Pathological findings in lungs of sheep affected with Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxemia

Clostridium perfringens type D causes enterotoxemia particularly in sheep and goats and, rarely, in cattle and other animal species. The present study was conducted to describe the histopathological changes in lungs. A detailed necropsy was performed on 362 sheep irrespective of age, sex and breeds. Out of these, 123 sheep suspected for enterotoxemia were processed for molecular confirmation of Clostridium perfringens type D from intestinal contents by using PCR. After conducting PCR, 66 sheep found positive for Clostridium perfringens type D which was further processed for histopathological examination. An overall incidence of enterotoxemia infection in sheep was recorded as 18.23%. Grossly, lungs were congested, edematous and hemorrhagic. Microscopically, lungs showed congestion, edema, emphysema and mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells infiltration.