The following statements are true regarding Clostridium perfringes except :
Gas gangrene is caused by Cl perfringens (MC by type A), Cl novyi, Cl septicum, Cl. histolyticum.
Others - Cl. sporogenes, Cl. fullax, Cl. bifermantans, Cl. Sordelli Cl. aerofoetidium and C. tertium.
Most important toxin for gas gangrene is Alpha toxin = lecithinase which is responsible Naegler’s Reaction.
Cl. perfringes is found in feces and contaminates the skin of perineum, buttocks, thigh.
Its spores is used as remote indicator of fecal contamination of water.
Spores are usually destroyed within 5 minutes by boiling but those of food poisoning strains of Type A and certain type C strain resist boiling for several hours.
Spores are destroyed by autoclaving at 121 0 C for 20 minutes.
Spores are resistant to antiseptics and disinfectants in common use.
It is the commonest cause of gas gangrene
It is normally present in human faeces
The principal toxin of C. perfringens is the alpha toxin
Gas gangrene producing strains of C. perfringes produces heat resistant spores