1
|
Kuttappan DA, Mooyottu S, Sponseller BA. An Overview of Equine Enteric Clostridial Diseases. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2023; 39:15-23. [PMID: 36737289 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The understanding of the pathogenesis of equine enteric clostridial organisms is an active, evolving field. Advances will improve our knowledge both from the animal welfare and human health perspectives. The zoonotic nature of this group of diseases makes them relevant in the age of One health, as a significant amount of close human-equine interactions occurs for business and pleasure. Economic and welfare reasons prompt a better understanding of enteric clostridial pathogenesis, treatment, and control of the infection in horses and ongoing efforts are needed to advance clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shankumar Mooyottu
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1130 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Brett A Sponseller
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, 2134 College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA 50011-1134, USA; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Uzal FA, Navarro MA, Asin J, Boix O, Ballarà-Rodriguez I, Gibert X. Clostridial diarrheas in piglets: A review. Vet Microbiol 2023; 280:109691. [PMID: 36870204 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens type C and Clostridioides difficile are the main enteric clostridial pathogens of swine and are both responsible for neonatal diarrhea in this species. The role of Clostridum perfringes type A is under discussion. History, clinical signs, gross lesions and histological findings are the basis for a presumptive diagnosis of C. perfringens type C or C. difficile infection. Confirmation is based upon detection of beta toxin of C. perfringens type C or toxin A/B of C. difficile, respectively, in intestinal contents or feces. Isolation of C. perfringens type C and/or C. difficile is highly suggestive of infection by these microorganisms but it is not enough to confirm a diagnosis as they may be found in the intestine of some healthy individuals. Diagnosis of C. perfringens type A-associated diarrhea is more challenging because the diagnostic criteria have not been well defined and the specific role of alpha toxin (encoded by all strains of this microorganism) and beta 2 toxin (produced by some type A strains) is not clear. The goal of this paper is to describe the main clostridial enteric diseases of piglets, including etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, pathology and diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, 105 W Central Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USA.
| | - Mauricio A Navarro
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Javier Asin
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, 105 W Central Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USA
| | - Oriol Boix
- HIPRA, Avda. la Selva 135, CP 17170 Amer (Girona), Spain
| | | | - Xavier Gibert
- HIPRA, Avda. la Selva 135, CP 17170 Amer (Girona), Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Airborne spores’ dissemination of a swine associated Clostridioides difficile clone. Anaerobe 2022; 78:102651. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
4
|
Ferreira WT, Hong HA, Adams JRG, Hess M, Kotowicz NK, Tan S, Ferrari E, Brisson A, Zentek J, Soloviev M, Cutting SM. Environmentally Acquired Bacillus and Their Role in C. difficile Colonization Resistance. Biomedicines 2022; 10:930. [PMID: 35625667 PMCID: PMC9138776 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an environmentally acquired, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium which ordinarily causes disease following antibiotic-mediated dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota. Although much is understood regarding the life cycle of C. difficile, the fate of C. difficile spores upon ingestion remains unclear, and the underlying factors that predispose an individual to colonization and subsequent development of C. difficile infection (CDI) are not fully understood. Here, we show that Bacillus, a ubiquitous and environmentally acquired, spore-forming bacterium is associated with colonization resistance to C. difficile. Using animal models, we first provide evidence that animals housed under conditions that mimic reduced environmental exposure have an increased susceptibility to CDI, correlating with a loss in Bacillus. Lipopeptide micelles (~10 nm) produced by some Bacilli isolated from the gastro-intestinal (GI)-tract and shown to have potent inhibitory activity to C. difficile have recently been reported. We show here that these micelles, that we refer to as heterogenous lipopeptide lytic micelles (HELMs), act synergistically with components present in the small intestine to augment inhibitory activity against C. difficile. Finally, we show that provision of HELM-producing Bacillus to microbiota-depleted animals suppresses C. difficile colonization thereby demonstrating the significant role played by Bacillus in colonization resistance. In the wider context, our study further demonstrates the importance of environmental microbes on susceptibility to pathogen colonization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William T. Ferreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Huynh A. Hong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - James R. G. Adams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Mateusz Hess
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Natalia K. Kotowicz
- SporeGen Ltd., London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London NW1 0NH, UK;
| | - Sisareuth Tan
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Moléculaire et Nano-Bio-Technologie, UMR-CBMN CNRS-Université de Bordeaux-IPB, 33607 Pessac, France; (S.T.); (A.B.)
| | - Enrico Ferrari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK;
| | - Alain Brisson
- Laboratoire d’Imagerie Moléculaire et Nano-Bio-Technologie, UMR-CBMN CNRS-Université de Bordeaux-IPB, 33607 Pessac, France; (S.T.); (A.B.)
| | - Jurgen Zentek
- Institute for Animal Health, Freie University of Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany;
| | - Mikhail Soloviev
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
| | - Simon M. Cutting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (W.T.F.); (H.A.H.); (J.R.G.A.); (M.H.)
