Clostridia Flashcards
What kind of bacteria is clostridia?
- Gram positive, capsulated, aerobic, endospore producing rods
What kind of toxins do clostridia produce?
Enterotoxins
What kind of endospores do clostridia produce?
Oval or spherical endospores that may distend into the cell
What is clostrdium perfringens?
The most commonly isolated clostridium species and has 5 types which are distinguished by the toxins they produce
What is clostridium tetani?
two exotoxins, tetanolysin and tetanospasmin
What are the functions of tetanolysin and tetanospasmin?
Tetanolysin causes lysis of RBC’s and tetanospasmin is a neurotoxin
What is clostridium botulinum
Produces neurotoxins, there are seven types
What is clostridium difficile?
The most common toxigenic clostridum species, produes two potent exotoxins
What is clostridium novyci?
Comes in three types, A, B and anon-pathogenic type C
What is clostridium sordelli?
Produces three toxins, lecithinas, oxygen-labile haemolysin and fibrinolysin, it also produces a major lethal toxin referred to as a beta-toxin
How do you culture clostridium?
Agar containing blood is incubated anaerobically at 35-37 degrees for 40-48 hours
* Egg Yolk agar is incubated anaerobically
* Can also use Robertsons cooked meat broth
What is Braxy?
Acute disease of sheep caused by C.septicum and characterised by inflammation of the abomasla wall and toxaemia
What is the alpha toxin?
Lecthinase- attacks cell membranes causing cell death and destruction
What is the beta toxin?
Lethal and necrotising
What is the epsilon toxin?
Protoxin activated in the intestine by proteases, this toxin increases gut permeability and damages the vascular endothelium
