Hemorrhagic Enterotoxemia Caused by Clostridium perfringens Type C in a Foal

A four day old Appaloosa foal in Alberta died from hemorrhagic enterotoxemia. Beta-toxin of Clostridium perfringens was demonstrated in the intestinal contents of the foal and a pure culture of C. perfringens type C was grown from the small intestine. Histological examination showed hemorrhage and extensive necrosis of the small intestinal mucosa. Areas of necrotic tissue were surrounded by massive numbers of clostridia-like rods. There was also a moderate degree of thyroid hyperplasia. This is believed to be the first published report of hemorrhagic enterotoxemia associated with C. perfringens type C in the horse in Canada.