- SporeGen Ltd., London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London NW1 0NH, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Alves F, Nunes A, Castro R, Sequeira A, Moreira O, Matias R, Rodrigues JC, Silveira L, Gomes JP, Oleastro M. Assessment of the Transmission Dynamics of Clostridioides difficile in a Farm Environment Reveals the Presence of a New Toxigenic Strain Connected to Swine Production. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:858310. [PMID: 35495679 PMCID: PMC9050547 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.858310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent increase in community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infections discloses the shift in this bacterium epidemiology. This study aimed at establishing a transmission network involving One Health components, as well as assessing the zoonotic potential and genomic features of dominant clones. Samples were collected from different compartments of animal, human and environmental origin, from an animal production unit. C. difficile isolates were characterized for toxigenic profile by multiplex-PCR, while genetic diversity was evaluated by PCR-ribotyping and whole genome-based analysis. The overall C. difficile prevalence was 37.2% (70/188), and included samples from environmental (58.3%, 35/60) and animal (31.5%, 35/111) compartments; human samples (n = 17) taken from healthy workers were negative. A predominant clone from RT033 was found in almost 90% of the positive samples, including samples from all compartments connected to the pig production unit, with core-genome single nucleotide variant (SNV)-based Analysis supporting a clonal transmission between them (mean distance of 0.1 ± 0.1 core-SNVs). The isolates from this clone (herein designated PT RT033) were positive for all C. difficile toxin genes (tcdA, tcdB, cdtA/cdtB). The phyloGenetic positioning of this clone was clearly distinct from the classical RT033 cluster, suggesting a different evolutionary route. This new clone shares genomic features with several RTs from the clade 5 Sequence Type (ST) 11, including a complete pathogenicity locus (PaLoc) that is more similar to the one found in toxigenic strains and contrasting to the less virulent classical RT033 (tcdA-, tcdB-, cdtA + /cdtB +). The presence of a tcdA gene truncated into two ORFs, not previously described, requires further evaluation concerning toxin functionality. We hypothesize that the unique combination of genetic elements found in the PT RT033 clone may contribute to host tropism and environmental dissemination and maintenance. This study constitutes the first report of a toxigenic RT033 clone and adds to the overall knowledge on Clade 5 sequence type 11, considered the C. difficile evolutionary lineage with the highest zoonotic potential. The presence of this clone in all compartments associated with the pig production unit suggests a transmission chain involving these animals and contributes to unveil the role played by animal and environmental reservoirs in this pathogen epidemiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Alves
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Nunes
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
- CBIOS – Lusófona University Research Centre for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Castro
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António Sequeira
- National Zootechnical Station, National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Santarém, Portugal
| | - Olga Moreira
- National Zootechnical Station, National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Santarém, Portugal
| | - Rui Matias
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Carlos Rodrigues
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Leonor Silveira
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mónica Oleastro
- Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
A short communication article: A Clostridioides difficile surveillance study of Canadian retail meat samples from 2016-2018. Anaerobe 2022; 74:102551. [PMID: 35341959 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we isolated and molecularly characterized 10 (1.6%) C. difficile isolates from 644 commercially available raw meat samples. Molecular typing by PFGE and ribotyping revealed NAP and ribotypes commonly associated with human clinical cases, suggesting retail meat could be a possible source of transmission warranting further investigation.
Collapse
|
7
|
Zeilinger K, Hellmich J, Zentek J, Vahjen W. Novel ex vivo screening assay to preselect farm specific pre- and probiotics in pigs. Benef Microbes 2021; 12:567-581. [PMID: 34420495 DOI: 10.3920/bm2020.0226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A novel rapid ex vivo assay was developed as part of a concept to determine potential tailor-made combinations of pre- and probiotics for individual farms. Sow faecal slurries from 20 German pig farms were anaerobically incubated with pre- and probiotics or their combinations together with pathogenic strains that are of interest in pig production. Aliquots of these slurries were then incubated with media containing antibiotic mixtures allowing only growth of the specific pathogen. Growth was monitored and lag time was used to determine the residual fitness of the pathogenic strains. The background growth could be inhibited for an Escherichia coli- and a Clostridium difficile- but not for a Clostridium perfringens strain. The prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and its combination with probiotics reduced the residual fitness of the E. coli strain in some farms. However, notable exceptions occurred in other farms where FOS increased the fitness of the E. coli strain. Generally, combinations of pre- and probiotics did not show additive effects on fitness for E. coli but displayed farm dependent differences. The effects of pre- and probiotics on the residual fitness of the C. difficile strain were less pronounced, but distinct differences between single application of prebiotics and their combination with probiotics were observed. It was concluded that the initial composition of the microbiota in the samples was more determinative for incubations with the C. difficile strain than for incubations with the E. coli strain, as the presumed fermentation of prebiotic products showed less influence on the fitness of the C. difficile strain. Farm dependent differences were pronounced for both pathogenic strains and therefore, this novel screening method offers a promising approach for pre-selecting pre- and probiotics for individual farms. However, evaluation of farm metadata (husbandry, feed, management) will be crucial in future studies to determine a tailor-made solution for combinations of pre- and probiotics for individual farms. Also, refinement of the ex vivo assay in terms of on-farm processing of samples and validation of unambiguous growth for pathogenic strains from individual farms should be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Zeilinger
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - J Hellmich
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - J Zentek
