Clostridium perfringens enterotoxaemia in two young horses
Stubbings, D.P.
Veterinary Record 127(17): 431
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 2264247 Document Number: 363910
Two cases of acute illness in young horses which were followed by rapid death are reported. A 4-week-old foal with acute diarrhoea, and convulsions was found to be hyperaesthetic but not dehydrated; PM findings were similar to those of lamb dysentery. A 6-month-old Welsh cob filly was found to be off its food with a rectal temperature of 41 degrees C; PM findings are described which were similar to those of pulpy kidney disease. Profuse growths of C. perfringens were isolated from the small intestines in both cases. Beta and epsilon toxins were detected in cultures from the foal and epsilon toxin in small intestine contents both the foal and the filly indicating type B enterotoxaemia in the foal and type D enterotoxaemia in the filly. Overeating was thought to be a contributing factor in the filly. The author suggests that C. perfringens enterotoxaemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases of acute illness in young horses which are followed by rapid death.