I would like to hear from any horse (or other animal owners) who have had any experience with a confirmed case of Tyzzer's Disease.

This is a fatal illness most often found in colts, and rarely in dogs or cats. It results from the bacteria, clostridium piliforme, which is carried in mouse feces, and must be ingested to acquire the illness. For the most part, animals develop symptoms in 3-4 days, and die within 48 hours. It tends to affect the immuno-compromised animals, particularly those who have not received colostrum from their mothers, or who have other immuno problems/diseases.

If you have had experience with this, or know someone who has, I would very much appreciate a PT with the info so I can contact them, as I would like to speak directly with any vets or facilities that have had cases, or who could serve as a resource on the disease and its pathology.

I have never had any problems with this disease, but I have been looking for articles on it and this is what I have come up with so far..

http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/1998/spring/tyzzer.shtml

"""Tyzzer's disease is an acute bacterial infection of a wide range of animals that occurs worldwide. Sporadic fatal infection of foals is common, and acute fatal epidemics occur in laboratory animals. The disease is rare in dogs, cats, and calves. It primarily affects young, stressed animals; however, some species appear resistant unless stressed or immunosuppressed, while others are susceptible without immunosuppression. Immunosuppressive drugs and some antibacterials, especially sulfonamides, predispose animals to the disease. """

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/20500.htm


''After experimental infection, the incubation period in foals is 3-7 days; under natural conditions, the period is unknown. Most foals are found in a coma or dead. Clinical signs, if seen, are of short duration from a few hours to 2 days. Signs are variable; they include depression, anorexia, pyrexia, jaundice, diarrhea, and recumbency. Terminally, there are convulsions and coma. Signs vary slightly between species. Laboratory animals may show depression, ruffled coat, and varying degrees of watery diarrhea; at the start of an outbreak, they often are found dead.

Clinicopathologic tests are of little value in laboratory animals because they die so rapidly. In foals, the serum enzymes sorbitol dehydrogenase, AST, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glutamyltransferase are increased. There is also hyperbilirubinemia, leukopenia, hemoconcentration, and terminally profound hypoglycemia. ""



http://www.provet.co.uk/infectiousdiseases/5a77662.htm

It effects horses and dogs from what i have read so far, actually it affects several animals, I hope that these articles helps!

I have that information, thank you. What I need now is to hear from someone who has had a confirmed case of it, since many people do not post mortem animals that die suddenly. Then I would need to contact them for details of how it was acquired and confirmed. Beyond general scientific papers that really have little detail, there is not much out there. The basic information can be found in the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Your welcome.
I posted this question on a few equine chat boards I am a member of. It may take a few days but someone may possibly answer who has experience with this, when/if they do I will p.t. you their contact information so you can speak with them directly.

Have you had anything like this happen to your animals?

I have had a case that killed two kittens. The chances of kittens in a sterile environment getting it, are nearly impossible. The bacteria must be ingested. The only things they ingested were a commercial formula powder mixed with my water. The water has tested clear of bacteria, and clostridium piliforme cannot be cultured from the powder, as it is an anerobic bacteria that only lives where there is no oxygen. Cornell University suggested that a PCR test may find it, but they were not set up to perform that kind of test.

What I need is to find someone who has dealt with it, and work backwards from there, to see what sources they used for information, and where they found their facts.

There are no statistics, no case histories, nothing with any real detailed information on how and why the bacteria can be acquired by animals not exposed to the common sources.