Virulence for chickens of Clostridium perfringens isolated from poultry and other sources.
Clostridium perfringens type A is the most common cause of poultry necrotic enteritis (NE). Of the four "major" toxins, type A strains produce only alpha toxin (CPA), which has long been considered a major factor in pathogenesis of NE. We investigated the virulence for poultry of type A strains from a variety of enteric sources. Newly-hatched CornishxRock chicks were fed a low protein diet for one week, a high protein diet for a second week, and then challenged with log-phase cultures of C. perfringens, mixed 3:4 (v/v) with high protein feed. Strain JGS4143 [genotype A, beta2 positive (cpb2(pos)), from a field case of NE] produced gross lesions compatible with NE in >85% of challenged birds. However, strains JGS1714 (enterotoxigenic genotype A, cpb2(pos), human food poisoning), JGS1936 (genotype A, cpb2(neg), bovine neonatal enteritis), JGS4142 (genotype A, cpb2(pos), bovine jejunal hemorrhage syndrome), JGS1473 (genotype A, cpb2(pos), chicken normal flora), JGS1070 (genotype C, cpb2(pos), porcine hemorrhagic enteritis), JGS1882 (genotype A, cpb2(pos), porcine neonatal enteritis), JGS1120 (ATCC 13124, genotype A, cpb2(neg), gas gangrene), JGS4151 (strain 13, genotype A, cpb2(pos), canine), and JGS4303 (SM101, enterotoxigenic genotype A, cpb2(neg), human food poisoning) failed to produce disease. In vivo passage failed to increase virulence of the non-NE strains. NE strains must have specific poultry-associated virulence attributes, such as the recently identified NetB and other factors, which allow for the development of disease.
Cooper
Kerry K
KK
Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, 1117 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Theoret
James R
JR
Stewart
Bernard A
BA
Trinh
Hien T
HT
Glock
Robert D
RD
Songer
J Glenn
JG
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens