Clostridium chauvoei | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Bacillota |
Class: | Clostridia |
Order: | Eubacteriales |
Family: | Clostridiaceae |
Genus: | Clostridium |
Species: | C. chauvoei
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Binomial name | |
Clostridium chauvoei (Arloing et al. 1887) Scott 1928
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Clostridium chauvoei is an anaerobic, motile, Gram-positive bacterium. It is a soil-borne pathogen that can cause blackleg in cattle and sheep. It is named after Auguste Chauveau, a French bacteriologist and veterinarian.[1]
It is mainly considered to be an veterinary pathogen, but at least two severe cases of human infection have been reported.[2][3] Indigenous knowledge from Fula people in Cameroon and Maasai people in Tanzania suggest that zoonotic infection with C. chauvoei may be common among pastoralists.[4] However, these reports may also be due to infection with other Clostridium strains that can cause blackleg, such as C. septicum.[3]
A study conducted in Taiwan found a correlation between flooding and how often C. chauvoei was found in soil samples. This is attributed to flood waters dispersing the bacteria throughout the environment.[5]