Clostridium chauvoei is an anaerobic spore-forming motile bacteria, gram positive, that produces four types of toxins (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) causing black leg disease in cattle. The affected animals show toxaemia, crepitant tumefactions in striated muscles and death. These symptoms are confused with malignant oedema produced by Clostridium septicum, Clostridium novyi or Clostridium perfringes.
