Clostridial toxins
Clostridia produce the largest number of toxins of any bacterial class. The common source of entry in humans is the gastrointestinal tract or trauma.
Species-specific toxin expression:
- Botulism (C. botulinum)
- Colitis (C. difficile)
- Tetanus (C. tetani)
- Septic abortion (C. sordellii)
- Gas gangrene (C. perfringens, C. novyi, C. septicum, C. sordellii, C. histolyticum)
- Clostridial food poisoning (C. perfringens)
Clostridium Perfringens
Microorganism |
Clostridium Perfringens |
Gram stain |
Gram positive |
Shape |
Rod |
Oxygen requirements |
Obligate anaerobe |
Additional features |
Spore-forming, Produces exotoxin |
Reservoir |
Soil & intestinal flora |
Diseases |
Gas gangrene, food poisoning |
Clostridium Tetani
Microorganism |
Clostridium Tetani |
Gram stain |
Gram positive |
Shape |
Rod |
Oxygen requirements |
Obligate anaerobe |
Additional features |
Spore-forming, Produces tetanospasmin |
Reservoir |
Soil, dust & intestinal flora |
Diseases |
Tetanus |
Clostridium Difficile
Microorganism |
Clostridium Difficile |
Gram stain |
Gram positive |
Shape |
Rod |
Oxygen requirements |
Obligate anaerobe |
Additional features |
Spore-forming, Produces Toxin A (enterotoxin) and Toxin B (cytotoxin) |
Reservoir |
Intestinal flora & environment |
Diseases |
Pseudomembranous colitis |