Klinički značaj prisutnosti gena za toksine NetE i NetF bakterije Clostridium perfringens u pasa s proljevom

master's thesis

• Title (english): Clinical Significance of the Presence of Clostridium perfringens NetE and NetF Toxin Genes in Dogs with Diarrhea
• Author: Vanda Dučić
• Mentor: Suzana Hađina (mentor)
• Committee member: Josipa Habuš (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Selma Pintarić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Suzana Hađina (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2025-02-28, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens gram je pozitivna, anaerobna, štapićasta bakterija koja proizvodi
više od dvadeset različitih toksina. Nedavno su otkrivena dva nova toksina NetE i NetF za koje
se smatra da imaju značajnu ulogu u nastanku poremećaja probavnog sustava, odnosno razvoja
proljeva u pasa. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je dokazati prisutnost gena za toksine NetE i NetF
bakterije C. perfringens u pasa s proljevom u svrhu dobivanja preciznijih podataka o njihovoj
zastupljenosti te rasvjetljavanja njihove uloge u nastanku probavnih poremećaja. U ovom
istraživanju analizirano je 88 fecesa pasa s proljevom. Za pse za koje su bili dostupni podaci,
obrađeni su anamnestički podaci, vrijednosti odabranih krvnih parametara i trijasa. Prisutnost
gena za toksine NetE i NetF utvrđena je u 27,3% pasa s proljevom koristeći lančanu reakciju
polimerazom. U skupini pozitivnoj na prisutnost gena za toksine NetE i NetF utvrđene su
statistički značajno više vrijednosti nesegmentiranih neutrofila (p=0,01) i hematokrita
(p<0,0001), te niže vrijednosti trombocita (p=0,02). Psi pozitivni na prisutnost gena za toksine
NetE i NetF uglavnom su imali srednje teški ili teški oblik AHDS, te je zastupljenost dva ili
više SIRS kriterija utvrđena u 18,8% pasa. Također, u svih pasa pozitivnih na prisutnost netE
i netF gena, utvrđena je prisutnost gena za enterotoksin ove bakterije, dok je prisutnost
parvovirusa utvđena u 7,7% pasa. Rezultati ovog istraživanja ukazuju na značajnu ulogu netE
i netF gena bakterije C. perfringens u patogenezi nastanka proljeva u pasa.

Abstract (english)

Clostridium perfringens is a gram-positive, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that
produces more than 20 toxins described to date. Recently, two novel pore-forming toxins, NetE
and NetF, have been discovered and are produced by this bacterium. It is believed that these
two toxins play a role in the pathogenesis of digestive system disorders, such as diarrhea in
dogs. This study aimed to demonstrate the presence of genes encoding the NetE and NetF
toxins of C. perfringens in dogs with diarrhea to obtain more precise data on their prevalence
and to clarify their role in the development of gastrointestinal disorders. A total of 88 fecal
samples from dogs with diarrhea were analyzed. For the dogs that information was provided
anamnesis data, selected blood parameters, triage data, and other diagnostic test results were
processed. Genes encoding the NetE and NetF toxins were detected in 27.3% of dogs using
polymerase chain reaction. The collected data were compared between the positive and
negative groups. In the group positive for the presence of NetE and NetF toxin genes,
significantly higher values of band neutrophils (p=0,01) and hematocrit (p<0,0001) were
observed, along with significantly lower platelet values (p=0,02). Dogs positive for the
presence of genes for toxins NetE and NetF mainly had a medium or severe form of AHDS,
and the presence of two or more SIRS criteria was determined in 18.8% of dogs. Also, in all
dogs positive for the presence of netE and netF genes, the presence of the gene for the
enterotoxin of this bacterium was found, while the presence of parvovirus was found in 7.7%
of dogs. The results of this study indicate a clinical significance of the presence of NetE and
NetF toxin genes in dogs with diarrhea.

• Keywords: Clostridium perfringens; geni za toksine NetE i NetF; lančana reakcija polimerazom; klinički značaj.
• Keywords (english): Clostridium perfringens; geni za toksine NetE i NetF; lančana reakcija polimerazom; klinički značaj
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:762852
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-03-05 09:09:27