Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in faeces and ileal contents from grass sickness affected horses: Comparisons with 3 control populations

• Published in: Equine veterinary journal 2010-09, Vol.42 (6), p.494-499
• Main Authors: Waggett, B.E, McGorum, B.C, Wernery, U, Shaw, D.J, Pirie, R.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - epidemiology; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - microbiology; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - veterinary; bacterial infections; Case-Control Studies; Clostridium Infections - microbiology; Clostridium Infections - veterinary; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium perfringens - isolation & purification; disease diagnosis; disease prevalence; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; epidemiological studies; equine grass sickness; etiology; feces; Feces - microbiology; Gastrointestinal Contents - microbiology; grass sickness; horse; horse diseases; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - microbiology; Horses; ileum; Ileum - microbiology; microbial detection; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0425-1644; 2042-3306
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00105.x

Summary Reasons for performing study: While previous studies have demonstrated an association between equine grass sickness (EGS) and the presence of Clostridium botulinum within ileal contents and faeces, no such associations with other intestinal‐derived anaerobic bacteria have been extensively investigated. Hypothesis: The prevalence of C. perfringens in the ileal contents and faeces of EGS horses is greater than control horses; the detection of C. perfringens in faeces by ELISA could be diagnostically beneficial in a clinical setting. Methods: The prevalence of C. perfringens in faeces from EGS horses and healthy grazing control horses was determined by both selective culture and ELISA to permit both validation of the ELISA and inter‐group comparisons. Additionally, the prevalence of C. perfringens (ELISA) in ileal contents from EGS horses was compared with that for control horses with nongastrointestinal disease. Finally, the prevalence of C. perfringens (ELISA) in faeces from EGS cases was compared with that from both horses with which they shared pasture at the time of disease onset and non‐EGS colic horses. Results: When compared with culture, the ELISA had a sensitivity and specificity of 86 and 98%, respectively. The prevalence of C. perfringens in faeces as determined by both culture and ELISA was significantly higher (P