Toxin production by Clostridium perfringens isolated from broiler chickens and capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) with and without necrotizing enteritis.

A total of 192 isolates of Clostridium perfringens were isolated from 99 broiler chickens and 93 capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus). Fifty of the isolates from broilers and 44 of the isolates from capercaillies were from birds with necrotizing enteritis, and the remainder were from birds without this disease. The isolates were tested for the production of three major toxins (alpha, beta, and epsilon) and four minor toxins (theta, gelatinase, mu, and nu). All isolates were found to be C. perfringens type A. Alpha toxin was produced in significantly larger amounts by isolates from birds with necrotizing enteritis than by isolates from birds without the disease, regardless of bird species. Isolates from broilers produced significantly more alpha toxin than did isolates from capercaillies.