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Vaccines Feb 2022The clostridial diseases of horses can be divided into three major groups: enteric/enterotoxic, histotoxic, and neurotoxic. The main enteric/enterotoxic diseases include... (Review)
Review
The clostridial diseases of horses can be divided into three major groups: enteric/enterotoxic, histotoxic, and neurotoxic. The main enteric/enterotoxic diseases include those produced by type C and , both of which are characterized by enterocolitis. The main histotoxic diseases are gas gangrene, Tyzzer disease, and infectious necrotic hepatitis. Gas gangrene is produced by one or more of the following microorganisms: type A, , and type A, and it is characterized by necrotizing cellulitis and/or myositis. Tyzzer disease is produced by and is mainly characterized by multifocal necrotizing hepatitis. Infectious necrotic hepatitis is produced by type B and is characterized by focal necrotizing hepatitis. The main neurotoxic clostridial diseases are tetanus and botulism, which are produced by and , respectively. Tetanus is characterized by spastic paralysis and botulism by flaccid paralysis. Neither disease present with specific gross or microscopic lesions. The pathogenesis of clostridial diseases involves the production of toxins. Confirming a diagnosis of some of the clostridial diseases of horses is sometimes difficult, mainly because some agents can be present in tissues of normal animals. This paper reviews the main clostridial diseases of horses.
PubMed: 35214776
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020318 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Mar 2020Gas gangrene is a necrotizing infection of subcutaneous tissue and muscle that affects mainly ruminants and horses, but also other domestic and wild mammals. type A,... (Review)
Review
Gas gangrene is a necrotizing infection of subcutaneous tissue and muscle that affects mainly ruminants and horses, but also other domestic and wild mammals. type A, type A, and are the etiologic agents of this disease, acting singly or in combination. Although a presumptive diagnosis of gas gangrene can be established based on clinical history, clinical signs, and gross and microscopic changes, identification of the clostridia involved is required for confirmatory diagnosis. Gross and microscopic lesions are, however, highly suggestive of the disease. Although the disease has a worldwide distribution and can cause significant economic losses, the literature is limited mostly to case reports. Thus, we have reviewed the current knowledge of gas gangrene in mammals.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Clostridium; Clostridium Infections; Gas Gangrene; Mammals
PubMed: 32081096
DOI: 10.1177/1040638720905830 -
Research in Microbiology May 2015Clostridium sordellii is gram positive bacterial pathogen of humans and animals. While the incidence of human-related C. sordellii infection is low, the mortality rate... (Review)
Review
Clostridium sordellii is gram positive bacterial pathogen of humans and animals. While the incidence of human-related C. sordellii infection is low, the mortality rate associated with infection is high. Of particular concern are C. sordellii infections after child-birth or medical abortion, which have an almost 100% mortality rate. Recent genetic and epidemiological work has increased our understanding of how this pathogen has evolved and how it causes disease. This review will summarise studies involving the genetics of C. sordellii, including an antibiotic resistance profile, the genetic determinants of virulence and mutagenesis of C. sordellii.
Topics: Animals; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium sordellii; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Incidence; Survival Analysis; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 25290059
DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.09.003 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... May 2022Enteritis, colitis, and enterocolitis are considered some of the most common causes of disease and death in horses. Determining the etiology of these conditions is... (Review)
Review
Enteritis, colitis, and enterocolitis are considered some of the most common causes of disease and death in horses. Determining the etiology of these conditions is challenging, among other reasons because different causes produce similar clinical signs and lesions, and also because some agents of colitis can be present in the intestine of normal animals. We review here the main bacterial and viral causes of enterocolitis of horses, including spp., type A NetF-positive, type C, , , , other clostridia, , , , equine rotavirus, and equine coronavirus. Diarrhea and colic are the hallmark clinical signs of colitis and enterocolitis, and the majority of these conditions are characterized by necrotizing changes in the mucosa of the small intestine, colon, cecum, or in a combination of these organs. The presumptive diagnosis is based on clinical, gross, and microscopic findings, and confirmed by detection of some of the agents and/or their toxins in the intestinal content or feces.
