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Pathogen Page

Clostridium perfringens

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

2. Disease:

Food poisioning, Gas gangrene

3. Introduction

Clostridium perfringens (formerly known as C. welchii) is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium of the genus Clostridium. C. perfringens is ubiquitous in nature and can be found as a normal component of decaying vegetation, marine sediment, the intestinal tract of humans and other vertebrates, insects, and soil. C. perfringens is a human pathogen sometimes, and other times it can be ingested and not cause any harm. Infections due to C. perfringens show evidence of tissue necrosis, bacteremia, emphysematous cholecystitis, and gas gangrene, which is also known as clostridial myonecrosis. The toxin involved in gas gangrene is known as α-toxin, which inserts into the plasma membrane of cells, producing gaps in the membrane that disrupt normal cellular function. After ingestion, bacteria multiply and lead to colic, diarrhea, and sometimes nausea (Wiki: C. perfringens). The species is divided into five toxinotypes, based upon production of four major toxins. About 5% of C. perfringens strains, mostly type A, produce an enterotoxin (CPE). CPE underlies C. perfringens foodborne disease, which is common in the industrialized world (Songer, 2010).

4. Host Ranges and Animal Models

C. perfringens can cause disease in humans, dogs, pigs, horses, and goats (Songer, 2010).

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