp-PLC mostró ser exitoso, mostrando su comportamiento como una enterotoxina incapaz de generar lesiones entéricas. Asimismo, los aislados de C. perfringens analizados evidenciaron distintas características toxigénicas independientes de la presencia de Cp-PLC. Al parecer, la Cp-PLC no seria un factor esencial del C. perfringens en la producción de lesiones entéricas en casos de enterotoxemias en alpacas. Palabras Claves: Cp-PLC, Clostridium perfringens, enterotoxigenico / --- Enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens, causes a mortality neonatal rate up to 70%, this is why it is considered as the most important infections disease. Recent studies has suggested that Cp-PLC (Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C) is a main virulence factor responsible of the enterotoxemic lesions found in alpacas and other domestic animals. This study evaluated the toxigenic characteristics of Cp-PLC and of supercultures of C. perfringens isolates from enterotoxemia in alpacas associated with their levels of Cp-PLC production. The Cp-PLC purification protocol used was successful, showing that Cp-PLC as an enterotoxin enteric unable to cause injury. Similarly, C. perfringens isolates analyzed showed different toxigenic characteristics independently of the Cp-PLC production. Apparently, Cp-PLC does not be a essential factor from C. perfringens in the production of enteric lesions in cases of enterotoxemia in alpacas. Key Word: Cp-PLC, Clostridium perfringens, enterotoxigenic.

Previous reports have shown that some bacteria utilize a dissimilatory nitrate reductase enzyme (NR) in anaerobic environments. This enzyme reduces nitrate to nitrite and also has been shown to co-metabolize chlorate to cytotoxic chlorite. A commercially available competitive exclusion (CE) product was evaluated for its nitrate reductase activity and therefore its experimental chlorate product (ECP) sensitivity. Of the 29 constituent bacteria of the CE culture, 11 had slight utilization of NR, 3 had moderate utilization of NR; the remaining were NR negative (with slight and moderate utilization: >0.1 to < 1.0 mM and > 1.0 mM nitrate utilized within 6 h, respectively). In vivo studies utilizing CE and ECP showed significant reductions in Salmonella. Although some of the bacteria were affected by ECP, the combined effect of the CE culture and ECP were effective in reducing Salmonella. Clostridium perfringens (CP) is a pathogen in the commercial poultry industry, which is the etiologic agent of necrotic enteritis (NE). Day-of-hatch broilers were fed a wheat diet and assigned to the following groups: control, commercial coccidia vaccine, commercial bursal disease vaccine, or the combination of the two, and challenged with CP in order to develop a disease model. Broilers in each treatment group had significant increases (P≤ 0.05) in lesion scores, mortality, and CP incidence. As pressure mounts for discontinuing the use of antibiotics in the agriculture industry, it is important to develop new strategies to combat these costly enteric pathogens. In vitro investigations evaluated a mixed gut culture with CP and the ECP at 5 mM or a 10 mM concentrations, over time. By 3 h there was a reduction (P≤ 0.05) in the 5 mM ECP and 10 mM ECP treatment groups. In vivo studies showed significant reductions in the incidence of CP and populations of intrinsic E. coli in all of the chickens provided ECP in the drinking water. Birds administered ECP in the feed showed significant reductions in lesion scores, incidence of CP and also had reduced E. coli log10 values. These results show that an ECP could provide the industry with a new management tool for controlling NE.

A series of experiments were conducted to examine the effect of chemical composition of the diet on intestinal <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> populations and necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, birds were fed high concentrations of dietary protein (fish meal or soy protein concentrate) and soluble fiber (guar gum). Clinical NE was not observed, however, there was a high level of <i>C. perfringen</i> colonization especially in guar gum fed birds. The next set of experiments examined the effect of various levels of DL-Met or MHA-FA on <i>C. perfringen</i> and other intestinal microbes. These experiments demonstrated a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in <i>C. perfringen</i> growth with methionine supplementation in ileum and cecum. The results suggest that both DL-Met and MHA-FA may reduce intestinal populations of <i>C. perfringen</i> in broiler chickens when used in high concentrations. The next three experiments were conducted to examine the effect of dietary glycine levels on gut <i>C. perfringen</i> populations, α-toxin production and NE lesion scores. Majority of birds showed clinical signs of disease with 4.16-8.33% mortality. There was a direct correlation between intestinal <i>C. perfringen</i> populations, NE lesions scores and mortality with dietary glycine level. However, due to the use of gelatin as the dietary source of glycine in these experiments, the diets also contained high proline levels which confounded our results. The last study was conducted to establish a direct causative relationship between dietary glycine concentration and <i>C. perfringen</i> growth and/or NE in broiler chickens using encapsulated amino acids. Birds fed diets containing high levels of encapsulated glycine had higher NE lesion scores than those fed encapsulated proline or no encapsulated amino acids, thus demonstrating a direct effect of glycine on intestinal <i>C. perfringen</i> growth. It is concluded that amino acid composition of dietary protein is an important determinant of intestinal microbial growth, particularly <i>C. perfringen</i>, and could affect incidence of NE in broiler chickens.

