Clinical and antibody responses to Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin in experimental sheep and calves.

Clostridium perfringens type A live cultures or sonicated sporulating cells, all containing enterotoxin, were repeatedly inoculated into sheep and calves by the intraduodenal route over periods of 30 to 35 days. Serum antibody to C. perfringens enterotoxin, tested by ELISA, developed in four of seven sheep and in two of four calves. The titers ranged from 400 to 1600. The live organism introduced into the duodenum did not become established in the bacterial flora of the intestinal tract.