Bacteriological and serological investigation of Clostridium perfringens in lambs.

Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common and important pathogens in livestock due to its ability to produce a diverse arsenal of toxins. Owing to C. perfringens economic importance, this study aimed to determine the types and toxins of C. perfringens in newly born lambs. A total of 200 lambs of less than one-month old were examined, including 100 lambs suffered from diarrhea, 60 freshly dead and 40 apparent healthy. C. perfringens was identified morphologically and biochemically using bacteriological culture in 103 of 200 samples (51.5%). Moreover, serological typing of C. perfringens isolates revealed three serotypes, C. perfringens type A (54.2%), C. perfringens type B (28.8%) and C. perfringens type D (16.9%). The highest prevalence rate for C. perfringens infection was observed in winter (58.25%) in comparison with other seasons. The findings of the present study confirm the presence of enterotoxmia among lambs in localities under study, causing economic losses. The proper vaccination schedule particularly against C. perfringens type A and B is highly recommended.

Molecular epidemiology and genetic characterization of Clostridium perfringens infections in lambs.

Clostridium perfringens is gram positive bacterium, wide spread in environment causing various diseases in animals and human. The current study was conducted to indentify the genetic identity of C. perfringens isolates from lambs from Egypt. Using specific primers amplifying genes associated to the toxins produced by C. perfringens, multiplex PCR was used to confirm C. perfringens in 87 out of 140 samples were collected from diseased and suspected lambs. The isolates were classified as type A in 49.4%, type B in 31.1% and type D in 19.5% of isolates. The phylogenetic analysis for the partial sequences of C. perfringens strains based on plc gene, cpb gene and etx gene obtained in the present study showed high degree of similarity with other sequences of C. perfringens strains in GenBank, isolating from sheep from Egypt and other countries. According to the findings, lambs with enterotoxaemia more frequently have C. perfringens type A and an efficient hygienic control program is necessary to reduce the infection spreading among susceptible animals.