Pathogenomics of Necrotic enteritis associated Clostridium perfringens

The bacterial pathogen, Clostridium perfringens, causes necrotic enteritis, an intestinal disease of chickens. This disease is of concern to the global poultry industry. C. perfringens can also cause diseases in other animals, including humans. In this thesis, the genetic structure of a collection of C. perfringens strains was analysed and correlated with the different abilities of these strains to cause disease. It was established that significant genetic differences exist between strains and that transfer of genes between bacteria may contribute to the emergence and spread of new virulent strains of bacteria.