A series of experiments were conducted to examine the effect of chemical composition of the diet on intestinal <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> populations and necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, birds were fed high concentrations of dietary protein (fish meal or soy protein concentrate) and soluble fiber (guar gum). Clinical NE was not observed, however, there was a high level of <i>C. perfringen</i> colonization especially in guar gum fed birds. The next set of experiments examined the effect of various levels of DL-Met or MHA-FA on <i>C. perfringen</i> and other intestinal microbes. These experiments demonstrated a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in <i>C. perfringen</i> growth with methionine supplementation in ileum and cecum. The results suggest that both DL-Met and MHA-FA may reduce intestinal populations of <i>C. perfringen</i> in broiler chickens when used in high concentrations. The next three experiments were conducted to examine the effect of dietary glycine levels on gut <i>C. perfringen</i> populations, α-toxin production and NE lesion scores. Majority of birds showed clinical signs of disease with 4.16-8.33% mortality. There was a direct correlation between intestinal <i>C. perfringen</i> populations, NE lesions scores and mortality with dietary glycine level. However, due to the use of gelatin as the dietary source of glycine in these experiments, the diets also contained high proline levels which confounded our results. The last study was conducted to establish a direct causative relationship between dietary glycine concentration and <i>C. perfringen</i> growth and/or NE in broiler chickens using encapsulated amino acids. Birds fed diets containing high levels of encapsulated glycine had higher NE lesion scores than those fed encapsulated proline or no encapsulated amino acids, thus demonstrating a direct effect of glycine on intestinal <i>C. perfringen</i> growth. It is concluded that amino acid composition of dietary protein is an important determinant of intestinal microbial growth, particularly <i>C. perfringen</i>, and could affect incidence of NE in broiler chickens.

Previous reports have shown that some bacteria utilize a dissimilatory nitrate reductase enzyme (NR) in anaerobic environments. This enzyme reduces nitrate to nitrite and also has been shown to co-metabolize chlorate to cytotoxic chlorite. A commercially available competitive exclusion (CE) product was evaluated for its nitrate reductase activity and therefore its experimental chlorate product (ECP) sensitivity. Of the 29 constituent bacteria of the CE culture, 11 had slight utilization of NR, 3 had moderate utilization of NR; the remaining were NR negative (with slight and moderate utilization: >0.1 to < 1.0 mM and > 1.0 mM nitrate utilized within 6 h, respectively). In vivo studies utilizing CE and ECP showed significant reductions in Salmonella. Although some of the bacteria were affected by ECP, the combined effect of the CE culture and ECP were effective in reducing Salmonella. Clostridium perfringens (CP) is a pathogen in the commercial poultry industry, which is the etiologic agent of necrotic enteritis (NE). Day-of-hatch broilers were fed a wheat diet and assigned to the following groups: control, commercial coccidia vaccine, commercial bursal disease vaccine, or the combination of the two, and challenged with CP in order to develop a disease model. Broilers in each treatment group had significant increases (P≤ 0.05) in lesion scores, mortality, and CP incidence. As pressure mounts for discontinuing the use of antibiotics in the agriculture industry, it is important to develop new strategies to combat these costly enteric pathogens. In vitro investigations evaluated a mixed gut culture with CP and the ECP at 5 mM or a 10 mM concentrations, over time. By 3 h there was a reduction (P≤ 0.05) in the 5 mM ECP and 10 mM ECP treatment groups. In vivo studies showed significant reductions in the incidence of CP and populations of intrinsic E. coli in all of the chickens provided ECP in the drinking water. Birds administered ECP in the feed showed significant reductions in lesion scores, incidence of CP and also had reduced E. coli log10 values. These results show that an ECP could provide the industry with a new management tool for controlling NE.

