Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens Type a Isolated from Diarrheic Stray Cattle in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh

Clostridium perfringens is often responsible for gut-related illnesses in livestock. During present investigation fecal samples of eight diarrheic stray cattle were examined in Mandsaur district (Madhya Pradesh). Pure isolates of bacterial pathogens were isolated and their morphological and biochemical characters were studied. All of the isolates were Gram-positive, spore-producing rods. They were found to be creating alpha and beta hemolysis zones on sheep blood plates. Isolated bacteria also broke down gelatin and lecithin, produced DNAase enzyme, while metabolizing sugars like glucose, lactose, galactose, and milk at the temperature of 37°C. Their molecular screening highlighted alpha toxin gene (cpa) at 324 base pairs in all cases, with no signals for other major toxins.