EN
In this study, Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from feedingstuffs were characterised phenotypically (width of lecithinolysis and partial haemolysis zones, biochemical reactions and resistance to antibacterial substances) and genotypically (presence of toxin genes and genomic polymorphism analysis). C. perfringens toxin genes were detected by multiplex PCR and genomic polymorphism was analysed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. It was demonstrated that C. perfringens strains type A, among which more than half belonged to subtype ß2, were the most commonly isolated strains. Strains containing cpb2 gene revealed higher diversity of their biochemical reactions, more often occurring antibiotic resistance, and lower genomic DNA profile similarity. Feedingstuffs may serve as a source of C. perfringens, the most important animal pathogen among anaerobic sporulating bacteria. Widely occurrence of cpb2 gene among C. perfringens isolates from feedingstuffs may suggest taking into account ß2 toxin in animal immunoprophylaxis. The knowledge gained in this study shows feedingstuffs as a source of C. perfringens ß2 toxin in food chain and sheds light on the animal immunoprophylaxis regarding diseases caused by this microorganism.