Detection of Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin using a capture antibody ELISA

Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C (PLC), commonly known as alpha toxi n, is the lethal, dermonecrotic toxin produced by all strains and is consid ered a major virulence factor in clostridial myonecrosis. We developed a ca pture antibody ELISA that accurately and specifically quantitates alpha tox in produced by C. perfringens. Another PLC, derived from Bacillus cereus, a nd culture filtrates from various bacterial species including Clostridium b ifermentans and Clostridium novyi were not cross-reactive in this ELISA. St andard curves generated with homogenous C. perfringens alpha toxin revealed detection limits of 19 ng/ml. The ELISA was more sensitive in detecting al pha toxin than techniques such as PLC enzymatic activity and mouse lethalit y assays. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.