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - W Vahjen
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Neonatal Piglets Are Protected from Clostridioides difficile Infection by Age-Dependent Increase in Intestinal Microbial Diversity. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0124321. [PMID: 34550001 PMCID: PMC8557904 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01243-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While Clostridioides difficile is recognized as an important human pathogen, it is also a significant cause of gastroenteritis and associated diarrhea in neonatal pigs. Since clinical disease is rarely diagnosed in piglets older than 1 week of age, it is hypothesized that natural resistance is associated with the increased complexity of the intestinal microbiota as the animals age. To test this, piglets were challenged with C. difficile (ribotype 078/toxinotype V) at times ranging from 2 to 14 days of age, and the severity of disease and microbial diversity of the cecal microbiota were assessed. Half of the piglets that were challenged with C. difficile at 2 and 4 days of age developed clinical signs of disease. The incidence of disease decreased rapidly as the piglets aged, to a point where none of the animals challenged after 10 days of age showed clinical signs. The cecal microbial community compositions of the piglets also clustered by age, with those of animals 2 to 4 days old showing closer relationships to one another than to those of older piglets (8 to 14 days). This clustering occurred across litters from 4 different sows, providing further evidence that the resistance to C. difficile disease in piglets greater than 1 week old is directly related to the diversity and complexity of the intestinal microbiota. IMPORTANCE C. difficile is an important bacterial pathogen that is the most common cause of infections associated with health care in the United States. It also causes significant morbidity and mortality in neonatal pigs, and currently there are no preventative treatments available to livestock producers. This study determined the age-related susceptibility of piglets to C. difficile over the first 2 weeks of life, along with documenting the natural age-related changes that occurred in the intestinal microbiota over the same time period in a controlled environment. We observed that the populations of intestinal bacteria within individual animals of the same age, regardless of litter, showed the highest degree of similarity. Identifying bacterial species associated with the acquisition of natural resistance observed in older pigs could lead to the development of new strategies to prevent and or treat disease caused by C. difficile infection.
Collapse
|
9
|
Tsai CS, Hung YP, Lee JC, Syue LS, Hsueh PR, Ko WC. Clostridioides difficile infection: an emerging zoonosis? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2021; 19:1543-1552. [PMID: 34383624 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1967746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and one of the common infections in healthcare facilities. In recent decades, there has been an emerging threat of community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI). Environmental transmission of C. difficile in the community setting has become a major concern, and animals are an important reservoir for C. difficile causing human diseases. AREAS COVERED In this article, the molecular epidemiology of C. difficile in animals and recent evidences of zoonotic transfer to humans are reviewed based on an electronic search in the databases of PubMed and Google Scholar. EXPERT OPINION C. difficile can be found in stool from diarrheal dogs and cats; therefore, household pets could be a potential source. C. difficile will threaten human health because hypervirulent C. difficile ribotype 078 strains have been found in retail chickens, pig farms, and slaughterhouses. Risk factors for fecal C. difficile carriage in animals include young age, dietary changes, and antibiotic abuse in domestic animals. With the advent of whole genome sequencing techniques, there will be more solid evidence indicating zoonotic transfer of C. difficile from animals to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Shiang Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Yunlin, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Pin Hung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Chieh Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Shan Syue
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ren Hsueh
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Ko
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Darwich L, Seminati C, López-Olvera JR, Vidal A, Aguirre L, Cerdá M, Garcias B, Valldeperes M, Castillo-Contreras R, Migura-Garcia L, Conejero C, Mentaberre G. Detection of Beta-Lactam-Resistant Escherichia coli and Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile Strains in Wild Boars Foraging in an Anthropization Gradient. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061585. [PMID: 34071332 PMCID: PMC8229602 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease transmission among wild boars, domestic animals and humans is a public health concern, especially in areas with high wild boar densities. In this study, fecal samples of wild boars (n = 200) from different locations of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona were analyzed by PCR to explore the frequency of β-lactamases and extended cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance genes (ESBLs) in Escherichia coli strains and the presence of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile. The prevalence of genes conferring resistance to β-lactam antimicrobials was 8.0% (16/200): blaCMY-2 (3.0%), blaTEM-1b (2.5%), blaCTX-M-14 (1.0%), blaSHV-28 (1.0%), blaCTX-M-15 (0.5%) and blaCMY-1 (0.5%). Clostridioides difficile TcdA+ was detected in two wild boars (1.0%), which is the first report of this pathogen in wild boars in Spain. Moreover, the wild boars foraging in urban and peri-urban locations were more exposed to AMRB sources than the wild boars dwelling in natural environments. In conclusion, the detection of E. coli carrying ESBL/AmpC genes and toxigenic C. difficile in wild boars foraging in urban areas reinforces the value of this game species as a sentinel of environmental AMRB sources. In addition, these wild boars can be a public and environmental health concern by disseminating AMRB and other zoonotic agents. Although this study provides the first hints of the potential anthropogenic sources of AMR, further efforts should be conducted to identify and control them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laila Darwich
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.V.); (L.A.); (M.C.); (B.G.)
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain;
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Swine Diseases in Eu-rope (IRTA-CReSA), Bellaterra, CP-08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (L.D.); (C.S.); Tel.: +34-935811046 (L.D. & C.S.)
| | - Chiara Seminati
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.V.); (L.A.); (M.C.); (B.G.)
