Studies on the Reversed Passive Latex Agglutination for the Detection of Enterotoxin : Part 2. Detection of Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin

Reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) for the detection of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin was studied. For the sensitization of latex, immunoglobulins against the enterotoxin were purified by affinity chromatography. A suitable dose of immunoglobulin for sensitization of 0.5% latex suspension was the same amount of 25～50μg/ml. It gave detectable agglutination reactions at a concentration of 4μg/ml of the purified Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin as well as with cultures of some C. perfringens grown in Duncan-Strong (DS) medium. The detection of enterotoxin in patient's feces was also possible. The technical procedures of this method is very simple and easy. Also, the results are reliable. The sensitized latex is considered to be stable for at least 1 year when stored at 4℃. Therefore, this method can be recommended for the tests of C. perfringens enterotoxin in bacteriology, clinical bacteriology as well as epidemiology of acute enteritis.