La enterotoxemia, causada por el Clostridium perfringens, es la enfermedad infecciosa más importante que afecta a las alpacas, debido a que ocasiona elevadas tasas de mortalidad neonatal de hasta 70%. Recientes estudios han sugerido la participación de la Cp-PLC (C. perfringens fosfolipasa C) como factor de virulencia responsable del cuadro enterotoxemico en alpacas y otras especies domesticas. El presente estudio evaluó las características toxigénicas de la Cp-PLC y de sobrenadantes de diferentes aislados de C. perfringens obtenidos de casos de enterotoxemia en alpacas relacionándolos con sus niveles de producción de Cp-PLC. El protocolo de purificación de Cp-PLC mostró ser exitoso, mostrando su comportamiento como una enterotoxina incapaz de generar lesiones entéricas. Asimismo, los aislados de C. perfringens analizados evidenciaron distintas características toxigénicas independientes de la presencia de Cp-PLC. Al parecer, la Cp-PLC no seria un factor esencial del C. perfringens en la producción de lesiones entéricas en casos de enterotoxemias en alpacas. Palabras Claves: Cp-PLC, Clostridium perfringens, enterotoxigenico / Enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens, causes a mortality neonatal rate up to 70%, this is why it is considered as the most important infections disease. Recent studies has suggested that Cp-PLC (Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C) is a main virulence factor responsible of the enterotoxemic lesions found in alpacas and other domestic animals. This study evaluated the toxigenic characteristics of Cp-PLC and of supercultures of C. perfringens isolates from enterotoxemia in alpacas associated with their levels of Cp-PLC production. The Cp-PLC purification protocol used was successful, showing that Cp-PLC as an enterotoxin enteric unable to cause injury. Similarly, C. perfringens isolates analyzed showed different toxigenic characteristics independently of the Cp-PLC production. Apparently, Cp-PLC does not be a essential factor from C. perfringens in the production of enteric lesions in cases of enterotoxemia in alpacas. Key Word: Cp-PLC, Clostridium perfringens, enterotoxigenic.

No description available.

Se comprueba que en las enteritis de los cerdos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires actúan indistintamente microorganismos solos o asociados. De 172 muestras bacteriológicas de necropsias y casos clínicos de enteritis de cerdos se aislaron: Escherichia coli 139; Salmonella 15; Proteus 10; Klebsiella 21; Sighella 2; Serratia 1; Pseudomonas 1; Campylobacter 28; Treponema 29 y Clostridum perfrigens 2. De las 139 cepas de E.coli un alto porcentaje correspondieron a los tipos somáticos 0149,0141,0138, y 08. Con los tipos somáticos 09,0141 y 04-0123 se reproduce experimentalmente la enfermedad de los edemas. Se detecta una elevada resistencia a las drogas con las cepas de E. coli aisladas en diferentes desórdenes entéricos, especialmente con los antibióticos de uso común en terapéutica veterinaria de nuestro país. Los serotipos más frecuentes de Salmonellas aisladas corresponden a S.cholera suis y S.tiphymurium. Treponema sp. y Campylobacter son los agentes bacterianos más comunmente aislados en la Disentería porcina. Se aisla C.perfrigens en 2 casos de enteritis necrótica. / The present work proved that pig enteritis in de province of Buenos Aires are caused by several kinds of microorganism that can act alone or associated in the gut. In a survey of 172 bacteriological samples taken from necropsied pigs with clinical sing of diarrhoea the following bacterias were isolated: E. coli 139;Salmonella 15;Proteus 10;Klebsiella 21;Sighella 2;Serratia 1;Pseudomonas 1;Campylobacter 28;Treponema 29 y Clostridium perfrigens 2. From the 139 strains de E.coli a high rate belonged to the somatic types 0149,0141,0138 y 08. With the somatic types of E.coli 09,0141 y 04-0123 the experimental reproduction of the Odenema disease was done. The strains of E.coli isolated from enteric disease showed high resistence specialy to the antibiotics of common use in the veterinary practice in Argentina. Within the Salmonella group.S.cholera suis and S.tiphimurium were the serotype isolated more frecuently. From pigs with pathological diagnosis of Swine Disentery,Traeponema and Campylobacter sp were isolated and from two cases of Necrotic a Clostridium perfrigens was recovery.