- Correspondence: (L.D.); (C.S.); Tel.: +34-935811046 (L.D. & C.S.)
| | - Jorge R. López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.R.L.-O.); (M.V.); (R.C.-C.); (C.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Anna Vidal
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.V.); (L.A.); (M.C.); (B.G.)
| | - Laia Aguirre
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.V.); (L.A.); (M.C.); (B.G.)
| | - Marina Cerdá
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.V.); (L.A.); (M.C.); (B.G.)
| | - Biel Garcias
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (A.V.); (L.A.); (M.C.); (B.G.)
| | - Marta Valldeperes
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.R.L.-O.); (M.V.); (R.C.-C.); (C.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Raquel Castillo-Contreras
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.R.L.-O.); (M.V.); (R.C.-C.); (C.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Lourdes Migura-Garcia
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain;
- OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Swine Diseases in Eu-rope (IRTA-CReSA), Bellaterra, CP-08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Conejero
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.R.L.-O.); (M.V.); (R.C.-C.); (C.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d’Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), CP-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (J.R.L.-O.); (M.V.); (R.C.-C.); (C.C.); (G.M.)
- Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agraria (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), CP-25098 Lleida, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Weese JS, Slovis N, Rousseau J. Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile in neonatal foals and mares at a referral hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2021; 35:1140-1146. [PMID: 33656757 PMCID: PMC7995440 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile is important for the development and assessment of infection prevention and control practices, as well as surveillance methods and interpretation of diagnostic testing results. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to longitudinally evaluate C. difficile shedding in neonatal foals and mares admitted to a referral hospital neonatal intensive care unit. ANIMALS Foals admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, along with their dams. METHODS Rectal swabs were collected from mares and foals at admission, and then approximately every 3 days, when possible. Selective culture for C. difficile was performed and isolates were characterized by toxin gene PCR and ribotyping. RESULTS Clostridium difficile was isolated from 103/409 (25%) samples; 65/208 (31%) from foals and 38/201 (19%) from mares. Cumulatively, C. difficile was isolated from at least 1 sample from 50/113 (44%) foals and 30/97 (31%) mares. No association was found between hospitalization day and isolation of C. difficile (P = .13). Twenty-three different ribotypes were identified, with ribotype 078 predominating. Fifteen foals had 2 positive samples during hospitalization. In only 6/15 (40%) foals was the same strain identified both times (5 ribotype 078 and 1 ribotype 012). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Clostridium difficile is an important pathogen in adult horses and foals, and our findings highlight the complexity surrounding the epidemiology of this opportunistic pathogen. It can be found commonly, transiently, and cluster within a facility in the absence of identifiable disease occurrences or clusters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nathan Slovis
- McGee Medical Center, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Joyce Rousseau
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Search for the Occurrence of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens in Pigs Within Zaria and Environs, in Kaduna State, Nigeria. FOLIA VETERINARIA 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/fv-2020-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Animals have been known to be the main study subjects when investigating the epidemiology of zoonotic Gram-positive Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens. This cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the occurrence of C. difficile and C. perfringens in pigs as well as the associated risk factors within Zaria and environs, in Kaduna State of Nigeria. A pre-sampling survey led to the selection of Shika, Samaru and Ungwan Mangu in the pig farming communities of Zaria and environs in Kaduna North as the study sites. Rectal swabs from 132 pigs were obtained and anaerobically cultured in fluid thioglycolate and further grown on reinforced clostridia agar. The colonies obtained were sub-cultured in Clostridium difficile moxalactam norfloxacin agar and reinforced clostridia agar containing egg yolk tellurite. C. difficile was not detected. However, C. perfringens was detected at a prevalence of 16.7 % (22/132). Isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 13 antimicrobials. Only 1 isolate (4.55 %) demonstrated susceptibility to vancomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin. Of the bivariate analyses of the risk factors studied, only the type of piggery and pig management were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for C. perfringens. Therefore, it should be recognized that there is a need for pig farmers to be enlightened about this pathogen and its prevention through good management practices and hygiene.
Collapse
|
13
|
Porcine Colostrum Protects the IPEC-J2 Cells and Piglet Colon Epithelium against Clostridioides (syn. Clostridium) difficile Toxin-Induced Effects. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8010142. [PMID: 31968636 PMCID: PMC7022787 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile toxins are one of the main causative agents for the clinical symptoms observed during C. difficile infection in piglets. Porcine milk has been shown to strengthen the epithelial barrier function in the piglet’s intestine and may have the potential to neutralise clostridial toxins. We hypothesised that porcine colostrum exerts protective effects against those toxins in the IPEC-J2 cells and in the colon epithelium of healthy piglets. The IPEC-J2 cells were treated with either the toxins or porcine colostrum or their combination. Analyses included measurement of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), cell viability using propidium iodide by flow cytometry, gene expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and immune markers, immunofluorescence (IF) histology of the cytoskeleton and a TJ protein assessment. Colon tissue explants from one- and two-week-old suckling piglets and from five-week-old weaned piglets were treated with C. difficile toxins in Ussing chamber assays to assess the permeability to macromolecules (FITC-dextran, HRP), followed by analysis of gene expression of TJ proteins and immune markers. Toxins decreased viability and integrity of IPEC-J2 cells in a time-dependent manner. Porcine colostrum exerted a protective effect against toxins as indicated by TEER and IF in IPEC-J2 cells. Toxins tended to increase paracellular permeability to macromolecules in colon tissues of two-week-old piglets and downregulated gene expression of occludin in colon tissues of five-week-old piglets (p = 0.05). Porcine milk including colostrum, besides other maternal factors, may be one of the important determinants of early immune programming towards protection from C. difficile infections in the offspring.
