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The Effect of Clostridium Perfringens on RBC Count in Animals

Clostridium perfringens is a normal bacterial inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals. This bacteria usually does not cause trouble until some stressful event or diet change in the animal allows it to overgrow and form protective forms called spores. This process can also occur outside the animal while free in the environment, such as in food or soil. In the right environment with the right nutrients, the spores will open up, or sporulate, releasing dangerous toxins.

  1. Effects on the Body

    • Infected dogs typically need hospitalization and intravenous fluids, especially smaller breeds.

      Bacterial toxins can damage the intestinal wall of the animal. Sometimes intestinal cells die, and sloughing of the intestinal lining occurs. The result is a diarrhea that is very watery and full of mucous and blood. These toxins can also get into the bloodstream and spread through the body, wreaking even more havoc through kidney and/or liver disease. If not promptly treated by a doctor, the affected animal or human can go into widespread organ failure, shock and ultimately death.

    Leaky Intestinal Cells

    • Sloughed intestinal mucosa can sometimes be seen in the animal's stools.

      The junctions between the intestinal cells will weaken, allowing plasma fluids and protein to escape from the blood vessels into the intestinal tract. The damaged gaps between the intestinal cells basically allow plasma through but are usually not large enough to allow red blood cells to pass. The result is a change in the concentration of the blood as the loss of protein, electrolytes and fluid exceeds the loss of cells.

    Diagnosis

    • The packed cell volume is the percentage of red blood cells, by volume, in whole blood.

      A complete blood count (CBC) done by a veterinarian can help in the diagnosis of this intestinal disease by analyzing the parameters of the blood, such as red blood and white blood cells and protein levels. A value of the red blood cell (RBC) mass or packed cell volume (PCV) increases, and the protein value decreases with clostridial diarrhea as a result of the severe plasma loss. In other words, there is a higher concentration of RBC remaining as fluid is pulled out of the bloodstream.

    Commonly Affected Species

    • Infected animals should be isolated, and people in contact with them should wear protective gear.

      Clostridium perfringens is a cause of food poisoning in man, commonly a result of eating cold or rewarmed poultry/meat or food that is allowed to cool slowly over a few hours. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a potentially life-threatening disease in dogs caused by this bacteria. In dogs the PCV can reach 60 percent or more (normal is between 37 and 55 percent), indicating severe dehydration and concentration of RBC. Other related diseases are lamb dysentery, struck of sheep and hemorrhagic enterotoxemia of pigs, calves, lambs and foals.

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