Preliminary screening for toxin genes amongst stock cultures of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from dogs and calves

Abstract

The spectrum of Clostridium perfringens infections ranges from food toxinosis to myonecrosis. In the current study, whole cell protein and toxin gene types were profiled in 12 randomly selected C. perfringens veterinary stock cultures from the University of Wisconsin, Madison to determine epidemio-logical similarity, or diversity amongst strains of animal origin. Whole cell protein analysis was done by SDS-PAGE while toxin gene typing was achieved by extracting DNA by boiling, DNA concentration and purity was determined by spectrophotometer and nanodrop while separation was carried out by checking it on gel electrophoresis. Multiplex PCR was used to identify the toxigenic gene-type. C. perfringens B and C. perfringens EE with established profiles were used as control strains. Isolates typed included strains cp 296, 309, 12872 (from dogs) and 304, 305, 306, 341, 342, 10754, 12218-2, 12218-3, 12473 (from calves). All 12 strains possess the cpa gene, 4 strains have cpb2, 3 strains etx, 2 strains positive for cpe and 1 for cpb. None of the strains carries the itx gene. Two strains have only cpa gene however no strains has more than two toxin gene types, with cpa-cpb2 combination be-ing more frequent. C. perfringens 305 (etx and cpa) and 342 (cpe and cpa) shared the same protein profile but belong to different toxinotype. It is evi-dent that the cpa gene is a marker for all C. perfringens strains, and similarity in protein profile is not sine qua non for toxin gene type.