Neck Muscle Hemorrhage in an Alpine Kid Following Enterotoxemia: a New Necropsy Finding

Enterotoxemia, also known as "Overeating disease" or "Pulpy kidney," is a condition caused by Clostridium perfringens type D, which poses significant economic challenges to the goat industry. The objective of the current report is to document a previously unreported necropsy finding, namely Neck Muscle Hemorrhage, observed in a deceased Alpine kid affected by enterotoxemia. The case involved a three-month-old Alpine kid who displayed clinical signs indicative of acute enterotoxemia. Following the animal's death, a postmortem examination was promptly performed to investigate the underlying cause. Aseptic sampling of the small intestines, specifically the ileum contents, was performed during the postmortem examination. These samples were bacteriologically examined. Additionally, a commercial enterotoxemia ELISA kit was utilized to detect the enterotoxins produced by C. perfringens, including Alpha, Beta, and Epsilon toxins, and to confirm the presence of the bacteria in the obtained samples. During the postmortem examination, no obvious external lesions were observed. However, necropsy findings revealed several remarkable gross lesions, including hemorrhage and hyperemia of the colonic mucosa and small intestine, pulmonary edema, hemothorax, hydro pericardium, and hemorrhage in the neck muscle. The results of the bacteriological investigation and ELISA indicated that the intestinal contents contained alpha and epsilon enterotoxins and confirmed the presence of C. perfringens type D bacteria. These findings provide strong evidence linking the observed lesions to enterotoxemia caused by C. perfringens type D infection in the examined Alpine kid. An unusual gross lesion associated with enterotoxemia in goats, which has not been previously reported, is the presence of hemorrhagic necropsy lesions in the neck muscle. The identification of this unique lesion highlights its Importance as one of the atypical manifestations of enterotoxemia in goats. The documentation of this lesion serves as valuable guidance for clinicians during necropsy examinations, aiding them in recognizing and diagnosing cases of enterotoxemia.