Detection of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin in faecal and food samples using immunomagnetic separation (IMS)-ELISA

Abstract A simple, rapid and sensitive immunoassay, based on immunomagnetic particles (Dynabeads M-280) was developed for detection and quantitation of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin from faecal and food extracts. The assay had a detection limit of 2.5 ng/ml enterotoxin in homogenates of faeces and inoculated meat extracts. The specificity was confirmed by both crossed immunoelectrophoresis and Western immunoblotting techniques, using a purified enterotoxin as standard.