PCR DETECTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS PRODUCING DIFFERENT TOXINS IN FECES OF GOATS

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the genes encod ing the major toxins of Clostridium perfringens in faeces of goats. Wh en pure cultures of Cl. perfringens types A, B, C, D and E were used a s templates in the PCR, amplicons were observed on the agarose gel as bands at approximately the 247 (alpha primers), 1025 (beta primers), 4 03 (epsilon primers) and 298 (iota primers) bp level of the DNA marker . When used to identify different types of Cl. perfringens in samples artificially spiked with these micro-organisms, the PCR detected as fe w as 1-1.5 x 10(2) cfu g(-1) of the five types of Cl. perfringens test ed. The PCR technique allowed the identification and typing of Cl. per fringens strains in faeces of goats, without recourse to other techniq ues such as the mouse neutralization test.