Which toxin property of Clostridium perfringens contributes to tissue destruction in gas gangrene?

• A. Lecithinase (phospholipase) activity
• B. Hyaluronidase activity
• C. Diphtheria toxin activity
• D. Streptolysin O activity

Answer: (A)

The key factor driving tissue destruction in gas gangrene is a toxin that acts as a phospholipase to break down cell membranes. Clostridium perfringens produces an alpha toxin that functions as a lecithinase (phospholipase C), hydrolyzing phosphatidylcholine in cell membranes. This membrane disruption causes rapid myonecrosis, vascular injury, and local tissue necrosis, which underlies the severe tissue destruction and gas formation seen in gas gangrene.

Hyaluronidase can help bacteria spread through tissues in some infections, but it is not the primary driver of the lethal necrosis in gas gangrene. Diphtheria toxin and Streptolysin O come from other bacteria and have different mechanisms—diphtheria toxin inhibits protein synthesis, and Streptolysin O lyses cells by forming pores—so they don’t explain the specific tissue destruction in this disease.