STUDY OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS WITH GENE PROBES

Resistance of Clostridium perfringens isolates was investigated by the colony hybridization assay with four gene probes derived from Clostri dium perfringens genes coding for resistance to chloramphenicol (CatP and CatQ probes), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (ErmBP probe) an d tetracyclin (TetP probe). Genotypic results were compared with the p henotypic results obtained by the paper disc method using discs for ch loramphenicol (30 microg), erythromycin (15 IU) and oxytetracyclin (30 IU). One hundred thirty-seven wild-type isolates and eight control st rains of C. perfringens were studied. If the probes of this study show ed a high degree of specificity (98 to 100%), their sensitivity to det ect the resistance of C. perfringens to antibiotics differed: 100% for TetP, 82% for CatP and CatQ (32% including the isolates with intermed iate level of resistance to chloramphenicol), 47% for ErmBP (26% inclu ding the isolates with intermediate level of resistance to erythromyci n). Isolates with intermediate level of resistance may be sensitive is olates because antibiotic activity can be reduced in a CO2 atmosphere.