Topics: Animals; Clostridioides difficile; Clostridium; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium perfringens; Colitis; Enterocolitis; Horse Diseases; Horses
PubMed: 34763560
DOI: 10.1177/10406387211057469 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Mar 2018Gangrenous dermatitis (GD) is a disease of chickens and turkeys that causes severe economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Clostridium septicum, Clostridium... (Review)
Review
Gangrenous dermatitis (GD) is a disease of chickens and turkeys that causes severe economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Clostridium septicum, Clostridium perfringens type A, and occasionally Clostridium sordellii are considered the main causes of GD, although Staphylococcus aureus and other aerobic bacteria may also be involved in some cases of the disease. GD has become one of the most significant diseases of commercial turkeys in the United States. Several infectious and/or environmental immunosuppressive factors can predispose to GD. Skin lesions are considered to be the main portal of entry of the microorganism(s) involved. GD is characterized by acute onset of mortality associated with gross skin and subcutaneous tissue lesions consisting of variable amounts of serosanguineous exudate together with emphysema and hemorrhages. The underlying skeletal muscle can also be involved. Ulceration of the epidermis may be also noticed in cases complicated with S. aureus. Microscopically, necrosis of the epidermis and dermis, and subcutaneous edema and emphysema are commonly observed. Gram-positive rods can be identified within the subcutis and skeletal muscles, usually associated with minimal inflammatory infiltrate. A presumptive diagnosis of GD can be made based on history, clinical signs, and gross anatomic and microscopic lesions. However, confirmation should be based on demonstration of the causative agents by culture, PCR, immunohistochemistry, and/or fluorescent antibody tests.
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Chickens; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium septicum; Dermatitis; Gangrene; Poultry Diseases; Skin; Staphylococcus aureus; Turkeys
PubMed: 29145799
DOI: 10.1177/1040638717742435 -
Microbiology and Molecular Biology... Aug 2021Large clostridial toxins (LCTs) are a family of bacterial exotoxins that infiltrate and destroy target cells. Members of the LCT family include Clostridioides difficile... (Review)
Review
Large clostridial toxins (LCTs) are a family of bacterial exotoxins that infiltrate and destroy target cells. Members of the LCT family include Clostridioides difficile toxins TcdA and TcdB, Paeniclostridium sordellii toxins TcsL and TcsH, Clostridium novyi toxin TcnA, and Clostridium perfringens toxin TpeL. Since the 19th century, LCT-secreting bacteria have been isolated from the blood, organs, and wounds of diseased individuals, and LCTs have been implicated as the primary virulence factors in a variety of infections, including C. difficile infection and some cases of wound-associated gas gangrene. Clostridia express and secrete LCTs in response to various physiological signals. LCTs invade host cells by binding specific cell surface receptors, ultimately leading to internalization into acidified vesicles. Acidic pH promotes conformational changes within LCTs, which culminates in translocation of the N-terminal glycosyltransferase and cysteine protease domain across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol, leading first to cytopathic effects and later to cytotoxic effects. The focus of this review is on the role of LCTs in infection and disease, the mechanism of LCT intoxication, with emphasis on recent structural work and toxin subtyping analysis, and the genomic discovery and characterization of LCT homologues. We provide a comprehensive review of these topics and offer our perspective on emerging questions and future research directions for this enigmatic family of toxins.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Toxins; Clostridioides difficile; Clostridium; Clostridium Infections; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous; Humans
PubMed: 34076506
DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00064-21 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Feb 2016To characterize the presence of Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium perfringens in the vagina and rectum, identify correlates of presence, and describe strain... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the presence of Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium perfringens in the vagina and rectum, identify correlates of presence, and describe strain diversity and presence of key toxins.
METHODS
We conducted an observational cohort study in which we screened a diverse cohort of reproductive-aged women in the United States up to three times using vaginal and rectal swabs analyzed by molecular and culture methods. We used multivariate regression models to explore predictors of presence. Strains were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and tested for known virulence factors by polymerase chain reaction assays.
RESULTS
Of 4,152 participants enrolled between 2010 and 2013, 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9-4.0) were positive for C sordellii and 10.4% (95% CI 9.5-11.3) were positive for C perfringens at baseline. Among the 66% with follow-up data, 94.7% (95% CI 88.0-98.3) of those positive for C sordellii and 74.4% (95% CI 69.0-79.3) of those positive for C perfringens at baseline were negative at follow-up. At baseline, recent gynecologic surgery was associated with C sordellii presence, whereas a high body mass index was associated with C perfringens presence in adjusted models. Two of 238 C sordellii isolates contained the lethal toxin gene, and none contained the hemorrhagic toxin gene. Substantial strain diversity was observed in both species with few clusters and no dominant clones identified.
