C. perfringens Toxin Beta

Clostridium perfringens beta toxin is one of the four major lethal toxins produced by clostridium perfringens type B and type C strains. It is a necrotizing agent that induces hypertension by release of catecholamine. It has been shown to cause necrotic enteritis in mammals and induce necrotizing intestinal lesions in the rabbit ileal loop model. C. perfringens beta toxin is susceptible to breakdown by proteolytic enzymes, particularly by trypsin. Beta toxin is highly lethal to infant mammals because of trypsin inhibitors present in the colostrum. Beta toxin is the principal disease resulting in toxin in C. perfringens type C infection, and leads to necrotizing enteritis and enterocolitis. In the disease, C. perfringens penetrate the upper jejunum between absorptive cells and release beta toxin. Beta toxin gives rise to necrosis of the villi and mucosa, often causing blood loss in the lumen and intestinal wall.