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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
A Ligated Intestinal Loop Model in Anesthetized Specific Pathogen Free Chickens to Study Clostridium Perfringens Virulence
Published on: October 11, 2018
Alpha toxin production potential and antibiotic resistance patterns of clostridium perfringens isolates from meat
Tehreem Ali1, Arslan Sarwar1, Aftab Ahmad Anjum2
1Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
Objective:
This research aimed to analyze the prevalence, molecular characteristics, toxinotyping, alpha toxin production potential, and antibiotic resistance pattern of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) isolates in meat samples collected from various sources.
Methods:
Sixty meat samples were screened for alpha toxin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, revealing a positivity rate of 13.3%, predominantly in raw poultry meat. Subsequent culturing on Perfringens agar identified nine samples harboring characteristic C. perfringens colonies, primarily isolated from raw poultry meat. Molecular confirmation through 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing authenticated twelve isolates as C. perfringens, with nine strains exhibiting genetic resemblance to locally isolated strains. Toxinotyping assays targeting alpha toxin-specific genes confirmed all nine isolates as type A C. perfringens, with no detection of beta or epsilon toxin genes. Hemolytic assays demonstrated varying alpha toxin production potentials among isolates, with accession number OQ721004.1 displaying the highest production capacity. Moreover, antibiotic resistance profiling revealed multi-drug resistance patterns among the isolates.
Results:
The study identified distinct clusters within C. perfringens strains, indicating variations. Phylogenetic analysis delineated genetic relatedness among strains, elucidating potential evolutionary paths and divergences.
Conclusion:
The findings underscore the need for robust surveillance and control measures to mitigate the risk of C. perfringens contamination in meat products, particularly in raw poultry meat. Enhanced monitoring and prudent antimicrobial stewardship practices are warranted in both veterinary and clinical settings to address the observed antibiotic resistance profiles and prevent foodborne outbreaks.
