Enterotoxaemia involving Clostridium perfringens iota toxin in a hysterectomy-derived rabbit colony

During an explosive outbreak of fatal enteropathic disease involving Clostridium perfringens iota (i) toxin, a total of 183 deaths occurred in 18 weeks. The clinical signs and post-mortem findings are reported. Examinations for virus, Bacillus piliformis and coccidia were negative. Clostridium perfringens i toxin was detected in 22 of 27 animals examined (81.5%), but clostridia were not isolated. Various treatments were attempted. It is concluded that i toxin and the syndrome described are closely related.