Selection of a Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin producer via dot-blot test

Arch Microbiol. 2009 Nov;191(11):847-51. doi: 10.1007/s00203-009-0510-y. Epub 2009 Sep 25.

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens type D produces enterotoxemia, an enteric disease in ruminants, also known as pulpy kidney disease. Caused by epsilon toxin, enterotoxemia is a major exotoxin produced by this microorganism. Epsilon toxin is also the main component of vaccines against this enteric disorder. In this study, a standardized dot-blot was used to choose strains of C. perfringens type D that are producers of epsilon toxin. Clones producing epsilon toxin were chosen by limiting dilution; after three passages, lethal minimum dose titers were determined by soroneutralization test in mice. These clones produced epsilon toxin 240 times more concentrated than the original strain. The presence of the epsilon toxin gene (etx) was verified by polymerase chain reaction. All clones were positive, including those determined to be negative by dot-blot tests, suggesting that mechanisms in addition to the presence of the etx gene can influence toxin production. The dot-blot test was efficient for the selection of toxigenic colonies of C. perfringens type D and demonstrated that homogeneous populations selected from toxigenic cultures produce higher titers of epsilon toxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacterial Toxins / toxicity
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Clostridium perfringens / genetics
  • Clostridium perfringens / immunology
  • Clostridium perfringens / isolation & purification*
  • Clostridium perfringens / metabolism*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Immunoblotting*
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin
  • DNA, Bacterial