Phenotypic detection and genotyping of Clostridium perfringens associated with enterotoxemia in sheep in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia

Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus) populations across Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia have consistently been the regions with the highest prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep and goats. Given the significant economic importance of sheep and goats in these regions and the potential threat posed by this pathogen, a thorough investigation of the prevalence of C. perfringens in sheep and goats throughout Asia is important to inform the development of robust and effective regulatory measures to prevent its spread among sheep and goats. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to quantitatively estimate the prevalence of C. perfringens in sheep and goats. Through extensive searches of eligible studies in electronic databases, 29 studies were identified. The pooled prevalence estimate was 38.8 % (95 %CI: 30.9-46.9), with type A showing the highest prevalence. Additionally, the results of the subgroup analysis indicated that the prevalence of C. perfringens in sheep and goats varied based on factors such as age, sample type, sample size, vaccination status, and sampling time. These findings emphasise the need for vaccination and ongoing surveillance to mitigate the risk of C. perfringens-associated outbreaks.

Oral bacteriophage therapy effectively prevent and control of Clostridium perfringens type c infections in newborn piglets

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type C exhibits strong pathogenicity, often leading to swine dysentery, severely affecting the economic efficiency of the pig farming industry. Bacteriophages as bacterial viruses have many natural advantages and are potent candidates for controlling bacterial infections. In this study, a lytic C. perfringens phage designed as vB_CpeP_15N3 was isolated with the host C. perfringens type C CVCC1155, and its potential for therapy was determined in vitro and in vivo. Despite the narrow host range, phage vB_CpeP_15N3 exhibited a large burst size of 102 PFU/cell following a short latent period of 10 min. In addition, phage vB_CpeP_15N3 remained stable at temperatures ranging from 4 to 50°C and pH levels from 5 to 9 and had a strong antibacterial effect in vitro. Through whole-genome analysis, phage vB_CpeP_15N3 belongs to the family Guelinviridae, genus Brucesealvirus with no genes related to lysogeny and bacterial virulence or resistance. We further demonstrated that phage vB_CpeP_15N3 by oral administration for preventive purposes could significantly alleviate clinical symptoms and jejunal lesions of newborn piglets through the reduced colonization of C. perfringens type C in the jejunum and the level of CPB toxin in the content of jejunum in the newborn piglet model of CVCC1155 infection. In addition, phage vB_CpeP_15N3 by oral administration for preventive purposes could improve the diversity and abundance of the jejunum microbiota in newborn piglets. Moreover, the prevention by phage vB_CpeP_15N3 obtained more effective therapeutic results than phage and gentamicin treatments. Taken together, these findings suggested that phage vB_CpeP_15N3 is a promising alternative of antibiotics for preventing and controlling C. perfringens type C infection of newborn piglets.

Sudden death due to enterotoxemia among Arabian camels (Camelus dromedaries) and associated risk factors

Background

Sudden death is defined as an unexpected death occurring with no observed antecedent clinical signs.

Aim

The current study was performed to notice the tangible causes of sudden death among 51 out of 340 she-camels on a private farm in the eastern region of El Khafgi, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study design was conducted to investigate the sudden death of camels through microscopic examination of fecal matter to identify the gastrointestinal parasites, analysis of whole blood thin films to diagnose blood parasites, blood culturing to recognize bacterial infection as Pasteurella multicida, and macroscopic postmortem examination to identify the gastrointestinal adult worm. The quantity and composition of feed were also analyzed. Afterward, a commercial multiscreen Ag-ELISA kit technique determined the toxins of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens).

Results

The results revealed that the incidence rate of sudden death was 15%. The sudden death occurred due to C. perfringens enterotoxins detected in the rumen, intestinal content, and intestinal wall. The enterotoxins and Alpha toxins were noticed, but the other toxin types, including Beta and Epsilon, could not be detected. All C. perfringens toxins were discovered to be negative in fecal matter. A significant association was reported between sudden death, she-camels age, and feeding habits as risk factors (p = 0.020 and 0.028, respectively). Risk factor assessment by relative risk (RR) revealed that the odds of RR of sudden death occurring among she-camels aged over two years were higher than those less than two years (2.24 CI 95%, 1.093-4.591). Furthermore, the odds RR of sudden death occurring due to exposure of she-camels to a concentrated ration of 18% were higher twice than those not exposed (2.346 CI 95%, 1.039-5.296).

