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KMID : 1094020080250040310
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Journal of Veterinary Clinics
2008 Volume.25 No. 4 p.310 ~ p.313
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Clostridium perfringens Type A Infection in a Hippopotamus amphibius Cub
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Kim Young-Seob
Lim Suk-Kyung
Shin Nam-Shik
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Abstract
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C. perfringens is the most important enteric clostridial pathogen of animals. C. perfringens type A has been associated with hemorrhagic enteritis in a wide lange of domestic and wild mammals. But all types of C. perfringens can be normal inhabitants of the intestine of most mammals. We have a special case that showed C. perfringens type A infection in a hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) cub at Seoul Grand Park Zoo. Male, hippopotamus cub died in 3 days after birth. Clinical features of the hippopotamus cub have showed lethargy and anorexia before death. Gross post-mortem findings of the hippopotamus were hemorrhagic enteritis of intestine. Histopathologically, ruminant stomach and intestine showed hemorrhagic lesions and the lumen of the small intestine was filled with mucoid and hemorrhagic fluid. Also, intestine and stomach of hippopotamus were distended with gas and hemorrhagic fluid. C. perfringens was isolated in culture of small intestine and the presence of C. perfringens type A was confirmed by PCR. This case indicated that C. perfringens type A could be considered as a virulence factor responsible for causing death of a newborn hippopotamus.
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KEYWORD
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C. perfringens type A, enterotoxemia, clostridium infection, Hippopotamus amphibius
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