DETECTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS ALPHA-TOXIN BY ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for th e detection of Clostridium perfrigens alpha toxin in intestinal conten ts of animals which have died of suspected C perfringens type A entero toxaemia. The test can also be used for testing culture supernatants o f C perfringens isolates for the presence of alpha toxin. The test was sensitive and quantitative detecting toxin down to the 25ng level. Th e use of the ELISA for the detection of a toxin in conjunction with th ose for epsilon toxin and beta toxin, allows the differential diagnosi s of C perfringens types A, B, C and D enterotoxaemias from samples of intestinal contents and the typing of cultures of C perfingens.