Morphologic and physiologic changes induced by Clostridium perfringens type A alpha toxin in the intestine of sheep.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the morphologic and physiologic changes induced by Clostridium perfringens type A (alpha toxin in the ileum and colon of sheep.


METHODS
16 ligated intestinal loops in 4 Merino lambs and 18 explants of ileum and colon from slaughtered lambs.


METHODS
alpha Toxin-induced fluid accumulation was evaluated in ligated ileal and colonic loops of sheep. Tissues were evaluated morphologically by use of gross and histologic examination. Effects of toxin on in vitro intestinal net water transport were tested in modified Ussing chambers.


RESULTS
Ovine ileal and colonic loops incubated with C perfringens type A alpha toxin retained more fluid than control loops. Histologically, in the ileum of lambs inoculated with 300 LD50 of alpha toxin/mL, there was a mild to moderate multifocal infiltration of neutrophils in the lamina propria and submucosa. The colonic loops of lambs inoculated with 30 or 300 LD50 of alpha toxin/mL had excessive mucus in the lumen, a moderate amount of neutrophils mixed with mucus in the intestinal lumen, and moderate multifocal infiltration of the lamina propria and submucosa with neutrophils; the blood vessels of these layers were engorged with neutrophils. In vitro measurements of water transport also revealed inhibition of net epithelial water absorption in ileum and colon incubated with alpha toxin on the mucosal side.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that alpha toxin induces alterations in sheep intestine. Clostridium perfringens type A organisms that produce alpha toxin could be responsible for diseases of intestinal origin in some ruminants.
Fernández Miyakawa
Mariano E
ME
Unidad de Salud Animal, Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria, Bariloche, Argentina.
Uzal
Francisco A
FA
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000633:toxicity*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000633:toxicity*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens