Detection of Clostridium perfringens beta toxin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Clostridium perfringens beta toxin in intestinal contents has been developed by a modification of the method reported for epsilon toxin. Although the test results for beta and epsilon toxins cannot be directly compared, lower levels of beta toxin were generally demonstrated in the samples examined. The use of the ELISA for beta toxin in conjunction with that for epsilon toxin allows the differential diagnosis of C perfringens type B, C and D enterotoxaemias in the laboratory.