Clostridium welchii: Notes on the relationship between the types of cultures and the production of toxin

Abstract

Summary (1) The types of Cl. welchii produce toxins by which they may be classified. (2) Cultures vary considerably in their capacity to produce the different toxins. (3) Certain methods encourage the production of the different types of toxin. (4) Typing of an organism of any group cannot be said to be completed till all the methods for the production of the different types of toxin have been carried out, and until all the known tests—direct and indirect—have been applied. (5) In cases of clinical lamb dysentery different types of Cl. welchii may be found at different levels of the intestine, the tendency being for the D type to occur in the more proximal part of the intestine. (6) In the protection of sheep and lambs against an infection shown to be associated with the Cl. welchii group, prophylaxis against all types of toxin should be carried out unless careful tests have shown that only a certain type of organism is causing the infection.