Detection of A/B toxin and isolation of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens from foals.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY: Toxin detection and screening could contribute to knowledge of the transmission patterns, risk factors and epidemiology of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens. OBJECTIVE: To isolate C. difficile and C. perfringens and to detect A/B toxins in faecal samples from diarrhoeic and nondiarrhoeic foals. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. METHODS: A total of 153 samples from foals were collected: 139 samples from farms and 14 samples from diarrhoeic foals admitted to a veterinary hospital. The A/B toxins were detected by cytotoxicity assay. All suspected colonies of C. perfringens were subjected to polymerase chain reaction for detection of the major toxin genes (α, ß, ε and ι) and for detection of ß2-, NetB- and enterotoxin-encoding genes. Furthermore, C. difficile and C. perfringens isolates were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility. RESULTS: Seven of 153 (4.6%) samples, all from diarrhoeic foals, were positive for C. difficile A/B toxin. Of these, 5 of 14 (35.7%) were from hospitalised foals, and only 2 of 63 (3.2%) diarrhoeic foal samples were from farms (P = 0.002). Clostridium perfringens was isolated from 31 (20.3%) foals, of which 21 of 76 (27.6%) were diarrhoeic and 10 of 76 (13.2%) were nondiarrhoeic, demonstrating a difference between these 2 groups (P = 0.045). Only 4 strains were positive for the ß2-encoding gene (cpb2). All C. difficile and C. perfringens isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS: The present report highlights the need for laboratory diagnostics to differentiate C. difficile-associated infection in foals from other causes of diarrhoea to facilitate adequate antimicrobial therapy. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: More studies are needed to clarify the role of C. perfringens as a primary agent of diarrhoea in foals.

Afecções mais freqüentes do aparelho locomotor dos eqüídeos de tração no município de Belo Horizonte / Most frequent pathologies of the locomotor system in equids used for wagon traction in Belo Horizonte

Determinaram-se as enfermidades mais comuns do sistema músculo-esquelético dos animais de tração na cidade de Belo Horizonte. Foram utilizados 58 animais (42 eqüinos e 16 muares), sendo 31 machos e 27 fêmeas. O diagnóstico baseou-se no histórico e nos exames físico e radiológico. A freqüência observada para tenossinovite nos membros torácicos e pélvicos foi 55,2 por cento, para tendinite nos membros torácicos, 81,0 por cento, para tendinite nos membros pélvicos, 58,6 por cento, e para desmite do ligamento suspensório nos membros torácicos, 77,6 por cento. Para as lesões osteoarticulares, os resultados foram 13,8 por cento, 12,1 por cento, 27,6 por cento e 12,1 por cento de lesões osteoartríticas para a articulação interfalangeana distal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos e articulação interfalangeana proximal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos, respectivamente. Na articulação metacarpo-falangeana, a incidência foi 41,4 por cento e, nos membros pélvicos, 39,7 por cento. A incidência na articulação cárpica foi 62,1 por cento e, na articulação társica, 96,6 por cento. Os achados dos tecidos moles indicaram sobrecarga nos aparatos flexor e suspensório nesse tipo de atividade. Em ambos os casos, a atividade desenvolvida pelos animais parece ser a principal causa envolvida.

The most common conditions of the musculoskeletal system of draft equidae in the city of Belo Horizonte were determined. Fifty-eight animals (42 horses and 16 mules) were randomly examined, being 31 males and 27 females. Diagnosis was based on history, clinical and radiological examinations. The frequency observed for tenosynovitis in the fore and hindlimbs was 55.2 percent, 81.0 percent, for tendinitis in the forelimbs, 58.6 percent for tendinitis in the himblimbs, and 77.6 percent for suspensory ligament desmitis in the forelimbs. The results showed 13.8%, 12.1 percent, 27.6 percent and 12.1 percent of osteoarthritic lesions for distal interphalangeal joint of fore and hindlimbs and proximal interphalangeal joint of fore and hindlimbs, respectively. In the fetlock joints of the forelimbs, the incidence was 41.4 percent, and 39.7 percent in the hindlimbs. The incidence increased in the carpal joints, reaching 62.1 percent and it was even higher in the tarsal joints, reaching 96.6 percent. Findings in soft tissues indicated an overloading of both suspensory and flexor apparatus. Osteoarthritis was a common finding in draft equine, especially in tarsal joint. In both cases, the activity developed by those animals seems to be the main related cause.