Oliveira Diego M, Pimentel Luciano A, Pessoa André F, Dantas Antônio F M, Uzal Francisco, Riet-Correa Franklin
Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, Patos, Paraíba, Brazil.
J Vet Diagn Invest. 2010 Sep;22(5):793-6. doi: 10.1177/104063871002200527.
Focal symmetrical encephalomalacia (FSE) is the most prominent lesion seen in the chronic form of enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens type D in sheep. However, this lesion has not been reported in goats. The current paper reports a case of FSE in a goat from the state of Paraíba in the Brazilian semiarid region. As reported by the farmer, 30, 4-48-month-old animals from a flock of 150 goats died after showing nervous signs, including blindness and recumbence, for periods varying between 1 and 14 days. The flock was grazing native pasture supplemented with wheat and corn bran. Additionally, lactating goats were supplemented with soybeans. A 4-month-old goat with nervous signs was examined clinically and then necropsied 3 days after the onset of clinical signs. Bilateral, focal, and symmetrical areas of brown discoloration were observed in the internal capsule and thalamus. Histologic lesions in these areas consisted of multifocal, bilateral malacia with a few neutrophils; endothelial cell swelling; perivascular edema; and hemorrhages. The etiology of these lesions was not determined. However, FSE is considered pathognomonic for C. perfringens type D enterotoxemia in sheep, and it is speculated that this microorganism was the etiologic agent in the present case. The flock had been vaccinated against type D enterotoxemia only once, approximately 3 months before the beginning of the outbreak. Insufficient immunity due to the incorrect vaccination protocol, low efficacy of the vaccine used, and a diet including large amounts of highly fermentable carbohydrates were suspected to be predisposing factors for this outbreak.
局灶性对称性脑软化（FSE）是由D型产气荚膜梭菌引起的绵羊慢性肠毒血症中最显著的病变。然而，这种病变在山羊中尚未见报道。本文报道了巴西半干旱地区帕拉伊巴州一只山羊发生FSE的病例。据养殖户报告，一群150只山羊中有30只4至48月龄的羊在出现包括失明和卧地等神经症状1至14天后死亡。这群羊在天然牧场放牧，并补充了小麦和玉米麸。此外，泌乳母羊还补充了大豆。对一只出现神经症状的4月龄山羊进行了临床检查，临床症状出现3天后进行了剖检。在内囊和丘脑观察到双侧、局灶性和对称性的褐色变色区域。这些区域的组织学病变包括多灶性、双侧脑软化，伴有少量中性粒细胞；内皮细胞肿胀；血管周围水肿；以及出血。这些病变的病因尚未确定。然而，FSE被认为是绵羊D型产气荚膜梭菌肠毒血症的特征性病变，据推测本病例中的病原体就是这种微生物。这群羊仅在疫情爆发前约3个月接种过一次D型肠毒血症疫苗。疫苗接种方案不正确导致免疫力不足、所用疫苗效力低下以及日粮中含有大量高发酵性碳水化合物被怀疑是此次疫情爆发的诱发因素。
