Diseases Produced by Clostridium spiroforme

Several clostridial species, including Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, and Clostridium spiroforme, affect the intestinal tract of rabbits. This chapter describes enteric disease produced by C. spiroforme, which is considered the most prevalent clostridial pathogen responsible for rabbit enteric disease, particularly in young animals. C. spiroforme is acquired by the fecal-oral route and colonizes the terminal small intestine and cecum, where it produces C. spiroforme toxin (CST), which is considered to be the main virulence factor of this microorganism. Antibiotic treatment should include narrow-spectrum orally administered antibiotics with activity against Gram-positive antibiotics; examples include penicillin and ampicillin, although macrolide and lincosamide activity is poor. Probiotics are frequently used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases of rabbits based largely on anecdotal evidence of a beneficial effect rather than on scientific study. Little work has been performed to understand the basis of immunity to C. spiroforme infection and develop effective immunization strategies.