[Enterotoxemia in newborn calves due to Cl. perfringens types A, C and D]

The clinical symptoms and the morphologic picture of calf enterotoxemia are described. Studied were a total of thirty-two dead and slaughtered animals. Bacteriologically, the disease was shown to be caused by types A, D, and C of Clostridium perfringens. Types C and D proved pathogenic for guinea pigs, while type A did not. Isolated was a strain of Clostridium perfringens, which had high toxigenicity. It was found that calves were fairly often affected with the disease. Most severe were the infections caused by type C of Cl. perfringens, with most pronounced morphologic lesions. There were differences in the changes caused by all three types of the organism in calves, which made it possible to distinguish them as causative agents. Type A induced slight icterus and slightly manifested hemosiderosis of the liver, kidneys, and spleen; type D was responsible for severe injury and hyalin dystrophy of the kidneys; and type C caused necrotic enteritis, pronounced hemorrhagic diathesis, degenerative changes in the ganglial cells, and demyelinization of the brain.