Seasonal Prevalence, Molecular Identification and Therapeutic Management of Enterotoxemia Caused by Clostridium perfringens Type D in Goats of Peshawar and Charsadda Districts, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Clostridium perfringens is classified into different types, of which Type D, due to its production of epsilon toxin, can cause enterotoxemia, a fatal disease in ruminants, particularly goats. This study investigated the prevalence, isolation, molecular identification, antibiotic resistance and therapeutic response of C. perfringens Type D in goats from the Peshawar and Charsadda districts of Pakistan. A total of 5000 faecal samples (2500 from each district) were collected from clinically suspected goats and cultured on selective media. Molecular confirmation was performed by PCR targeting the epsilon toxin ( etx ) gene. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed via the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Clinico‐therapeutic trials were conducted on 60 affected goats divided into control, parenteral and enteral treatment groups. The prevalence was 400/2500 (16%) in Peshawar and 300/2500 (12%) in Charsadda, with peak occurrences during spring and winter. Isolates showed complete resistance to gentamicin and high resistance to tetracycline and amoxicillin but were largely susceptible to teicoplanin, sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Parenteral antibiotic therapy resulted in significantly higher recovery (80%) than enteral treatment (30%) ( p  < 0.05). Risk factors included adult age, female sex, forage‐based feeding and large flock size. These findings underscore the importance of seasonal management, judicious antimicrobial use and vaccination for effective control of C. perfringens Type D in goats.