Clostridium perfringens Bacteria and Food Illness

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By Paula Cancelas Calvo

Introduction

This illustration depicts a three-dimensional (3D), computer-generated image of a cluster of barrel-shaped, Clostridium perfringens bacteria. The artistic recreation was based upon scanning electron microscopic (SEM) imagery. The photo credit for this image belongs to Jennifer Oosthuizen, who is an illustrator at the CDC.

Food-borne illness occurs when one consumes contaminated foods or beverages. This type of illness has been around humans for as long as we have been humans, and the same pathogens not only affects humans but also animals. In humans, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 76 million foodborne illnesses, including 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, occur in the United States each year" . There are many different types of pathogens that can cause food-borne illness, some less serious than others, nevertheless, they are still serious. Many of these bacteria can lead to serious gastrointestinal complications. Clostridium perfringens is one of those bacteria that is known for food related illness. This gram-positive, nonmotile, anaerobic spore producing bacteria is one of the most common and important human and animal pathogens that can cause an array of diseases . In addition, this pathogen is among the most widespread bacteria, with a ubiquitous environmental distribution in soil, sewage, food, fecal, and in normal intestinal gut microbiota of both humans and animals.

In regards to food related illness, Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common causes and the CDC estimates that 1 million illnesses are caused by these food poisoning bacteria.. Symptoms associated with consumption of contaminated foods are most often diarrhea and stomach cramps and usually appear 6 to 24 hours after consumption of contaminated food, and this is not transmissible directly from one person to another. This type of food poisoning leaves you in pain and dehydrated. In most, antibiotics are not necessary for treatment and as long as fluids are restored there should be no problems. Although these symptoms are considered to be short and temporary, as mentioned before, C. perfringens can lead to serious gastrointestinal infections such as traumatic gas gangrene, necrotic enteritis of both human and neonatal animal species, enterotoxemia of sheep and goats, and among others, all which can lead to death if left untreated. Not only that, but in agricultural circumstances, it can decimate farm output which can affect a country’s economy and consumers if a serious outbreak were to occur. “According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), foodborne illness costs the US economy $10-83 billion per year”.

The reason why C. perfringens infections are of concern is because of how common the bacterium is and how it is the major cause of food-borne illness. The toxins that the bacteria produces are believed to be what damages the host, however, there are many different kinds and it unclear why so many kinds are produced. In addition, with the overprescription and improper disposal of antibiotic medication, through mobile genetic elements or horizontal gene transfer, drug resistance is becoming more prevalent in all sorts of bacterial species including C. perfringens. This antibiotic resistance also affects the gut microbiome in both animals and humans. All of these pose as concern as food-borne illness is a major public health threat, and to better understand the major cause of said illness will improve treatment and prevention methods.

Clostridium perfringens Toxin

Fig. 1. Clostridium perfringens toxins. CPA: C. perfringens alpha toxin (1CA1); CPE: C. perfringens enterotoxin (3AM2); Delta: Delta toxin (2YGT); ETX: C. perfringens epsilon toxin (1UYJ); ITXa: C. perfringens iota toxin a subunit (1GIR); NetB: Necrotic enteritis toxin B (4ION); PFO: Perfringolysin O (1PFO). This figure was created by Uzal et al. (2014)

Fig. 2. A schematic that summaries toxin involvement under Clostridium perfringens infection. (A) During histotoxic infections CPA plays a predominant role after pathogen (blue rods) is introduced by trauma into muscle tissue. This toxin induces localized necrosis, as well as toxemic effects in other organs when toxins enter the circulation. Both CPA and PFO are important in vascular leukostasis. (B) During intestinal infections, C. perfringens (blue rods) is able to produce several pore-forming toxins, including CPE during sporulation or (during vegetative growth) NetB, ETX or CPB. Host intestinal protease levels can either destroy (e.g., CPB) or activate (e.g., ETX) these toxins. When present in an active form, these toxins can cause local damage (necrosis) or be absorbed into the circulation to damage internal organs such as the brain, kidney or liver. CPA: C. perfringens alpha toxin; CPB: C. perfringens beta toxin; CPE: C. perfringens enterotoxin; PFO: Perfringolysin O.. This figure was created by Uzal et al. (2014)

Most bacterial infections are caused by potent toxic proteins. The many diseases occur as a result of the bacterium’s toxins it produces, many of which are extracellular . There are >16 toxins that can cause histotoxic and intestinal infections, and it is unclear as to why there are so many different kinds when many have the same target: host cell plasma membranes. Each toxin is produced depending on the type of C. perfringens and there are 5 types: A, B, C, D, and E.In figure 1, the structure of different types of C. perfringens toxins are shown.

Histotoxic clostridial infection is a type of pathogenesis that involves the growth of Clostridium in the tissues and extensive tissue destruction, which is a result done by the extracellular toxins. Histotoxic infection includes gas gangrene or myonecrosis. It has been established that C. perfringens uses chromosomally encoded alpha toxin (alpha-phospholipase C) and perfringolysin O (a pore-forming toxin) in histotoxic (poisonous to tissue) infections . On the other hand, intestinal disease occurs by employing toxins encoded by mobile genetic elements, including C. perfringens enterotoxin, necrotic enteritis toxin B-like, epsilon toxin and beta toxin.

After testing to see the effects specific toxins have on the intestinal walls, some toxins (CPA and PFO) are specifically used for histotoxic infection (fig. 2. A). During histotoxic infection, these toxins are able to interfere with the host’s immune response which causes localized necrosis to facilitate the growth of the pathogen. In addition, the toxins allow for host cells leakage and lysis which further benefits pathogen growth by providing nutrients. This combination leads to cell death and eventually the death of the host, killed cells only improve C. perfringens multiplication.There is also evidence for pore-forming toxins originating in the intestine (fig. 2. B), however, it is still not understood why the pathogen produces so many toxins that are able to perform the same or similarly. One explanation could be that the purpose of producing many kinds of toxins allows for the pathogen to cause various diseases under an array of intestinal conditions.

Drug Resistance

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Antibiotic resistance is serious matter that is affecting a wide variety of bacterial species. Because of this it is important for the cattle and animals that farmers grow do not become infected with C. perfringens or any other bacteria. However, antibiotic resistance is spreading through horizontal transfer methods such as mobile genetic elements, which can cross between different species. Therefore, many bacteria species can develop antibiotic resistance, if given the chance. This can pose a problem for the farm and food industry with animals. Since C. perfringens is spread through contaminated meat or fecal matter, for most farm animals, if there is one infected, it will eventually spread to the whole herd. If an animal is infected with a bacteria that can’t be treated due to antibiotic resistance, it will have to be slaughtered. Not only is this costly, but also potentially dangerous if the contaminated meat is consumed.

The Gut Microbiota

The gut is home to a wide array of microorganisms species, including bacteria and archaea. The population of these bacteria can change as a result of the environmental conditions, in this case the gut. In the case of C. perfringens infection, dysbiosis is a potential occurrence.

Prevention

Table 2. The effects of combined antimicrobial therapy and monotherapy on the survival of mice with experimental C. perfringens gas gangrene. This figure was created by Stevens et al. (1987)

When it comes to potential food contamination, the best way to prevent C. perfringens infection is to cook food at safe temperatures, especially beef and poultry, and once that food is cooked keep it above 140℉ or below 40℉ .

Conclusion

Clostridium perfringens is a pathogen that needs to be better understood as they are influenced by antibiotic resistance, produce multiple toxins, and are influential on the microbiota of host gastrointestinal system. Because of that, it is very important to understand how to prevent and treat this common food-borne pathogen as a way to keep people safe.

References

Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2022, Kenyon College