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that is an important cause of disease in people, a variably important cause of disease in some animal species, and an apparently harmless commensal in others. Regardless of whether it is a known pathogen in a particular species, it can also be found in healthy individuals, sometimes at high prevalences and typically with higher rates of carriage in young individuals. As it is investigated in more animal species, it is apparent that this bacterium is widely disseminated in a diverse range of domestic and wild animal species. Although it can be found in most species in which investigations have been performed, there are pronounced intra- and inter-species differences in prevalence and clinical relevance. A wide range of strains can be identified, some that appear to be animal associated and others that are found in humans and animals. A large percentage of strains that cause disease in people can at least sporadically be found in animals. It is a potentially important zoonotic pathogen, but there is limited direct evidence of animal-human transmission. Although C. difficile has been studied extensively over the past few decades, it remains an enigmatic organism in many ways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology and Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Weese)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile in Food-Producing Animals, Horses and Household Pets: A Comprehensive Review. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7120667. [PMID: 31835413 PMCID: PMC6955671 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is ubiquitous in the environment and is also considered as a bacterium of great importance in diarrhea-associated disease for humans and different animal species. Food animals and household pets are frequently found positive for toxigenic C. difficile without exposing clinical signs of infection. Humans and animals share common C. difficile ribotypes (RTs) suggesting potential zoonotic transmission. However, the role of animals for the development of human infection due to C. difficile remains unclear. One major public health issue is the existence of asymptomatic animals that carry and shed the bacterium to the environment, and infect individuals or populations, directly or through the food chain. C. difficile ribotype 078 is frequently isolated from food animals and household pets as well as from their environment. Nevertheless, direct evidence for the transmission of this particular ribotype from animals to humans has never been established. This review will summarize the current available data on epidemiology, clinical presentations, risk factors and laboratory diagnosis of C. difficile infection in food animals and household pets, outline potential prevention and control strategies, and also describe the current evidence towards a zoonotic potential of C. difficile infection.
Collapse
|
16
|
Putsathit P, Neela VK, Joseph NMS, Ooi PT, Ngamwongsatit B, Knight DR, Riley TV. Molecular epidemiology of Clostridium difficile isolated from piglets. Vet Microbiol 2019; 237:108408. [PMID: 31585650 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.108408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Information on the epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in South-East Asian countries is limited, as is data on possible animal reservoirs of C. difficile in the region. We investigated the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of C. difficile in piglets and the piggery environment in Thailand and Malaysia. Piglet rectal swabs (n = 224) and piggery environmental specimens (n = 23) were collected between 2015 and 2016 from 11 farms located in Thailand and Malaysia. All specimens were tested for the presence of C. difficile with toxigenic culture. PCR assays were performed on isolates to determine the ribotype (RT), and the presence of toxin genes. Whole genome sequencing was used on a subset of isolates to determine the evolutionary relatedness of RT038 (the most prevalent RT identified) common to pigs and humans from Thailand and Indonesia. C. difficile was recovered from 35% (58/165) and 92% (54/59) of the piglets, and 89% (8/9) and 93% (13/14) of the environmental specimens from Thailand and Malaysia, respectively. All strains from Thailand, and 30 strains from Malaysia (23 piglet and 7 environmental isolates) were non-toxigenic. To our knowledge, this is the first and only report with a complete lack of toxigenic C. difficile among piglets, a feature which could have a protective effect on the host. The most common strain belonged to RT038 (ST48), accounting for 88% (51/58) of piglet and 78% (7/9) of environmental isolates from Thailand, and all 30 isolates tested from Malaysia. Piglet RT038 isolates from Thailand and Malaysia differed by only 18 core-genome single nucleotide variants (cgSNVs) and both were, on average, 30 cgSNVs different from the human strains from Thailand and Indonesia, indicating a common ancestor in the last two decades.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Papanin Putsathit
- Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Vasantha K Neela
- Universiti Putra Malaysia, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Narcisse M S Joseph
- Universiti Putra Malaysia, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Peck Toung Ooi
- Universiti Putra Malaysia, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Serdang, Malaysia
| | | | - Daniel R Knight
- Murdoch University, Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas V Riley
- Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia; Murdoch University, Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Berry ASF, Kelly BJ, Barnhart D, Kelly DJ, Beiting DP, Baldassano RN, Redding LE. Gut microbiota features associated with Clostridioides difficile colonization in puppies. