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Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens Clostridium perfringens
Colonial morphology varies considerably, sometimes even within the same culture. The colonies are small to medium sized and typically grey to grey-yellow and translucent. Some are smooth and dome-shaped with an entire margin, whilst others are rough with a lobate margin, still others are flat with an irregular surface and a filamentous margin.
Clostridium perfringens is non-proteolytic and is not associated with a distinct odour.

This culture has been incubated anaerobically.
The same Blood Agar plate examined with transmitted light. Colonies are surrounded by a double-zone haemolysis, which consists of an inner clear zone and an outer hazy zone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
General characteristics: Gram-positive, large, spore-forming rods. Spores are rarely seen as the sporulation process requires a pH around 7.5. Catalase-negative. Anaerobic, although requirements for anaerobiosis are not as strict as for many Clostridia. Non-motile.
Microscopy:
Pathology:
© Department of Veterinary Disease Biology 2011
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - University of Copenhagen
Denmark