Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Brain lesions from Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin
By Mete, A et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2013·University of California-Davis, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Brain lesions associated with clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin in a Holstein heifer calf.
- Species:
- cattle
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old Holstein heifer calf suddenly became unable to stand after eating and showed severe neurological symptoms, including muscle spasms and paddling of her left hind leg. Unfortunately, the calf was euthanized due to her critical condition. A thorough examination of her brain revealed significant damage and swelling, linked to a toxin from Clostridium perfringens, which was found in her intestines. This case highlights a serious condition in young cattle caused by this toxin, which can lead to severe brain injury.
People also search for: calf sudden inability to stand · heifer neurological symptoms · Clostridium perfringens treatment in cattle
Abstract
A 6-month-old dairy heifer calf with no premonitory signs was acutely down after the morning feeding and could not rise. On presentation, the heifer was in right lateral recumbency and moribund with opisthotonus and left hind limb paddling. Following euthanasia, gross examination of the brain revealed multifocal loss of gray-white matter distinction and extensive petechiae throughout the brainstem. On histopathological examination, there was striking white matter edema and marked perivascular proteinaceous edema surrounding many arterioles and venules (microangiopathy), mainly in the white matter of the internal capsule, thalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, and cerebellar peduncles. The perivascular neuropil was strongly positive for Alzheimer precursor protein A4. Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin was detected in the intestinal contents. This is the first report of microangiopathy in postneonatal cattle associated with the detection of epsilon toxin in the intestinal contents.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23381925/