Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):46-53 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3597

Characterization of the Plasmidic or Chromosomal cpe Gene and Metabolic Activities in Clostridium perfringens Isolates from Food in San Luis - Argentina

Mariana Georgina Corigliano1, Ana María Stefanini de Guzmán1, Patricia Virginia Stagnitta2
1 General Microbiology, Area of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, San Luis National University, Argentina
2 Biological Chemistry, Area of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, San Luis National University, Argentina

Food poisoning and non-food poisoning illnesses due to C. perfringens (by enterotoxin production) have been associated to chromosomal or plasmidic location of the cpe gene, respectively. Clostridial pathogenicity has been correlated to protease and azoreductase production.The aim of this work was: i) to assess the sanitary-hygienic quality of dehydrated soups (100 samples) consumed in San Luis - Argentina; ii) to verify the presence of C. perfringens in these food products using the "Most Probable Number" method (MPN) and plate-counting methods; iii) to characterise enterotoxigenicity in strain isolates by RPLA; iv) to determine the chromosomal or plasmidic location of the cpe gene in enterotoxigenic strains previously isolated from food in our lab, using PCR; v) to correlate chromosomal cpe and spore heat-resistance; vi) to compare protease activity in cpe+ and cpe- strains; and vii) to compare azoreductase activity in cpe+ and cpe- strains. Twenty-six isolates had a count a 3-43 bacteria g-1 count using MPN; 7.7% exceeded the Argentine Food Code (CAA) limit. All isolates showed protease activity: enterotoxigenic isolates had higher protease activity than non-enterotoxigenic isolates. All isolates showed azoreductase activity: enterotoxigenic isolates had higher activity and shorter reducing times. Enterotoxigenic isolates showed chromosomal location for the gene responsible for the enterotoxin.

Keywords: clostridium perfringens, enterotoxin, protease, azoreductase, food

Received: November 24, 2009; Revised: October 21, 2010; Accepted: October 21, 2010; Published: March 1, 2011  Show citation

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Corigliano MG, de Guzmán AMS, Stagnitta PV. Characterization of the Plasmidic or Chromosomal cpe Gene and Metabolic Activities in Clostridium perfringens Isolates from Food in San Luis - Argentina. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2011;19(1):46-53. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3597. PubMed PMID: 21526657.
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