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  • Title: PCR identification of the plasmid-borne enterotoxin gene (cpe) in Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from food poisoning outbreaks.
    Author: Nakamura M, Kato A, Tanaka D, Gyobu Y, Higaki S, Karasawa T, Yamagishi T.
    Journal: Int J Med Microbiol; 2004 Oct; 294(4):261-5. PubMed ID: 15532984.
    Abstract:
    It is generally accepted that Clostridium perfringens strains associated with food poisoning carry their enterotoxin gene, cpe, on the chromosome, while C. perfringens strains isolated from non-food-borne diseases, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and sporadic diarrhea, carry cpe on the plasmid. However, we recently encountered a food poisoning outbreak caused by C. perfringens bearing a plasmid cpe. We therefore investigated a total of 31 clinical and non-clinical C. perfringens strains to locate the cpe gene by PCR. The cpe of nine heat-sensitive (100 degrees C for 10min) strains isolated from three outbreaks of food poisoning were located on the plasmid, while those of six heat-resistant strains from other food poisoning outbreaks were located on the chromosome. Moreover, the cpe of 5 heat-sensitive strains isolated from healthy human feces and those of 11 heat-sensitive soil strains were also located on the plasmid. These findings indicate that heat-sensitive, cpe-plasmid-borne C. perfringens strains should not be disregarded as causative agents of food poisoning.
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