Tyzzer's Disease

Tyzzer's disease is an acute bacterial infection Clostridium piliforne (C.piliforme - previously called Bacillus piliformis) affects many small mammals including guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, and gerbils. The disease is less commonly diagnosis in rats, mice (In1917, Ernest Tyzzer first observed the disease in mice 6), cats, dogs, and horses. The bacterial infection causes cell death in the liver, intestinal tract, highly contagious and potentially deadly. Clostridium piliforne attributed to various strains: Tyzzer's disease in mice will not normally spread to rats etc. 2 The bacteria produces spores (Microorganisms of the bacteria. Eventually spores could germinate into living bacteria. 1) highly contagious, survive for years in the environment, resistant to heat and many disinfectants. The spores found in the infected animals faeces and continue to be produced up to two weeks, if the animal survives. The bacteria is contagious when animals come into contact with contaminated bedding, food (water), and housing and ingest the spores probably occurring as animals clean themselves. 2 Signs of Tyzzer's Disease infected animals include: Melena ("the passage of dark-colored, tarry stools due to the presence of blood altered by intestinal secretions"), continues diarrhea, anal bleeding, anorexia, depression and a rough hair coat. 3 "After experimental infection, the incubation period in foals is 3 - 7days; under natural conditions, the period is unknown. Most foals are found in a coma or dead." 5 Frequently foals eventually die from this fatal disease around one month of age. 10 Among rabbit and muskrat population, Tyzzer's disease is significantly deadly. "There have been several die-offs of muskrats in Michigan." 3 Gerbils show signs of Tyzzer's disease, usually within 48 hours, 80% or more likely to die (Gerbils susceptible strains of C. pilforme). "Fatality rates for other species are generally lower." 2 Tyzzer's disease uncommon disease of cats and dogs, unless the immune system is suppressed. 9

Blood test identity the presence of C. pillforme, but false positive tests results can occur. 4 Unfortunately the diagnosis of Tyzzer's disease often made post-mortem: Confirmation by examine microscopically tissues of the intestine and liver. 4 The findings characteristic of lesions seen in the liver, myocardium (heart muscle) and intestinal tract.5 Maybe necessary to sacrifice

1 - 2 animals of a large group to perform autopsies (confirm or disapprove Tyzzer's disease) and thus try save the lives of the majority of the group. 7

Tyzzer's disease prevented by taking necessary precautions and limited treatment options available: Animals showing signs of the disease should be quarantined.4 Carcasses of the dead should be removed as soon as possible. 3 "The bacteria and spores should be killed using a 1:10 dilution of household bleach and water (1/2 cup of bleach to 5 cups of water)." 4 Otherwise, Clostridium piliforne spores survive up to two years within infected bedding. 2 Ensure healthy animals are kept calm because the infection maybe harbored in seemingly healthy animals without symptoms, but develop the acute disease subjected to stress, such as overcrowding, and change in environmental conditions. Antibiotic drugs such as Tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and penicillin appear affective in some cases to treat clinical signs of Tyzzer's disease, however no vaccination is available. 2 Until antibiotics take affect, advisable keep animals in a warm area and administered injected fluids. "Many veterinary books and laboratory manuals do not recommend antibiotic therapy for elimination of Tyzzer's disease from an infected colony and recommend that destruction of the colony is the only sure way to stopping the infection from spreading." Recommended to kill spores by keeping the temperature at 80C for 30 minutes. 2

Tyzzer's disease display the same symptoms like other illnesses including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. Coli, potentially dangerous for humans and can be fatal to young, ill or elderly people. Precautionary steps should be undertaken when handling infected animals, ensure against potentially contagious deadly diseases to humans. 2

"Some evidence indicates that this disease can be transmitted to pregnant women. Therefore all necessary precautions should be taken to prevent this possibility." 8

Once Tyzzer's disease is discovered on a farm, may persist sporadically year after year. 5

References:

1) Spores - http://www.answers.com/topic/spore?cat=health

2.) Tyzzer's Disease - http://www.gerbils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gerbils/tyzzers.htm

3.) Tyzzer's Disease - http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/1,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-27297--,00.html

4.) Tyzzer's Disease - http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=2846

5.) Tyzzer's Disease: Introduction - http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/21000.htm

6.) AN EPIZOOTIC OF TYZZER'S DISEASE IN RABBITS IN ISRAEL - http://www.isrvma.org/article/60_2_4.htm

7.) Medical Concerns - http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/micerats3.html

8.) Illnesses and Health Problems - http://www.fancymice.info/ailments.htm

9.) TYZZER'S DISEASE - http://www.provet.co.uk/infectiousdiseases/5a77662.htm

10.) Equine Disease Quarterly - http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/q/1998/jan98/Q_jan98.htm