EN
Described recently and investigated intensively over the last years, β2 toxin (CPB2) is produced by all toxino-types of Clostridium perfringens. The ability of CPB2 production was found in C. perfringens strains isolated from humans and many species of domestic animals and wildlife. The cpb2 gene encoding CPB2 was found in strains isolated from pathological cases and from animals without clinical symptoms. Apart from the detection of cpb2 presence, the demonstration of the expression of the gene is critical for laboratory diagnosis. CPB2 is postulated to participate in the development of differing in intensity enteric inflammatory changes. Its contribution to other C. perfringens toxins through the facilitating of their absorption is also suggested. Current data concerning regulation of cpb2 expression, CPB2 structure, its properties and presumptive role in pathogenesis of C. perfringens infections were reviewed in the present paper. Additionally some case reports concerning the putative role of CPB2 were reviewed.