title: Endothelial binding of beta toxin to small intestinal mucosal endothelial cells in early stages of experimentally induced Clostridium perfringens type C enteritis in pigs.
abstract: Beta toxin (CPB) is known to be an essential virulence factor in the development of lesions of Clostridium perfringens type C enteritis in different animal species. Its target cells and exact mechanism of toxicity have not yet been clearly defined. Here, we evaluate the suitability of a neonatal piglet jejunal loop model to investigate early lesions of C. perfringens type C enteritis. Immunohistochemically, CPB was detected at microvascular endothelial cells in intestinal villi during early and advanced stages of lesions induced by C. perfringens type C. This was first associated with capillary dilatation and subsequently with widespread hemorrhage in affected intestinal segments. CPB was, however, not demonstrated on intestinal epithelial cells. This indicates a tropism of CPB toward endothelial cells and suggests that CPB-induced endothelial damage plays an important role in the early stages of C. perfringens type C enteritis in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Längassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasmans
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Immerseel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Posthaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C031884:CPB protein, Clostridium perfringens; D037521:Virulence Factors