Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Catheterization of Intestinal Loops in Ruminants
Published on: June 11, 2009
Cardiac lesions in sheep and goats with spontaneous Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxemia
Emma H Torii1, Omar A Gonzales-Viera1, Jennine Ochoa2
1University of California, Davis, Davis, CA.
Abstract:
A 12-year retrospective search identified 106 sheep and goats diagnosed with Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxemia, and in which the heart was histologically examined. Twenty cases (20/106, 19%), including 10 sheep and 10 goats, had cardiac lesions that were presumed to be associated with enterotoxemia. The lesions included myocardial degeneration and/or necrosis (n = 16, 80%), hemorrhage (n = 17, 85%), and proteinaceous interstitial edema (n = 6, 30%). Myocardial degeneration and/or necrosis was more frequent in goats (10/10, 100%) compared with sheep (6/10, 60%). Hemorrhage was more frequent in sheep (10/10, 100%) compared with goats (7/10, 70%). Myocardial proteinaceous interstitial edema was exclusive to sheep. Cardiac lesions occur in spontaneous cases of C. perfringens type D enterotoxemia in small ruminants and may play a role in the clinical signs and/or the demise of the animal.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Diphtheria
Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Hepatitis
Giardiasis
Amebiasis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

