Resumen
- A Longitudinal epidemiologic study was developed for the isolation, biochemical characterization and molecular typing the bacterial pathogen Clostridium spp found in soil from areas affected by bovine sudden mortality. Weincluded 10 herds, located in three localities. The genetic variability of Clostridium genus was analyzed by DNA sequence of a 1500 bp fragment from the 16S rRNA gene. Twenty four Clostridium isolates were biochemically classified as Clostridium sordellii (41,7%), Clostridium glycolicum (12,5%), Clostridium hastiforme (12,5%); Clostridium botulinum (8,3%), Clostridium butyricum (8,3%); Clostridium chauvoei (4,3%),Clostridium limosum (4,3%), Clostridium septicum (4,3%) and Clostridium tertium (4,3%). The bacteria that showed pathogenic activity were studied further by 16S rRNA gene sequencing at, which 55.5% was classified as C. botulinum, where the native strain isolated from areas with outbreaks wasfound in a different group from Clostridium spp. used by commercial laboratories for vaccine production. Additionally, the native strain identified here differs from others reported in Gen Bank, indicating that the native pathogenic Clostridium spp. is genetically different to other Clostridium spp. used to prepare immunogens affecting vaccine efficiency. Our results indicate that the use of native strains could improve commercial vaccine preparations, increasing bovine immune response