What are Clostridium organisms (Clostridium perfringens)?
Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacterium known to be the most widely distributed pathogen in nature. While the bacterium can only survive in anaerobic conditions, its spores can survive for and extended period of time in the presence of oxygen. It is commonly found in the environment (in soil and sewage) and in the intestines of animals and humans as a member of the normal flora. Once an animal contracts a disease caused by Clostridium perfringens its often too late to do anything about it. Death comes quickly and violently. This type of bacteria, occurring in five different strains identified by toxin type, produces a host of toxic proteins; nearly twenty have been described scientifically and there may be more. These toxins can act rapidly in the body, causing severe diarrhea, dysentery, gangrene, muscle infections and various other forms of enteric (gut) disease. The symptoms vary in intensity and variety depending on the individual toxin and its
