Isolation and characterization of Clostridium botulinum type E from soil of Gwalior, India

A strain of Clostridium botulinum type E has been isolated from soil samples of Gwalior, India. The isolated strain shows curved vegetative cells with oval, bulging, and terminal spores. The production of toxin was detected by immunodiffusion test, symptomatic death of mice and mouse protection assay with trivalent antitoxin (A+B+E). The culture supernatant gave 10(3) MLD (minimum lethal dose) per ml without any protease treatment. Group specific and serotype specific primers amplified the DNA fragments of 260 bp and 445 bp, respectively, indicating Clostridium botulinum type 'E.'