A report of neck muscles hemorrhage in an Alpine goat following enterotoxemia; a new necropsy finding

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESEnterotoxemia, which sometimes called “overeating disease” or “pulpy kidney”, is caused by Clostridium perfringens type D, which severely harms the goat industries economically. It’s possible to infect both kids and adult goats. Alpha (CPA) and epsilon (ETX) toxins are produced by C. perfringens type D, which normally presents in the intestine of ruminants. The majority of the clinical signs and lesions in goats and sheep are caused by ETX, the major virulence factor. The production of toxin and the number of C. perfringens can increase by predisposing factors that alter the intestinal environment, such as high levels of carbohydrates, high-protein diets and grasses, and sudden changes in diet. The current study's objective is to report a brand-new necropsy signs (neck muscle hemorrhage- NMH) that was found in an enterotoxemia-dead goat kid.MATERIALS AND METHODSAfter exhibiting clinical signs of acute enterotoxemia, a three-month-old Alpine kid died. Convulsions, a ۴۱°C fever, vocalization, and signs of ventricular pain (tucked abdomen and kyphosis) were clinical signs before death. Soon after the death, a postmortem examination was conducted. Small intestine specially ileum contents were aseptically sampled and sent to the laboratory in ۱% chloroform under standard conditions (at ۴ºC). Intestinal specimen was diluted (۱:۵) with endotoxin-tested distilled water (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie Gmbh, Germany) and centrifuged at ۲۰۰۰×g for ۲۰ min at ۴ °C. After centrifugation, supernatants were removed and passed through ۰.۴۵-μm membrane filters (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA) and kept at –۷۰ °C until used. The commercial Bio-X enterotoxemia ELISA kit (Bio-X Diagnostics, Belgium) was used according to the manufacturer's instructions to detect the enterotoxins of C. perfringens (alpha, beta and epsilon) and also to confirm the presence of the bacteria itself in the sample obtained.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThere were no obvious external lesions on the body, according to a postmortem examination. Hemorrhage and hyperemia of the colonic mucosa and small intestine, pulmonary edema, hemothorax, hydropericardium, and hemorrhage in the neck muscles (NMH) were among the Gross necropsy lesions. The results of ELISA revealed that the intestinal contents contained ۲۱۶alpha and epsilon enterotoxins as well as C. perfringens type D bacteria. Enterotoxemia diagnosis is primarily determined by the animal's history, clinical signs, and sudden demise. Gram-positive C. perfringens rod isolation from the intestine does not confirmatory the diagnosis. Enterotoxemia can be definitively confirmed by necropsy lesions and the detection of enterotoxins. Researchers have used ELISA in numerous studies because it has the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting enterotoxemia, particularly epsilon toxin. The clinical signs before death in addition to the necropsy lesions and ELISA results confirm acute enterotoxemia in this Alpine goat.CONCLUSIONThe hemorrhagic necropsy lesion in the neck muscles (NMH) that developed after an acute enterotoxemia in an Alpine kid was reported in present study. Goats and sheep have different necropsy lesions in the acute form of enterotoxemia. For instance, focal symmetrical encephalomalacia (FSE) has rarely been observed in acute cases of goat enterotoxemia. Additional research will be needed to determine whether NMH qualifies as a unique gross lesion in goats. Goats are considered highly susceptible to enterotoxemia, therefore, it can only be prevented by adopting a proper vaccination program and a balanced diet.