Detection of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens with a duplex PCR.
Two sets of primers designed to detect Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C (plc) and enterotoxin (cpe) genes in a single PCR reaction were applied to a collection of 64 predominantly food poisoning-related C. perfringens isolates. In-vitro enterotoxin synthesis was tested serologically after inducing sporulation. Of the 64 isolates, 26 were clearly enterotoxigenic; 16 were classified as potentially enterotoxigenic only as serological testing did not confirm enterotoxin production. Duplex PCR for diagnosis of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens from vegetative cultures can be a useful tool as fresh isolates often sporulate poorly or not all, giving rise to the possibility of false negative results by serological analysis.
Augustynowicz
E
E
Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska Street, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
Gzyl
A
A
Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska Street, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
Ślusarczyk
J
J
Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska Street, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000235:genetics*
D004768:Enterotoxins; C035598:enterotoxin, Clostridium; D010738:Type C Phospholipases