PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL AND ETIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN A CLINICAL CASE OF NECROHEMORRHAGIC ENTERITIS IN BUFFALOES

Clostridia are obligate anaerobic, spore–forming Gram–positive bacteria. Clostridium perfringens type A has been implicated as the most common etiologic agent causing enteritis, abomasitis, and enterotoxemia in large ruminants. Necrohemorrhagic enteritis in large ruminants caused by C. perfringens type A is character-ized by sudden death, sometimes without clinical manifestation. Clinical signs occur with initial depression, dyspnea, pyrexia, bloody diarrhea, anemia or jaundice of mucous membranes, abdominal pain, and hemoglo-binuria. The present report describes a clinical case of necrohemorrhagic enteritis in young buffaloes, which occurred with 30% morbidity and 100% mortality in a private buffalo farm in Northern Bulgaria. Pathological, antigenic, histopathological and microbiological studies were performed to diagnose the disease. The de-scribed macro– and microlesional changes in the affected organs and systems could be used in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases in large ruminants.