title: Pathogenesis of brain damage produced in sheep by Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin: a review.
abstract: Microvascular endothelial damage by the epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens type D appears to be the fundamental cause of cerebral parenchymal injury and lesions occur in a seemingly dose- and time-dependent manner. Large doses of circulating toxin produce a severe, generalised, vasogenic cerebral oedema and an acute or peracute clinical course to death. With lower doses of toxin, or in partially immune sheep, focal necrosis, often bilaterally symmetrical, occurs in certain selectively vulnerable brain regions, which appear to become fewer as the toxin dose is reduced. These cases follow a more protracted clinical course, but death is the usual outcome. The precise pathogenesis of the focal brain damage found in subacutely intoxicated sheep is unresolved, but several possible mechanisms are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Services Division, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, 101 Blacks Road, Gilles Plains 5086, South Australia.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Finnie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D004767:Enterotoxemia / Q000473:pathology*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C039811:Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin