Clostridium perfringens toxin types in lambs and kids affected with gastroenteric pathologies in Italy

A study was carried out in the South of Italy to assess the role of clostridia in neonatal diseases of lambs and kids. Eighty-seven lambs and 15 kids belonging to 25 flocks were examined and Clostridium perftingens was the microorganism most commonly identified. C perfringens isolates were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in order to determine the prevalence of the genes cpa, cpb, cpb2, etx, iap and cpe. The most prevalent toxin-type of C perfringens was found to be type A found in 84% of the cases with clostridial enterotoxaemia. No C perfringens type B, C or E were found. C peifringens type D was isolated in 16% of the cases. About 24% of the isolates were cpb2 positive. The prevalence of cpb2 across the different C perfringens types varied. The beta(2)-toxin gene cpb2 was detected in 4/21 (191/0) type A isolates, in 1/2 type D isolates, and in 1/2 type DE (cpe-carrying type D) isolates.The high rate of positivity to cpb2 among the isolates suggests that a vaccine based on the beta(2)-toxin, should be included in the vaccination schedule of the animals to confer adequate protection and to prevent the disease.