Clostridium perfringens as the etiological agent of antibiotic associated diarrhoea

Clostridium perfringens strains are classified into one of five types (A-E) based on their ability to produce four major toxins: alpha, beta, epsilon, iota. C. perfringens strains belonging to biotype A may cause gas gangrene and different gastrointestinal infections such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), sporadic diarrhoea (SD), necrotizing enterocolitis and food poisoning. The major role in the pathogenesis of C. perfringens diarrhoea plays the enterotoxin (CPE). Presented review describes structure, mechanism of action and molecular background of C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). Mechanism of C. perfringens type A sporulation and its importance in causing case of diarrhoea is described. In addition literature reports of cases of AAD and sporadic diarrhoea, risk groups and available diagnostic methods are discussed. Special attention is paid to new virulence factors produced by C. perfringens such as beta2 toxin (beta 2), isolated from AAD cases, and its possible influence on clinical picture of the disease.