Synonyms

Lamb dysentery (type B), necrotizing hemorrhagic enteritis (type C), pulpy kidney disease (type D)

Name of the disease in English

Enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens toxinotypes A (yellow lamb disease), B (lamb dysentery, hemorrhagic enteritis), C (hemorrhagic enteritis, struck), D (pulpy kidney disease), E

The disease in brief

The disease, more common in small ruminants, is due to the intestinal proliferation of anaerobic bacteria Clostridium perfringens (Also Clostridum sordellii); the bacteria is common in the digestive tract of ruminants: it proliferates due to imbalances in the intestinal flora most often caused by a diet rich in concentrates, rationing errors, parasitism, ileus, etc.

Clinic & diagnosis

Enterotoxemia is suspected in the event of sudden death (within a few hours) sometimes preceded by the appearance of digestive signs (hemorrhagic or tarry diarrhea, etc.) and/or hyper nervous signs (agitation, convulsion, etc.).

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Lightning-N310

-Acute lactic acidosis-MET3

-meteorization (gaseous, foamy)-DG22

-Bacterial meningoencephalitis NV13.1

-Tetany of milk-fed calves NV14.6

-Hypomagnesemia (grass tetany) NV14.2

– Rage LV18.1

– Lead poisoning TX4

-other poisonings (yew, oenanthe, etc.) N133

Confirm a suspicion?

It is at the autopsy (carried out within 8-12 hours after death) that we will find signs suggestive of enterotoxemia (variable depending on the forms encountered): effusions in the cavities, rapid decomposition of the corpse, necrohemorrhagic enteritis, degenerative nephritis and hepatitis; take a sample (if the time is short enough) of the intestinal contents, filling the bottle -anaerobiosis- to ask the laboratory for a count of Clostridium

Prognosis and treatment

Too rapid an evolution prevents its implementation.

Prevention

-Prevent imbalances and avoid sudden dietary changes in cattle already receiving an intense diet.

–Ensure food storage hygiene and avoid grazing after spreading anaerobically decomposing materials.

– Implement preventive vaccination in high-risk herds

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 298

Memo written by G Argenté, DVM, proofread by Y. Millemann, Professor at ENV d’Alfort–2019