title: Rapid detection of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin was specifically detected and readily quantified by indirect and four-layer sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). With the indirect ELISA, enterotoxin was detected in quantities of as low as 2.5 ng (25 ng/ml). When the more sensitive sandwich ELISA procedures was used, 100 pg (1 ng/ml) of enterotoxin was detected. The sandwich ELISA procedure specifically detected enterotoxin in human fecal extracts. Additionally, the sandwich ELISA specifically differentiated enterotoxin-positive strains from enterotoxin-negative strains of C. perfringens. Both the indirect and sandwich ELISA procedures described for C. perfringens enterotoxin in this report are rapid, specific, sensitive, and easily adaptable for large-scale use by clinical or research laboratories.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000378:metabolism; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; C035598:enterotoxin, Clostridium