Abstract
Naturally occurring Clostridium piliforme infection (Tyzzer's disease) was found in a calf. Light microscopic examination revealed multifocal coagulative necrosis in the liver, catarrhal gastroenteritis, tracheitis and pneumonia, and thymic atrophy. Warthin-Starry staining clearly showed large filamentous bacilli in bundles or criss-cross patterns within the hepatocytes and epithelium and smooth muscle cells of the ileum and cecum. Immunohistochemistry using anti-C. piliforme RT and MSK strain antisera showed positive reaction against the bacilli. Electron microscopic examination revealed bacilli within the hepatocytes that demonstrated a characteristic vegetative form, with peritrichous flagella, and spores. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study using the paraffin-embedded liver sections, the 196-bp DNA fragment specific to 16S ribosomal RNA of C. piliforme was amplified. The characteristics of these bacilli are consistent with those of C. piliforme. The PCR technique using paraffin-embedded sections should be useful for confirming C. piliforme infection in spontaneous cases.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 253-255 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Veterinary Pathology |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Calves
- Clostridium piliforme
- Multifocal hepatic necrosis
- PCR
- Tyzzer's disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Veterinary