The Suitability of Tórtora's Medium for the Production of Enterotoxin inClostridium perfringensStrains

Examination of 200 samples from soil and the same number of samples from healthy human feces yielded 49 (24.5%) and 105 (52.5%) strains of heat-resistant Clostridium perfringens respectively. Fourteen (7.0%) strains isolated from soil and 37 (18.5%) from feces synthesized enterotoxin, as demonstrated by Tórtora's method, at sufficient levels to permit its detection by mouse lethality, microslide double gel diffusion or counterimmunoelectrophoresis tests. By using the Duncan-Strong (DS) method, only four (2%) enterotoxigenic strains from soil and 14 (7.0%) from feces were obtained. The supernatant fluid from two enterotoxigenic-negative strains grown in DS medium gave a false-positive reaction when they were injected intravenously into mice. Tórtora's medium was preferable because a larger number of isolated strains produced spores and enterotoxin to permit their recognition as enterotoxigenic strains.