Detection of beta2 and major toxin genes by PCR in Clostridium perfringens field isolates of domestic animals suffering from enteritis or enterotoxaemia.

The production of Clostridium (C.) perfringens toxins in the intestine is an important cause of enteritis and enterotoxaemia in livestock. In the present study, the alpha toxin and the genes encoding beta2 and epsilon toxin could be frequently detected by means of phenotypical and PCR examinations in these bacteria. The C. perfringens isolates originated from 1213 field samples taken from diseased or perished livestock located in the north-eastern administrative districts of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) from 2005 to 2008. The beta2 toxin gene of C perfringens was detected in all animal species examined, comprising pigs, the small ruminants sheep and goats, cattle, horses, rabbits, alpacas and lamas, and fallow deer. Among all the animal species included in this study, pigs attracted attention by a high quota of 74.2% (610 of 822) cpb2-positive C. perfringens isolates in comparison to the other animal species tested, revealing a quota of 20.8% (72 of 346). Beta2 toxigenic isolates could be predominantly cultivated from the faeces of young piglets. The beta toxin gene was detected in isolates from piglets and small ruminants only, amounting to 82.5% (33 of 40) in piglets in combination with the cpb2 gene. In this context, cpb2/cpb-positive C. perfringens isolates of piglets could be clearly detected more often in the intestine of perished animals (18 of 158) than in faeces (15 of 629). Furthermore, cpb2-bearing C. perfringens isolates were detected in cattle, horses, rabbits, alpacas and lamas, and fallow deer to a notable degree. The detection of C. perfringens isolates carrying the epsilon toxin gene was restricted to sheep and goats. Of a total of 242 small ruminants that succumbed to sudden death, 71 (29.3%) harboured epsilon toxin-positive C. perfringens isolates in their intestines. These cases clustered seasonally in the second quarter (April, May, and June) of the year. Neither the isolates bearing the beta2 nor beta toxin gene nor those carrying the epsilon toxin gene showed an annualised accumulation within the sample period. The iota toxin obviously plays a minor role, for in only one case could the encoding toxin gene be detected in an isolate from the intestine of a perished lamb. The need for effective vaccination is discussed, particularly with regard to the beta2 and epsilon toxin. To combat diseases caused by toxin-producing C. perfringens isolates successfully, the implementation of consistent vaccination regimens in combination with controlled feeding is recommended.