Studies on Protective Antigens and Combined Toxoid Vaccine to Clostridia Causative of Malignant Edema

摘要

Malignant edema is caused by the genus Clostridium in cattle, and characterized by peracute inflammation and high mortality Clostridium septicum, C. novyi, C. sordellii, C. chauvoei and C. perfringens type A have been isolated from lesions of the diseases. Vaccines have been developed for control of the disease associated with the bacteria. For evidence of efficacies of the vaccines, protective antigens to the bacteria must be confirmed. It has been proved that the protective antigen of C. chauvoei is its flagella and it of C. perfringens type A is alpha-toxin from the bacteria by challenge exposure with organism in experimental animals. The protective antigens of C. septicum, C. novyi and C. sordellii are regarded as major lethal toxins of their products. However, there have no reports concerning the effects of those purified toxins.