Clostridial diseases of small ruminants

Members of the genus Clostridium are extraordinarily diverse in their natural habitats, and, when introduced to animal hosts, a few produce acute and often fatal disease. In sheep and goats, as in many other species of domestic animals, pathogenesis is often mediated by one or more of the many toxic proteins produced by these organisms. Prevention and control strategies are frequently based upon amelioration, by immunoprophylaxis, of the effects of these molecules. In spite of their recognition for many years, clostridial diseases still present challenges to veterinary practitioners, diagnosticians and animal producers worldwide.