Characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolated from mammals and birds from Guwahati city, India

Rahman Mafruza S (1), Sharma RK (1), Borah P (1), Chakraborty A (1), Devi Mandakini RK (1), Longjam N (1)

(1) Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India.

Abstract: Of the 102 samples collected from mammals and birds, both domestic and captive wild, 48 were found to be positive for Clostridium perfringens. Most of the mammal isolates (84.38%) appeared to have been collected from clinically affected animals, while 33.33% of the bird samples were from clinically affected and 21.43% from apparently healthy birds infected with C. perfringens. Isolates revealed high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and norfloxacin. Among the isolated C. perfringens, 30 (62.50%) showed DNase production. Hemolytic activity was recorded in 14 (24.16%) of the isolates and 28 (58.33%) showed phospholipase C production. All the phospholipase C positive isolates revealed the presence of cpa gene encoding alpha (a) toxin. Of the 102 samples collected from mammals and birds, both domestic and captive wild, 48 were found to be positive for Clostridium perfringens. Most of the mammal isolates (84.38%) appeared to have been collected from clinically affected animals, while 33.33% of the bird samples were from clinically affected and 21.43% from apparently healthy birds infected with C. perfringens. Isolates revealed high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and norfloxacin. Among the isolated C. perfringens, 30 (62.50%) showed DNase production. Hemolytic activity was recorded in 14 (24.16%) of the isolates and 28 (58.33%) showed phospholipase C production. All the phospholipase C positive isolates revealed the presence of cpa gene encoding a toxin.

Key words: Clostridium perfringens, PCR, a toxin, cpa gene, polymerase chain reaction.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: June 29, 2011.

Accepted: October 3, 2011.

Abstract published online: October 6, 2011.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the institutional review board of the Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, India.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

R. K. Sharma, Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati-22, Assam, India. Phone: +91-94350 64887. Fax: 0361-2847195. Email: dr.sharmark@rediffmail.com.