title: Population-based study of fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens in broodmares and foals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the percentage of broodmares and foals that shed Clostridium perfringens in their feces and classify the genotypes of those isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  128 broodmares and their foals on 6 equine premises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anaerobic and aerobic bacteriologic cultures were performed on feces collected 3 times from broodmares and foals. All isolates of C. perfringens were genotyped.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the feces of 90% of 3-day-old foals and 64% of foals at 8 to 12 hours of age. A lower percentage of broodmares and 1- to 2-month-old foals shed C. perfringens in their feces, compared with neonatal foals. Among samples with positive results, C. perfringens type A was the most common genotype identified (85%); C. perfringens type A with the beta2 toxin gene was identified in 12% of samples, C. perfringens type A with the enterotoxin gene was identified in 2.1% of samples, and C. perfringens type C was identified in < 1% of samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clostridium perfringens was identified from the feces of all but 6 foals by 3 days of age and is likely part of the normal microflora of neonatal foals. Most isolates from broodmares and foals are C. perfringens type A; thus, the clinical relevance of culture results alone is questionable. Clostridium perfringens type C, which has been associated with neonatal enterocolitis, is rarely found in the feces of horses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tillotson
authors.forename: Josie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Traub-Dargatz
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: Doreene R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hyatt
authors.forename: Roberta J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Magnuson
authors.forename: W Thomas
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Riddle
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bolte
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Salman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors