Open AccessDetection of the β2 toxin gene of Clostridium perfringens in diarrhoeic piglets in The Netherlands and Switzerland
Author(s) -
Klaasen Henricus L.B.M.,
Molkenboer Marc J.C.H.,
Bakker Jelle,
Miserez Raymond,
Häni Hansjürg,
Frey Joachim,
Popoff Michel R.,
Bosch Johannes F.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1999.tb01301.x
Subject(s) - clostridium perfringens , enterotoxin , toxin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , clostridiaceae , diarrhea , gene , enteritis , virology , bacteria , escherichia coli , genetics , medicine
The two studies presented here were done to determine the prevalence of the α, β, ε and enterotoxin genes and the novel β2 toxin gene of Clostridium perfringens in neonatal or pre‐weaned piglets with diarrhoea or necrotic enteritis. All C. perfringens isolates were positive for the α and negative for the ε and enterotoxin gene, implying that only non‐enterotoxigenic type A and C strains were detected. The most important findings were the relatively high prevalence of the β2 toxin gene in isolates from diarrhoeic piglets in both studies, and, in one of the two studies, absence of strains with only the α and β toxin gene. These data are supportive for the suggestion of a causal relationship of β2 toxin‐producing strains with digestive tract diseases in piglets.