EFFECTS OF THE INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS TYPE-D-EPSILON TOXIN ON YOUNG GOATS AND LAMBS

Young goats (n=18) and lambs (n=10) were compared in respect of the ef fects of Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin. Toxin produced neurological signs within 0.5-3 h of intravenous injection in (1) all of six kids given doses of 250, 185 or 120 mouse lethal doses 50% (MLD (50))/kg body weight, (2) two of the three kids given 60 MLD(50)/kg, a nd (3) all of five lambs given 250 or o 120 MLD(50)/kg. Six kids and t hree lambs given 45, 30 or 15 MLD(50)/kg, one lamb given 60 MLD(50)/kg , and three kids and one lamb given saline (controls) o o all remained clinically normal. Gross post-mortem changes were observed only in th e kids and lambs that showed clinical signs. In the kids these changes consisted of severe acute interstitial and alveolar oedema of the lun gs. However, only two out of five lambs that presented clinical signs showed pulmonary oedema. No histological changes were observed in the brain of any of the kids inoculated with epsilon toxin. In the brain o f four out of the five lambs given doses of 120 or 250 MLD(50)/kg, the re were histological lesions consisting of perivascular proteinaceous oedema and haemorrhages. These results show that kids and lambs are eq ually susceptible to the intravenous injection of epsilon toxin, but t hat they differ in the histological response of the central nervous sy stem to the toxin. (C) 1997 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.