Pathological study of kidneys in Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxemia in sheep

Abstract

Type D enterotoxemia is a highly fatal enterotoxemia also known as pulpy kidney disease which causes heavy economic losses to sheep industries. It is caused by toxins secreted from Clostridium perfringens type D organism a gram positive, spore forming, and an obligate anaerobic rod bacterium. In the present investigation, 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 processed for histopathological examination. An overall incidence of enterotoxemia infection in sheep was recorded as 18.23 per cent.. Grossly, kidneys were swollen, darkly congested, and appeared soft and pulpy in consistency. The pulpy kidneys were brownish yellow to a distinct yellow in colour. Microscopically, kidneys showed cloudy swelling, coagulation necrosis, haemorrhages, interstitial nephritis along with infiltration of polymorpho and mononuclear cells, and vascular congestion.