Veterinary Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, RAJUVAS, Bikaner (Raj.), India
Online published on 19 December, 2013.
The present study was conducted to confirm the cause of an outbreak in an organised farm of Jammu that resulted in the death of twelve goats (4–8 months age) within short duration of interval from 21st to 28th of June, 2013. These goats had died after showing neurologic and respiratory signs, including opisthotonos, convulsions, bleating, frothy mouth and recumbency. Prominent gross lesions observed during post mortem examination were haemorrhages in the intestinal mucosa, excessive pericardial fluid, haemorrhages over epicardium, consolidation and oedema of lungs, enlarged and congested liver and spleen, oedematous, soft/pulpy kidneys with multifocal petechial haemorrhages under capsule, hyperemia and edema of brain. Histopathological changes consisted of edematous pleura and alveolar and interstitial pulmonary oedema. Samples of duodenal, ileal and colon contents were collected and were analysed for epsilon toxin using ELISA. Epsilon toxin was detected in 83% of the samples of ileal content, 66% of the samples of duodenal content and 50% of the samples of colon content. Hence pathological and microbiological investigation confirmed the goats were infected with Clostridium perfringens type D.
