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Competitive Agricultural Systems in Global Economy
Clostridium perfringens
Issue
Clostridium-perfringens-induced intestinal diseases cause serious
livestock losses annually in the U.S. and abroad. The organism is found
wherever there are domestic animals, and infections are almost always
lethal. Diagnosing the disease can be difficult because the bacterium
exists as five types producing four different major toxins. The pathogen
must be isolated and tested to determine which toxins are involved.
Several earlier detection methods have yielded false negatives, false
positives, and other problems. To assist veterinarians and livestock
producers, a more practical diagnostic method was needed.
What has been done?
Veterinary scientists at the University of Arizona developed a PCR (multiplex
polymerase chain reaction) assay that allows simultaneous detection
of all the major toxin genes in one test. This represents a major breakthrough,
since individual tests were previously needed for each toxin. The test
has been up and running since 1994. The UA lab has used it to diagnose
thousands of C. perfringens related illnesses at the request of community
and scientific professionals. They have typed more than 6,000 isolates
on request, from all across North America, and have published instructions
for veterinarians who wish to run the test themselves.
Impact
The PCR assay allows rapid diagnosis, which enables veterinary practitioners
to quickly and logically institute control programs in affected herds.
This method is cheaper than running individual tests for the four major
toxins, and more accurate. It is approximately $100 cheaper per test
than the old method. Furthermore, this assay does not require the use
of laboratory animals, unlike the assay it replaces. It has become the
standard, most accepted laboratory method for diagnosing clostridial
diseases; by 2000 it had been adopted in 20 states and Canada.
Funding
SDA
Bayer Animal Health
Boerhinger Ingelheim Animal Health
Colorado Serum Company
Morris Animal Foundation
Contact
Glenn Songer, professor
Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology
Building 90, Room 218
The University of Arizona,
Tucson, AZ 85721
Tel: (520) 621-2962, FAX (520) 621-6366
Email: gsonger@u.arizona.edu
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