Clostridium
| Clostridium | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
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| Species | ||||||||||||
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Clostridium acetobutylicum Clostridium aerotolerans Clostridium botulinum Clostridium colicanis Clostridium difficile Clostridium formicaceticum Clostridium novyi Clostridium perfringens Clostridium tetani |
There are many species of Clostridium but the four main species that cause disease in humans are:
- Clostridium botulinum the organism that produces a toxin in food that causes botulism.
- Clostridium difficile which can overtake other bacteria in the gut when antibiotics are given, causing pseudomembranous colitis.
- Clostridium perfringens that gets into wounds to cause gas gangrene.
- Clostridium tetani the organism that causes tetanus (lockjaw).
