VMC 311: Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology (2+1)

ANTIGENS AND TOXINS

• Six groups have been recognized, based on somatic and flagellar antigens.
• Clostridum septicum produces at least four distinct toxins and fibrinolysin.
  • The α toxin is oxygen stable haemolysin, dermonecrotic and lethal.
  • The β toxin is leucotoxic and DNAse.
  • The γ toxin is a hyaluronidase.
  • The δ toxin is an oxygen labile haemolysin.
• α toxin has direct effect on cardiac muscle and is capable of causing capillary damage.
• Iron is required both for growth of bacteria and for production of α toxin.