Sudden death with pseudomembranous fibrinonecrotic enteritis in a zoo-housed hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius ): predominant isolation and genomic characterization of Clostridium perfringens type A

IMPORTANCE: type A (CPA) is a common intestinal commensal, but it has been implicated in peracute fatal enteritis under predisposing conditions. Although clostridial enteric disease is well characterized in domestic species, reports in captive megaherbivores are rare. In addition, genomic data for CPA isolates from zoo-housed wildlife remain scarce, limiting comparative epidemiologic investigations. CASE PRESENTATION: ]. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first genomic characterization of a CPA isolate from an adult hippopotamus, providing a reference for zoo-based surveillance and outbreak investigations. Clostridial-type fibrinonecrotic-hemorrhagic enteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden death in adult zoo-housed hippopotami.