ABSTRACT
Species of the Clostridium genus are widely distributed in the environment (e.g., soil, sewage, and marine sediments) and in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and domestic animals. Among the main pathogenic species are Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium perfringens that usually are involved in foodborne outbreaks. For isolation, detection, and characterization of C. botulinum, C. perfringens, and from food samples, traditional microbiological culture techniques and molecular methods (PCR and qPCR) are available. The mouse neutralization bioassay, using either monovalent, toxin-type-specific botulinum antitoxin or polyvalent antibotulinum antitoxin is the most valuable method for foodborne botulism investigation. Rabbit intestinal loops, rat, and mice laboratory models are available for C. perfringens foodborne investigation. Rabbit intestinal loops, rat, and mice laboratory models are available for C. perfringens foodborne investigation. For C. difficile investigation, hamster, mouse, and pigs may be utilized. In addition, cell lines provide an alternative to laboratory animal models for foodborne clostridial cases investigation.