Conclusion

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxaemia should be listed as a cause of sudden death in camels and the alteration in diet with 18% concentration feed changes the intestinal environment, which leads to C. perfringens proliferating and yielding potent toxins. More observations and interferences like regular immunization are recommended to reduce the disease and increase the awareness of the farmers of the importance of risk factors.

Epidemiology and diagnostic accuracy of Clostridium perfringens toxins in the intestinal contents of camels, sheep, and cattle: a cross-sectional study in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt

This study aimed to establish an accurate epidemiological surveillance tool for the detection of different C. perfringens types from 76 diseased and 34 healthy animals in Dakhalia Governorate, Egypt. A total of 110 intestinal content samples were randomly collected from camels, sheep, and cattle. C. perfringens was isolated and biochemically identified by the VITEK2 system. Toxinotyping and genotyping of C. perfringens isolates were specified by a multiscreen ELISA and real-time qPCR (rt-qPCR). The occurrence of C. perfringens was highest among camels (20% in healthy and 25% in diseased) and was lowest in cattle (23.1% and 14.7%). The cpa toxin was detected in all isolates by rt-qPCR and in 7 isolates by ELISA, ext toxin was detected in 7 isolates by rt-qPCR and in 6 isolates by ELISA, and cpb toxin was detected in 2 isolates by both rt-qPCR and ELISA. Four types of C. perfringens were identified by rt-qPCR, type A (65.2%), B (4.3%), C (4.3%), and D (26.1%), and three types by ELISA, type D (17.4%), A (8.7%) and C (4.3%). Our study indicated the prevalence of infection in Dakahlia by C. perfringens type A and D, particularly camels, and recommends adopting an appropriate vaccination strategy among the studied animals.

Moringa oleifera as a potential antimicrobial against pathogenic Clostridium perfringens isolates in farm animals

Background

Clostridium perfringens (CP) is an emerging anaerobic pathogen that can aggravate severe fatal infections in different hosts and livestock.

Aim

This paper was designed to monitor the antibacterial efficacy of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) plant against different CP isolates of variant toxin genotypes comparing that with commercial antibiotics in the veterinary field.

Methods

A total of 200 examined fecal, intestinal, and liver samples from cattle, sheep, and goats were investigated bacteriologically and biochemically for CP. Then, the isolates were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for toxin gene typing. Thereafter, the antimicrobial susceptibility testing as well as the antibacterial efficacy of M. oleifera were evaluated and statistically analyzed against recovered isolates.

Results

The prevalence rate of CP was 51% (102/200); of which 54.5% was from cattle, 50% from sheep, and 40% from goat. Moreover, all CP isolates were highly resistant to tetracycline and lincomycin drugs; meanwhile, they were of the least resistance against ciprofloxacin (8.3%-16.7%), cefotaxime (16.7%-25%), and gentamycin (26.7%-33.3%). For M. oleifera, high antibacterial efficacy with greater inhibition zones of the plant was recorded with its oil (20-24 mm) and ethanolic extracts (16-20 mm) against CP than the aqueous extract (≤ 10 mm). A good correlation was stated between M. oleifera oil and toxin type of CP isolates particularly type A followed by D and B types. Interestingly, the oil and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera gave higher antibacterial efficacy than most commercial antibiotics against the recovered isolates.

Conclusion

This study highlighted the potent antibacterial properties of M. oleifera for suppressing CP isolated from farm animals; hence, more investigations on M. oleifera are suggested to support its use as a medical herbal plant substituting antibiotics hazards and resistance problems worldwide.

