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This study evaluated the isolation, molecular typing and celular proliferation of C. perfringens in small intestine of cattle and sheep distributed in case and control groups. In the case group, out of the 61 bovine samples analyzed, C. perfringens was isolated in 29 (47.54%) and in 4 (33.34%) from 12 sheep samples. In the control group, we did not isolate the microorganism in the bovine samples (73 samples), however it was possible in 5 (20.83%) out of the 24 sheep samples. All isolates (100%) were classified as type A, and cell quantification showed that in control group, all cattle samples resulted in 10 CFU/g of intestinal content while in the study group presented a median value of 104 CFU/g, varying from 10 CFU/g through 108 CFU/g. In ovine group there was a clear divison of values between the two groups. Molecular typing corroborates with other studies regardin the epidemiological importance of type A in enterotoxaemia in ruminants, thus cellular quantification data allow us to conclude that healthy animals present a basal level of C. perfringens lower than 10 CFU/g that does not allow its isolation.

We herein describe a typical episode of bacillary hemoglobinuria in buffalloes, triggered by liver fluke invasion proved by pathognomonic macro and micro lesions of fasciolosis in the biliary ducts and the nephrosis and hepatic focal necrosis characterizing the toxic-infectious process caused by Clostridium haemolyticum. This report is quite similar to another one described by AHOURAI et al. (1990) in cattle following liver fluke invasion and C. haemolyticum isolation and we both agree with the fact that foci of ischemic of toxic necrosis serve as a focus in which clostridial spores might vegetate and cause the disease by producing toxins. Vaccination with bacterin or toxoids is the most effective measure for preventing these histotoxic clostridial diseases since the endospores of the microorganism persist in the environment. Also, as the process is triggered by fluke liver migration, the prevention should cover the control of this trematode as well. Although the pathogenicity of bacillary hemoglobinuria is well known, there are only a few reports currently available, and to our knowledge this is the first case of the disease described in buffaloes.