Diseases Produced by Clostridium perfringens Type A in Mammalian Species

Clostridium perfringens type A is frequently associated with enteric disease of poultry, ruminants, horses, pigs and dogs. This chapter discusses some of the diseases caused by the C. perfringens bacterium such as Yellow lamb disease, hemorrhagic canine gastroenteritis, and C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE)-associated diarrhea. It is generally accepted that a presumptive diagnosis of yellow lamb disease can be established based on clinical, gross, and microscopic findings. Many vaccines against the different types of C. perfringens used around the world serendipitously contain C. perfringens alpha toxin (CPA) toxoid, and it is possible that they afford at least some level of protection to animals against yellow lamb disease. C. perfringens beta 2 toxin (CPB2)-producing C. perfringens type A strains have been associated with enteric disease in several animal species, including horses, pigs, sheep, and goats. In most cases, the evidence is based solely on isolation of CPB2-positive C. perfringens from sick animals.