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. 1992 Jul;45(7):609-11.
doi: 10.1136/jcp.45.7.609.

Detection of Clostridium perfringens and its enterotoxin in cases of sporadic diarrhoea

M M Brett  1 , J C Rodhouse, T J Donovan, G M Tebbutt, D N Hutchinson
Affiliations

Detection of Clostridium perfringens and its enterotoxin in cases of sporadic diarrhoea

M M Brett et al. J Clin Pathol. 1992 Jul.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the incidence of sporadic and apparently non-food related diarrhoea associated with Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin.

Methods: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reversed phase latex agglutination (RPLA) were used to detect C perfringens enterotoxin in faecal specimens from 818 sporadic cases of diarrhoea.

Results: C perfringens enterotoxin was identified as a cause of sporadic diarrhoea in 56 of 818 (6.8%) cases. Diarrhoea was prolonged (three days or more) in most cases. Ages ranged from 3 months to 89 years, although most patients were over 60 years of age.

Conclusions: These results suggest that C perfringens may be a cause of sporadic cases of diarrhoea when causes such as food consumption or cross-infection are absent, particularly in the elderly.

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