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215497. [PMID: 31469837 PMCID: PMC6716646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In people, colonization with Clostridioides difficile, the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, has been shown to be associated with distinct gut microbial features, including reduced bacterial community diversity and depletion of key taxa. In dogs, the gut microbiota features that define C. difficile colonization are less well understood. We sought to define the gut microbiota features associated with C. difficile colonization in puppies, a population where the prevalence of C. difficile has been shown to be elevated, and to define the effect of puppy age and litter upon these features and C. difficile risk. We collected fecal samples from weaned (n = 27) and unweaned (n = 74) puppies from 13 litters and analyzed the effects of colonization status, age and litter on microbial diversity using linear mixed effects models. Colonization with C. difficile was significantly associated with younger age, and colonized puppies had significantly decreased bacterial community diversity and differentially abundant taxa compared to non-colonized puppies, even when adjusting for age. C. difficile colonization remained associated with decreased bacterial community diversity, but the association did not reach statistical significance in a mixed effects model incorporating litter as a random effect. Even though litter explained a greater proportion (67%) of the variability in microbial diversity than colonization status, we nevertheless observed heterogeneity in gut microbial community diversity and colonization status within more than half of the litters, suggesting that the gut microbiota contributes to colonization resistance against C. difficile. The colonization of puppies with C. difficile has important implications for the potential zoonotic transfer of this organism to people. The identified associations point to mechanisms by which C. difficile colonization may be reduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S. F. Berry
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Brendan J. Kelly
- Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Denise Barnhart
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Donna J. Kelly
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Daniel P. Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Robert N. Baldassano
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Laurel E. Redding
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Developing Gut Microbiota Exerts Colonisation Resistance to Clostridium (syn. Clostridioides) difficile in Piglets. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7080218. [PMID: 31357520 PMCID: PMC6723027 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7080218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium (syn. Clostridioides) difficile is considered a pioneer colonizer and may cause gut infection in neonatal piglets. The aim of this study was to explore the microbiota-C. difficile associations in pigs. We used the DNA from the faeces of four sows collected during the periparturient period and from two to three of their piglets (collected weekly until nine weeks of age) for the determination of bacterial community composition (sequencing) and C. difficile concentration (qPCR). Furthermore, C. difficile-negative faeces were enriched in a growth medium, followed by qPCR to verify the presence of this bacterium. Clostridium-sensu-stricto-1 and Lactobacillus spp. predominated the gut microbiota of the sows and their offspring. C. difficile was detected at least once in the faeces of all sows during the entire sampling period, albeit at low concentrations. Suckling piglets harboured C. difficile in high concentrations (up to log10 9.29 copy number/g faeces), which gradually decreased as the piglets aged. Enrichment revealed the presence of C. difficile in previously C. difficile-negative sow and offspring faeces. In suckling piglets, the C. difficile level was negatively correlated with carbohydrate-fermenting bacteria, and it was positively associated with potential pathogens. Shannon and richness diversity indices were negatively associated with the C. difficile counts in suckling piglets. This study showed that gut microbiota seems to set conditions for colonisation resistance against C. difficile in the offspring. However, this conclusion requires further research to include host-specific factors.
Collapse
|
19
|
Knight DR, Riley TV. Genomic Delineation of Zoonotic Origins of Clostridium difficile. Front Public Health 2019; 7:164. [PMID: 31281807 PMCID: PMC6595230 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is toxin-producing antimicrobial resistant (AMR) enteropathogen historically associated with diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis in hospitalized patients. In recent years, there have been dramatic increases in the incidence and severity of C. difficile infection (CDI), and associated morbidity and mortality, in both healthcare and community settings. C. difficile is an ancient and diverse species that displays a sympatric lifestyle, establishing itself in a range of ecological niches external to the healthcare system. These sources/reservoirs include food, water, soil, and over a dozen animal species, in particular, livestock such as pigs and cattle. In a manner analogous to human infection, excessive antimicrobial exposure, particularly to cephalosporins, is driving the expansion of C. difficile in livestock populations worldwide. Subsequent spore contamination of meat, vegetables grown in soil containing animal feces, agricultural by-products such as compost and manure, and the environment in general (households, lawns, and public spaces) is contributing to a persistent community source/reservoir of C. difficile and the insidious rise of CDI in the community. The whole-genome sequencing era continues to redefine our view of this complex pathogen. The application of high-resolution microbial genomics in a One Health framework (encompassing clinical, veterinary, and environment derived datasets) is the optimal paradigm for advancing our understanding of CDI in humans and animals. This approach has begun to yield critical insights into the genetic diversity, evolution, AMR, and zoonotic potential of C. difficile. In Europe, North America, and Australia, microevolutionary analysis of the C. difficile core genome shows strains common to humans and animals (livestock or companion animals) do not form distinct populations but share a recent evolutionary history. Moreover, for C. difficile sequence type 11 and PCR ribotypes 078 and 014, major lineages of One Health importance, this approach has substantiated inter-species clonal transmission between animals and humans. These findings indicate either a zoonosis or anthroponosis. Moreover, they challenge the existing paradigm and the long-held misconception that CDI is primarily a healthcare-associated infection. In this article, evolutionary, and zoonotic aspects of CDI are discussed, including the anthropomorphic factors that contribute to the spread of C. difficile from the farm to the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Knight
- Medical, Molecular, and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Thomas V Riley
