Ulcerative enteritis--clostridial antigens.

The causative agent of ulcerative enteritis (UE) is a clostridium and it is believed that it belongs to a new, hitherto undescribed species. It has been named, tentatively, Clostridium colinum. Transmission experiments carried out with artificial cultures of this clostridium have clarified some aspects of the pathogenesis of UE and have brought into focus other aspects of its pathogenesis, epizootiology, and immunology that need to be investigated. Support for research is needed: 1) To investigate the distribution in nature of C colinum. For this purpose the development of more suitable selective and differential culture mediums should be encouraged. 2) To further study the pathogenesis of UE through application of the fluorescent labeled antibody procedure. 3) To search for toxins produced by this clostridium, possibly through use of ligated intestinal loops in chickens. 4) To develop a quick and simple means for the differential diagnosis of UE. Use of a fluorescent antibody test has been suggested as an area of research to fill this need.