Abstract & Overview
Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium that is widely distributed in the environment; it is found in soil and commonly inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals 1,2 .The ubiquitous nature of this bacterium has resulted in it becoming a major cause of histotoxic and enteric diseases 3 .The success of C. perfringens as both a pathogen and a commensal bacterium lies in its ability to produce a large number of potent toxins and extracellular enzymes 4 .This diverse toxin repertoire results in a broad range of diseases including gas gangrene, various enterotoxaemias, food poisoning and necrotic enteritis 4-6 .Since 2007, six new toxins have been identified, adding to the ever-increasing range of potential C. perfringens virulence determinants.This paper briefly reviews the plethora of toxins and extracellular enzymes produced by C. perfrin-