- Medical, Molecular, and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mileto S, Das A, Lyras D. Enterotoxic Clostridia: Clostridioides difficile Infections. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0015-2018. [PMID: 31124432 PMCID: PMC11026080 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0015-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore forming pathogen of both humans and animals and is the most common identifiable infectious agent of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Infection can occur following the ingestion and germination of spores, often concurrently with a disruption to the gastrointestinal microbiota, with the resulting disease presenting as a spectrum, ranging from mild and self-limiting diarrhea to severe diarrhea that may progress to life-threating syndromes that include toxic megacolon and pseudomembranous colitis. Disease is induced through the activity of the C. difficile toxins TcdA and TcdB, both of which disrupt the Rho family of GTPases in host cells, causing cell rounding and death and leading to fluid loss and diarrhea. These toxins, despite their functional and structural similarity, do not contribute to disease equally. C. difficile infection (CDI) is made more complex by a high level of strain diversity and the emergence of epidemic strains, including ribotype 027-strains which induce more severe disease in patients. With the changing epidemiology of CDI, our understanding of C. difficile disease, diagnosis, and pathogenesis continues to evolve. This article provides an overview of the current diagnostic tests available for CDI, strain typing, the major toxins C. difficile produces and their mode of action, the host immune response to each toxin and during infection, animal models of disease, and the current treatment and prevention strategies for CDI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Mileto
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, 3800
| | - A Das
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, 3800
| | - D Lyras
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, 3800
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Weese JS, Salgado-Bierman F, Rupnik M, Smith DA, van Coeverden de Groot P. Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile shedding by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Canadian Arctic. Anaerobe 2019; 57:35-38. [PMID: 30880150 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile has been identified in humans and a wide range of animal species, but there has been little study of remote animal populations with limited human contact. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of C. difficile in wild and captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Fecal samples were collected from two populations of wild polar bears in Nunavut Canada; M'Clintock Channel and Hudson Strait (Davis Strait or Foxe Basin), as well as from a facility (PBJ) in Churchill, Manitoba that temporarily houses nuisance polar bears and from captive bears in a zoological park. Enrichment culture was performed and isolates were characterized by ribotyping and toxinotyping. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 24/143 (16.8%) of samples; 18/120 (15%) wild bear samples, 4/7 (57%) from the PBJ and 2/16 (13%) samples from three zoo bears. The prevalence of C. difficile was significantly higher in bears that were housed at the PBJ vs wild bears (P = 0.0042), but there was no difference between wild bears from M'Clintock Channel (14/100, 14%) and those from Hudson Strait (4/20, 20%) (P = 0.50). Fourteen of the 24 (58%) isolates were toxigenic; 13/18 (72%) wild bear isolates, 0/4 PBJ isolate and 1/2 zoo isolates. Four toxigenic ribotypes were identified, with one that possessed tcdB and cdtA predominating. None of the toxigenic isolates were ribotypes that have been identified previously by the authors. There was no overlap in toxigenic ribotypes between the different populations. Clostridium difficile was not uncommonly identified in polar bears, with differences in type distribution amongst the different regions. The presence of strains that have not been identified in humans or domestic animals suggests that polar bears may be a natural reservoir of unique strains of this important bacterium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Scott Weese
- Dept of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, On, N1G2W1, Canada.
| | - Fernando Salgado-Bierman
- Dept of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, On, N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Maja Rupnik
- National Laboratory for Environment, Health and Food, Maribor, Slovenia; University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Dale A Smith
- Dept of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, On, N1G2W1, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Oliveira Júnior CA, Silva ROS, Lage AP, Coura FM, Ramos CP, Alfieri AA, Guedes RMC, Lobato FCF. Non-toxigenic strain of Clostridioides difficile Z31 reduces the occurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) in one-day-old piglets on a commercial pig farm. Vet Microbiol 2019; 231:1-6. [PMID: 30955794 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal porcine diarrhea (NPD) is a current problem on pig farms and is caused by several enteropathogens. Among them, Clostridioides difficile stands out due to its importance in piglets and zoonotic potential. A non-toxigenic strain of C. difficile (NTCD), named Z31, was previously tested in hamster and piglet experimental models as a strategy to prevent C. difficile infection (CDI). To evaluate the capacity of the strain Z31 to prevent CDI and NPD in one-day-old piglets on a commercial farm, 90 piglets from 16 litters received 1 × 106 spores of Z31 while 84 animals from the same litters served as controls. Animals were clinically evaluated, and fecal samples were collected 24 h after administration and submitted to A/B toxin detection and isolation of C. difficile. Stool samples were also submitted to rotavirus, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens detection. Administration of Z31 reduced the incidence of CDI in treated animals (7.8%) when compared to the control group (25.0%; P = 0.003). In animals that developed CDI, the intensity of diarrhea was lower in those that received Z31 than in the control group. Neonatal porcine diarrhea was reduced in treated animals when compared to untreated animals (P < 0.001). The present study suggests that Z31 can potentially be used to prevent CDI in piglets on commercial farms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C A Oliveira Júnior
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
| | - R O S Silva
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil.
