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.