Significance of [beta]2-Toxigenic Clostridium perfringens Infections in Animals and Their Predisposing Factors - A Review

The novel β 2-toxin of Clostridium perfringens has recently been described as the cause of enteric diseases in animals. The biological activity of β 2-toxin is similar to that of the β 1-toxin with a possibly weaker cytotoxic activity. However, the production of β 2-toxin in vitro is not seen in all β 2-toxin-gene (cpb2 )-positive C. perfringens strains, and to deduce a clinical importance solely from the detection of cpb2 is difficult. Detection of cpb2 -positive C. perfringens from various animal species with and without enteric diseases demonstrates the wide distribution of cpb2 in nature, and the presence of cpb2 gene is therefore not considered a risk by itself. Predisposing factors like low trypsin activity in the intestinal tract, antibiotic and/or antiphlogistic treatment or changes in diet can result in the selection of β 2-toxigenic C. perfringens which may lead to enteritis or enterotoxaemia.