Health
Diarrhoea due to Clostridium
Clostridium is a complex of symptoms that especially at calves is caused by toxins of Clostridium perfringens type A, which under certain circumstances can increase massively in the intestines.
Definition
Clostridium is a complex of symptoms that especially in calves is caused by toxins of Clostridium perfringens type A, which under certain circumstances can increase massively in the intestines.Cause
Clostridium perfringens is a Gram positive rod. This germ occurs naturally in healthy calves frequently in the intestinal contents.Description
Clostridium perfringens is a natural intestine inhabitant of healthy calves. Under normal conditions the germ especially occurs in the colon (1 billion germs/gram intestinal contents) but also to a lesser extent in the small intestine and in the rumen. By a bowel disturbance due to changes in digestion by:- overcharge of the stomachs (too high feed absorption, to slow draining)
- too much fast-fermentable concentrate in ration
- water shortage
- stress