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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
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A Ligated Intestinal Loop Model in Anesthetized Specific Pathogen Free Chickens to Study Clostridium Perfringens Virulence
Published on: October 11, 2018
Clostridium perfringens in retail chicken
Victoria J Nowell1, Cornelis Poppe, Valeria R Parreira
1Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Gordon street, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada. vnowell@uoguelph.ca
Anaerobe
|December 8, 2009
Summary
Clostridium perfringens, a cause of necrotic enteritis in chickens, was detected in retail chicken. The netB gene, linked to disease, was found in some isolates, suggesting a potential human health risk from contaminated poultry.
Area of Science:
- Food microbiology
- Veterinary science
- Public health
Background:
- Clostridium perfringens is an important bacterial pathogen in poultry, causing necrotic enteritis.
- The netB gene is a key virulence factor associated with necrotic enteritis in chickens.
- Retail chicken is a potential vehicle for the transmission of foodborne pathogens to humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in retail chicken in Ontario, Canada.
- To identify the presence of specific virulence genes, including netB, tpeL, and cpb2, in C. perfringens isolates.
- To assess the potential public health implications of netB-positive C. perfringens in the food supply.
Main Methods:
- Enrichment culture of Clostridium perfringens from 88 retail chicken samples.
- Molecular detection of virulence genes (netB, tpeL, cpb2) using PCR.
- Analysis of isolate prevalence and gene distribution.
Main Results:
- Clostridium perfringens was recovered from retail chicken samples.
- The netB gene was detected in 21% of the isolates.
- The cpb2 gene was found in 68% of isolates, while tpeL was present in 2%.
Conclusions:
- netB-positive Clostridium perfringens can be present in retail chicken.
- Contaminated retail chicken may pose a risk for human exposure to C. perfringens.
- Further investigation into the transmission dynamics and control of C. perfringens in poultry is warranted.
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