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CLOSTRIDIAL WOUND INFECTIONS 87Presence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin in intestinal samples from farm animals withdiarrhoea of unknown origin. J Vet Med B 34:713–716, 1987.Smith, L.D.S. Clostridial diseases of animals. Adv Vet Sci 3:463–524, 1957.Timoney, J.F., J.H. Gillespie, F.W. Scott, J.E. Barlough. Hagan and Bruner’s Microbiologyand Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals. 8th ed. Ithaca: Comstock; 1988.Torres-Anjel, M.J., M.P. Riemann, C.C. Tsai. Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens TypeA in Selected Humans: A Prevalence Study. Washington, D.C.: Pan American HealthOrganization; 1977. (Scientific Publication 350).Van Baelen, D., L.A. Devriese. Presence of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin inintestinal samples from farm animals with diarrhoea of unknown origin. J Vet Med B34:713–716, 1987.Van Kessel, L.J.P., H.A. Verbugh, M.F. Stringer, et al. Necrotizing enteritis associated withtoxigenic Type A Clostridium perfringens [letter]. J Infect Dis 151:974–975, 1985.CLOSTRIDIAL WOUND INFECTIONSICD-10 A48.0 gas gangreneSynonyms: Gas gangrene, clostridial myonecrosis, histotoxic infection, anaerobiccellulitis; malignant edema (in animals).Etiology: Wound infection is characterized by mixed bacterial flora. The mostimportant species are Clostridium perfringens (welchii), C. novyi, C. septicum, C.sordelli, C. histolyticum, and C. fallax. Like all clostridia, these bacteria are grampositive,anaerobic, sporogenic bacilli. These species produce potent exotoxins thatdestroy tissue. In human gas gangrene, the most important etiologic agent is C. perfringens,toxigenic type A. Infection by C. septicum predominates in animals.Geographic Distribution: Worldwide.Occurrence in Man: Gas gangrene used to be more prevalent in wartime than inpeacetime. It has been estimated that during World War I, 100,000 German soldiersdied from this infection. However, its incidence has decreased enormously duringmore recent wars. During the eight years of the Vietnam War, there were only 22cases of gas gangrene out of 139,000 wounds, while in Miami (USA), there were27 cases in civilian trauma patients over a 10-year period (Finegold, 1977). Thedisease is relatively rare and occurs mainly in traffic- and occupational accidentvictims. However, in natural disasters or other emergencies, it constitutes a seriousproblem. Gas gangrene also occurs after surgery, especially in older patients whohave had a leg amputated. It may also develop in patients receiving intramuscularinjections, especially of medications suspended in an oil base. Gas gangrene canoccur in soft tissue lesions in patients with vascular insufficiency, such as diabetics(Bartlett, 1990).Occurrence in Animals: The frequency of occurrence in animals is not known.