The epidemiology of Clostridium perfringens type A on Ontario swine farms, with special reference to cpb2-positive isolates

Abstract

BackgroundThere is poor understanding of most aspects of Clostridium perfringens type A as a possible cause of neonatal diarrhea in piglets, and the prevalence and types of C. perfringens present on Ontario swine farms is unknown. To study the prevalence of fecal C. perfringens and selected toxin genes, 48 Ontario swine farms were visited between August 2010 and May 2011, and 354 fecal samples were collected from suckling pigs, lactating sows, weanling pigs, grower-finisher pigs, and gestating sows, as well as from manure pits. The fecal samples were cultured quantitatively, and toxin genes were detected by real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsIn mixed multivariable linear analysis, log10C. perfringens in fecal samples from suckling pigs were higher than that of weanling pigs, grower-finisher pigs, and manure pit samples (P <0.05). In mixed multivariable logistic analysis, the C. perfringens isolates recovered from lactating sows (OR = 0.069, P <0.001), gestating sows (OR = 0.020, P <0.001), grower-finishers (OR = 0.017, P <0.001), and manure pits (OR = 0.11, P <0.001) were less likely to be positive for the consensus beta2 toxin gene cpb2 compared to the isolates from suckling pigs. The prevalence of cpb2 in the isolates recovered from weanlings did not differ significantly from suckling pigs. C. perfringens isolates that were positive for cpb2 were more likely to carry the atypical cpb2 gene (atyp-cpb2) (OR = 19, P <0.001) compared to isolates that were negative for cpb2. Multivariable analysis did not identify farm factors affecting the presence of consensus cpb2 and atyp-cpb2 genes.ConclusionsThis study provides baseline data on the prevalence of C. perfringens and associated toxin genes in healthy pigs at different stages of production on Ontario swine farms. The study suggests that if C. perfringens type A are involved in neonatal enteritis, there may be strains with specific characteristics that cannot be identified by the existing genotyping system.

Prevalence and factors associated with the occurrence of bacterial enteropathogens in suckling piglets in farrow‐to‐finish herds

“…The common presence of C perfringens in Polish pigs herds was previously reported by Wasiński and Pejsak (2008) and Kukier and others (2012). The prevalence of C perfringens type A in Poland is similar to results from Canada presented by Chan and others (2012) and results from the USA presented by Baker and others (2010). The authors’ results are also in agreement with other studies in terms of detection of isolates with the cpb2 gene.…”

“…Furthermore, the importance of infections caused by C perfringens type A is increasing. C perfringens type A is considered by some authors to be one of the most common causes of neonatal diarrhoea in pigs (Songer 2010, Chan and others 2012). However, the pathogenesis of C perfringens type A diarrhoea is not clear, partly due to the lack of agreement on reliable diagnostic methods and diagnosis of the C perfringens type A diarrhoea.…”

Change management reduces antibiotic use on pig farms

“…A clostridial ‘syndrome’ in suckling and weaner pigs, with risk factors of high injectable ceftiofur use and poor hygiene, presented an opportunity to engage in management change to improve pig health and cease/reduce ceftiofur use on four farms. Diagnosis of clostridial disease was greatly improved by use of a multiplex ELISA test.…”

Clostridium perfringens: a review of the disease in pigs, horses and broiler chickens

“…perfringens type A is considered by some researchers as the main cause of neonatal diarrhea in piglets (SONGER & UZAL, 2005;CHAN et al, 2012). However, the pathogenesis of this bacterium in swine remains unclear, leading to some difficulties in the diagnosis and also making it impossible to determine its true prevalence.…”