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Enrichment and Detection of Clostridium perfringens Toxinotypes in Retail Food Samples
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Enrichment and Detection of Clostridium perfringens Toxinotypes in Retail Food Samples

Published on: October 18, 2019

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Radioimmunoassay for Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin and Its Use in Screening Isolates Implicated in

Gerard N Stelma1, John C Wimsatt1, Peter E Kauffman1

  • 1Division of Microbiology, Food and Drug Administration, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.

Journal of Food Protection
|March 30, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin production was enhanced by specific medium modifications, revealing a correlation between sporulation and toxin output. Low in vitro producers showed high activity in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Foodborne pathogens
  • Microbial toxinology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Clostridium perfringens is a leading cause of foodborne illness.
  • Enterotoxin production is key to C. perfringens pathogenicity.
  • Accurate detection and understanding of enterotoxin production are crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To screen Clostridium perfringens isolates for enterotoxigenicity.
  • To investigate factors influencing enterotoxin production.
  • To correlate in vitro enterotoxin levels with in vivo pathogenicity.

Main Methods:

  • Radioimmunoassay (RIA) for enterotoxin detection.
  • Duncan-Strong sporulation (D-S) medium modifications (raffinose, theobromine).
  • Heat-resistant spore enumeration.
  • Rabbit ileal loop assay for in vivo activity.

Main Results:

  • Only 4 of 14 isolates were enterotoxigenic by RIA.
  • Medium modifications (raffinose/theobromine) enhanced enterotoxin production in some isolates.
  • Enterotoxin production correlated with heat-resistant spore numbers.
  • Low in vitro enterotoxin producers demonstrated high in vivo activity in rabbit ileal loops.

Conclusions:

  • Specific medium components can enhance C. perfringens enterotoxin production.
  • Sporulation efficiency is linked to enterotoxin synthesis.
  • In vitro assays may underestimate the in vivo pathogenicity of certain C. perfringens strains.

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