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Abstract: Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of intestinal disease in animals and humans. Its pathogenicity is attributed to the toxins it can produce, including the beta2 toxin. The presence of cpb2, the gene encoding the beta2 toxin, has been associated with diarrhoea in neonatal piglets and humans. However, the exact role of the beta2 toxin in the development of diarrhoea is still unknown. In this study we investigated the level of cytotoxicity to porcine IPI-21 and human Caco-2 cell-lines caused by porcine and human cpb2-harbouring C. perfringens and the significance of the beta2 toxin for the induction of cell cytotoxicity. Supernatants of porcine cpb2-harbouring C. perfringens strains were cytotoxic to both cell lines. Cell cytotoxicity caused by supernatant of human cpb2-harbouring C. perfringens strains was variable among strains. However, removal of the beta2 toxin by anti-beta2 toxin antibodies or degradation of the beta2 toxin by trypsin did not reduce the cytotoxic effect of any of the supernatants. These data suggest that beta2 toxin does not play a role in the development of cell cytotoxicity in in vitro experiments. In vivo studies are necessary to definitely define the role of beta2 toxin in the development of cell cytotoxicity and subsequent diarrhoea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Clostridium perfringens which is a causative agent of several diseases in animals and humans is capable of producing a variety of toxins. Isolates are typed into five types on the basis of the presence of one or more of the four major toxins genes, i.e. cpa, cpb, etx, and iap. A decade ago another toxin termed beta2 (β2) and its gene (cpb2) were identified. Two alleles of cpb2 are known and a possible link between differences in gene expression and allelic variation has been reported. A correlation between the level of expression and the origin of the isolates has also been suggested. The demonstration and typing of the cpb2 gene in the genome of isolates can be seen as a vital part of research on the role of the beta2 toxin in the pathogenesis of disease. This study describes a PCR with a single primer set which in contrast to published primer sets recognizes both alleles. Subsequent restriction enzyme analysis of the PCR product enables typing of the alleles. Applying this protocol on a total of 102 isolates, a sub-variant was found which occurred only in C. perfringens isolates from pigs and appeared to be the predominant variant found in C. perfringens isolates from this species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]