Epizootological monitoring of some bacterial infectious diseases of animals on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The presence of significant areas used for pastures in Kazakhstan makes it relevant to study the epizootic situation in terms of the incidence of animals during their grazing. The most frequent and dangerous diseases during this period are clostridiosis and listeriosis, which cause significant damage to livestock. Monitoring studies of the dynamics of morbidity among animals for infectious diseases during the grazing period were carried out on the basis of veterinary reporting. Bacteriological studies were carried out in a state laboratory using generally accepted microbiological methods. Analytical and statistical methods were used during the work. Monitoring studies indicate a significant spread of clostridiosis in the territory of Kazakhstan. The highest incidence rate was characterised by emphysematous carbuncle infection, which was recorded throughout the country, with an average frequency of about 40 cases per year. The incidence of braxy and anaerobic enterotoxemia occurred much less frequently and mainly in the southern regions of the country. Listeriosis was also observed only in some regions, but at the same time, a stationary focus of the disease was recorded in the Utylaut region, where cases of the disease are recorded annually. Conducted research made it possible to form the dynamics of the incidence of animals in the pasture period for these diseases, to determine the regions of the country with different intensity of the epizootic situation, as well as to carry out bacteriological isolation of a pure culture of the pathogen from samples taken in the foci of the disease. The studies made it possible to collect information on the features and mechanisms of the occurrence of diseases in the conditions of different regions of Kazakhstan and to develop a multi-vector strategy for preventive measures to eliminate animal diseases during the grazing period.

Seroprevalence, associated risk factors, and molecular detection of bovine brucellosis in rural areas of Egypt

The study was carried out on six villages in northern Egypt to evaluate the epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis among 989 unvaccinated household cattle by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and indirect ELISA (iELISA) and to investigate the existence of Brucella DNA using real-time PCR in 100 milk and 100 sera from seropositive cattle and 50 sera from seronegative cattle. The overall seroprevalence was 20.7% and 23.7% by RBPT and iELISA, respectively. Based on the iELISA results, the seroprevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the village II (34.7%) and cattle > 7 years (30.1%). More males than females were non-significant seropositive (P = 0.6). There was 95% agreement between RBPT and iELISA, although iELISA showed a higher positivity rate (23.7%, 95% CI: 0.21-0.26) than RBPT (20.7%, 95% CI: 0.18-0.24). DNA of Brucella was confirmed in 16 milk samples by IS711 qPCR from seropositive cattle, however, no Brucella DNA was detected in serum samples tested positive and negative. Brucella abortus was the only species detected based on the alkB gene. Prevalence is highly related to the sampling site and the age of the animals. In conclusion, although qPCR is more accurate and commonly used in the diagnosis of most infectious diseases but in this situation iELISA is preferred and recommended for continuous screening and animal movement restriction and vaccination protocols, especially in high-risk areas.

Immunogenicity of a newly developed vaccine against Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin in rabbits and cattle

Background and Aim: Clostridium perfringens type A is an anaerobic bacterium that produces four major toxins (alpha, beta, epsilon, and iota) that cause various diseases. Most of the important C. perfringens-associated diseases of farm animals are caused by alpha-toxin. This study aimed to produce a vaccine against alpha-toxin using C. perfringens type A (ATCC 13124) and investigate its potency, stability, and safety. Materials and Methods: The vaccine was formulated of its constituents for 1 h. Each milliliter of the final vaccine product contained alpha toxoid 15 lecithovitellinase activity (Lv) by adding (0.375 mL containing 40 Lv) and approximately 0.2 mL from 3% concentrated aluminum hydroxide gel, <0.001% W/V thiomersal, <0.05% W/V formaldehyde, and nearly 0.425 mL phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.2). The vaccine efficacy was evaluated in rabbits and cattle by performing potency, stability, and safety tests. Results: The vaccine produced approximately 8.8 and 4.9 IU/mL neutralizing antibodies in rabbits and cattle, respectively. These concentrations were higher than the lowest concentration recommended by various international protocols and the United States Department of Agriculture by 2.20-fold in rabbits and 1.23-fold in cattle. Interestingly, the formulated vaccine enhanced immune responses by 1.80-fold in rabbits compared with that in cattle; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The vaccine was stable for 30 months. In vaccinated rabbits, the body temperature slightly increased temporarily during the first 10 h of vaccination; however, the temperature difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study describes a manufacturing process to obtain sufficient amounts of a vaccine against C. perfringens alpha-toxin. The formulated vaccine effectively elicited a higher level of neutralizing antibody response than the international standards. Furthermore, the vaccine was found to be stable, safe, and effective in preventing C. perfringens-related diseases in rabbits and cattle. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of this vaccine in other farm animals.