Enteritis Caused by Type A Clostridium perfringens Producing α-Toxin in a Dog

A 6-year-old, female, Siberian husky was referred with mucous diarrhea. On fecal examination, numerous clustered and individual large epithelial cells and rod-shaped, spore-forming bacteria were examined. By bacterial culture and molecular typing, the bacteria was identified as Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), and by toxin analysis of C. perfringens, production of α-toxin was confirmed. Based on these results, the dog was diagnosed as enteritis caused by C. perfringens producing α-toxin, and was treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate. After 1 week, the diarrhea was disappeared and no spore-forming bacteria were examined on fecal examination. This report shows that the rapid and exact diagnosis keeps a effective treatment for enteritis caused by C. perfringens producing α-toxin in dogs.