Isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens and its toxins from mutton in Lahore City, Punjab, Pakistan.

The present study was aimed to detect C. perfringens and identify its toxins in mutton samples collected from Lahore City in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of 40 samples of minced and non‑minced mutton were collected from local butcher and retail shops representing four areas of the city. The samples were subjected to ELISA for the detection of C. perfringens alpha, beta and epsilon toxins. The samples were simultaneously processed for bacterial isolation. The isolates were confirmed both by biochemical testing and a multiplex PCR targeting alpha, beta and epsilon toxin genes of C. perfringens. While 10% (4/40) of the samples were positive for C. perfringens alpha toxins, 17.5% (7/40) of the samples were positive for the alpha toxin gene. The present study indicated that the samples collected from the local butcher shops were contaminated with C. perfringens and its toxins. Interestingly, no such contamination was detected in any of the samples collected from retail meat shops. In conclusion, improper hygienic conditions at butcher shops could lead to the contamination of mutton with C. perfringens and its toxins.