Paeniclostridium sordellii -associated peripartum metritis in goats.

is involved in enteric and histotoxic infections in several animal species. In humans, has been linked to gynecological disease, an association not previously investigated in animals. To unveil a potential association of with veterinary reproductive disease, a retrospective search of the database of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (1990-2020) was conducted and identified 9 cases of goats with -associated metritis or endometritis that were confirmed by immunofluorescence antibody test and/or bacterial isolation, and often co-colonized by . Six of 9 does were also copper deficient. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded uterine tissue identified the gene in all 9 cases, and the gene in 4. Our findings suggest goats could be predisposed to -associated endometritis/metritis and toxemia when co-infected with . The role of mineral deficiencies influencing vulnerability to puerperal bacterial infections in goats is possible but remains undetermined. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the association of with veterinary gynecological disease.