CONCLUSION
The relatively rare and transient nature of C sordellii and C perfringens presence in the vagina and rectum makes it inadvisable to use any screening or prophylactic approach to try to prevent clostridial infection.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01283828.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium sordellii; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Incidence; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Proctitis; Regression Analysis; Severity of Illness Index; United States; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Young Adult
PubMed: 26942366
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001239 -
Microbiology Spectrum May 2019The past 10 years have been revolutionary for clostridial genetics. The rise of next-generation sequencing led to the availability of annotated whole-genome sequences of... (Review)
Review
The past 10 years have been revolutionary for clostridial genetics. The rise of next-generation sequencing led to the availability of annotated whole-genome sequences of the important pathogenic clostridia: , () , and , but also () and . These sequences were a prerequisite for the development of functional, sophisticated genetic tools for the pathogenic clostridia. A breakthrough came in the early 2000s with the development of TargeTron-based technologies specific for the clostridia, such as ClosTron, an insertional gene inactivation tool. The following years saw a plethora of new technologies being developed, mostly for , but also for other members of the genus, including . A range of tools is now available, allowing researchers to precisely delete genes, change single nucleotides in the genome, complement deletions, integrate novel DNA into genomes, or overexpress genes. There are tools for forward genetics, including an inducible transposon mutagenesis system for . As the latest addition to the tool kit, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas9 technologies have also been adopted for the construction of single and multiple gene deletions in . This article summarizes the key genetic technologies available to manipulate, study, and understand the pathogenic clostridia.
Topics: Clostridioides difficile; Clostridium; Clostridium botulinum; Clostridium perfringens; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats; Gene Deletion; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genetic Engineering; Genome, Bacterial; Mutagenesis; Mutation
PubMed: 31172914
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0040-2018 -
BMC Veterinary Research May 2020Canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (also canine gastrointestinal hemorrhagic syndrome) is commonly associated with Clostridium perfringens, although in some cases the...
BACKGROUND
Canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (also canine gastrointestinal hemorrhagic syndrome) is commonly associated with Clostridium perfringens, although in some cases the etiology remains unclear. This report describes a fatal acute hemorrhagic and necrotizing gastroenteropathy in a dog associated with Clostridium sordellii, a bacterial species never before identified as the etiological agent of hemorrhagic and necrotizing gastroenteropathy in dogs.
CASE PRESENTATION
A fully vaccinated, eight-year-old, female neutered Labrador presented with a history of vomiting without diarrhea. Clinical examination revealed pink mucous membranes, adequate hydration, normothermia, and normocardia. The dog was discovered deceased the following day. Post-mortem examination showed moderate amounts of dark red, non-clotted fluid within the stomach that extended into the jejunum. Discoloration was noted in the gastric mucosa, liver, lungs, and kidneys, with small petechial hemorrhages present in the endocardium over the right heart base and thymic remnants. Histological analysis demonstrated that the gastric fundic mucosa, the pyloric region, small intestine, and large intestine exhibited superficial coagulative necrosis and were lined with a layer of short Gram-positive rods. Anaerobic culture of the gastric content revealed C. sordellii as the dominant bacterial species and neither Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., C. perfringens, nor C. difficile were isolated. Unexpectedly, whole genome sequencing of the C. sordellii isolate showed that it lacked the main plasmid-encoded virulence factors typical of the species, indicating that the genetic determinants of pathogenicity of this strain must be chromosomally encoded. Further phylogenetic analysis revealed it to be genetically similar to C. sordellii isolates associated with gastroenteric disease in livestock, indicating that the infection may have been acquired from the environment.
CONCLUSIONS
This case demonstrates that C. sordellii can associate with a canine hemorrhagic and necrotizing gastroenteropathy in the absence of C. perfringens and illustrates the benefits of using bacterial whole genome sequencing to support pathological investigations in veterinary diagnostics. These data also update the molecular phylogeny of C. sordellii, indicating a possible pathogenic clade in the environment that is distinct from currently identified clades.
Topics: Animals; Clostridium Infections; Clostridium sordellii; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Fatal Outcome; Female; Gastroenteritis; Genome, Bacterial; Plasmids; Virulence Factors; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 32448314
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02362-y