Detection of Clostridium perfrigens alpha toxin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for the detection of Clostridium perfringens a toxin in intestinal contents of animals which have died of suspected C perfringens type A enterotoxaemia. The test can also be used for testing culture supernatants of C perfringens isolates for the presence of a toxin. The test was sensitive and quantitative detecting toxin down to the 25ng level. The use of the ELISA for the detection of a toxin in conjunction with those for e toxin and beta toxin, allows the differential diagnosis of C perfringens types A, B, C and D enterotoxaemias from samples of intestinal contents and the typing of cultures of C perfringens.