title: The suitability of Tórtora's medium for the production of enterotoxin in Clostridium perfringens strains.
abstract: Examination of 200 samples from soil and the same number of samples from healthy human feces yielded 49 (24.5%) and 105 (52.5%) strains of heat-resistant Clostridium perfringens respectively. Fourteen (7.0%) strains isolated from soil and 37 (18.5%) from feces synthesized enterotoxin, as demonstrated by Tórtora's method, at sufficient levels to permit its detection by mouse lethality, microslide double gel diffusion or counterimmunoelectrophoresis tests. By using the Duncan-Strong (DS) method, only four (2%) enterotoxigenic strains from soil and 14 (7.0%) from feces were obtained. The supernatant fluid from two enterotoxigenic-negative strains grown in DS medium gave a false-positive reaction when they were injected intravenously into mice. Tórtora's medium was preferable because a larger number of isolated strains produced spores and enterotoxin to permit their recognition as enterotoxigenic strains.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tórtora
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004768:Enterotoxins; C035598:enterotoxin, Clostridium