| | - A P Lage
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
| | - F M Coura
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
| | - C P Ramos
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
| | - A A Alfieri
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Km 380, Campus Universitário, Londrina, PR, CEP 86.057-970, Brazil
| | - R M C Guedes
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
| | - F C F Lobato
- Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31.270-901, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Candel-Pérez C, Ros-Berruezo G, Martínez-Graciá C. A review of Clostridioides [Clostridium] difficile occurrence through the food chain. Food Microbiol 2019; 77:118-129. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
24
|
Bandelj P, Harmanus C, Blagus R, Cotman M, Kuijper EJ, Ocepek M, Vengust M. Quantification of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile in feces of calves of different age and determination of predominant Clostridioides difficile ribotype 033 relatedness and transmission between family dairy farms using multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:298. [PMID: 30285751 PMCID: PMC6167908 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1616-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community acquired Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CA-CDI) is a significant health problem in human and veterinary medicine. Animals are often considered as potential reservoirs for CA-CDI. In Europe, family farming is the most predominant farming operation, with a complex interaction between animals and the community. Therefore, it is pertinent to evaluate transmission patterns of C. difficile on such prominent European farming model. Fecal samples from calves (n = 2442) were collected biweekly over a period of one year on 20 mid-size family dairy farms. Environmental samples (n = 475) were collected in a three month interval. Clostridioides difficile was detected using qPCR in 243 fecal samples (243/2442); positive samples were then quantified. Association between prevalence/load of C. difficile and age of the calves was estimated with logistic regression model. Most common C. difficile isolate from calves (n = 76) and the environment (n = 14) was C. difficile ribotype 033, which was further analyzed using multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) to assess intra- and between-farm relatedness. RESULTS Clostridioides difficile was detected in feces of calves less than 24 h old. Results showed a non-linear statistically significant decrease in shedding load of C. difficile with age (P < 0.0001). A nonlinear relationship was also established between the number of calves and the farm C. difficile prevalence, whereas the prevalence of C. difficile ribotype 033 increased linearly with the number of calves. MLVA revealed close intra-farm relatedness among C. difficile ribotypes 033. It also revealed that the between-farms close relatedness of C. difficile ribotypes 033 can be a direct result of farm to farm trade of calves. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of better hygiene and management measures on farms may help decrease the risk of spreading CA-CDI between animals and the community. Trading calves older than 3 weeks would decrease the possibility C. difficile dissemination in the community because of lower prevalence and lower load of C. difficile in feces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Bandelj
- 0000 0001 0721 6013grid.8954.0Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, Cesta v Mestni log 47, SI-1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Céline Harmanus
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Rok Blagus
- 0000 0001 0721 6013grid.8954.0Institute for biostatistics and Medical informatics, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, SI-1104 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Cotman
- 0000 0001 0721 6013grid.8954.0Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, Cesta v Mestni log 47, SI-1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ed J. Kuijper
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Matjaz Ocepek
- 0000 0001 0721 6013grid.8954.0Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, Cesta v Mestni log 47, SI-1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Modest Vengust
- 0000 0001 0721 6013grid.8954.0Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, Cesta v Mestni log 47, SI-1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
de Oliveira CA, de Paula Gabardo M, Guedes RMC, Poncet F, Blanc DS, Lobato FCF, Silva ROS. Rodents are carriers of Clostridioides difficile strains similar to those isolated from piglets. Anaerobe 2018; 51:61-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
|
26
|
High prevalence of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 078 in pigs in Korea. Anaerobe 2018; 51:42-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
27
|
Abstract
This study was to optimize the detection methods for Clostridium difficile from the animal manure-based composts. Both autoclaved and unautoclaved dairy composts were inoculated with a 12-h old suspension of a non-toxigenic C. difficile strain (ATCC 43593) and then plated on selected agar for vegetative cells and endospores. Six types of enrichment broths supplemented with taurocholate and l-cysteine were assessed for detecting a low level of artificially inoculated C. difficile (ca. 5 spores/g) from dairy composts. The efficacy of selected enrichment broths was further evaluated by isolating C. difficile from 29 commercial compost samples. Our results revealed that using heat-shock was more effective than using ethanol-shock for inducing endospore germination, and the highest endospore count (p < 0.05) was yielded at 60 °C for 25 min. C. difficile agar base, supplemented with 0.1% l-cysteine, 7% defibrinated horse blood, and cycloserine-cefoxitin (CDA-CYS-H-CC agar) was the best medium (p < 0.05) for recovering vegetative cells from compost. C. difficile endospore populations from both types of composts enumerated on both CDA-CYS-H-CC agar supplemented with 0.1% sodium taurocholate (CDA-CYS-H-CC-T agar) and brain heart infusion agar supplemented with 0.5% yeast extract, 0.1% l-cysteine, cycloserine-cefoxitin, and 0.1% sodium taurocholate (BHIA-YE-CYS-CC-T agar) media were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05). Overall, enrichment of inoculated compost samples in broths containing moxalactam-norfloxacin (MN) produced significantly higher (p < 0.05) spore counts than in non-selective broths or broths supplemented with CC. Enrichment in BHIB-YE-CYS-MN-T broth followed by culturing on an agar containing 7% horse blood and 0.1% taurocholate provided a more sensitive and selective combination of media for detecting a low population of C. difficile from environmental samples with high background microflora.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muthu Dharmasena
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Xiuping Jiang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
PCR-ribotype distribution of Clostridium difficile in Irish pigs. Anaerobe 2017; 48:237-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
29
|
Clostridium difficile in beef cattle farms, farmers and their environment: Assessing the spread of the bacterium. Vet Microbiol 2017; 210:183-187. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
30
|
Diseases of the Alimentary Tract. Vet Med (Auckl) 2017. [PMCID: PMC7167529 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-5246-0.00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
31
|
Warriner K, Xu C, Habash M, Sultan S, Weese S. Dissemination ofClostridium difficilein food and the environment: Significant sources ofC. difficilecommunity-acquired infection? J Appl Microbiol 2016; 122:542-553. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.13338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Warriner
- Department of Food Science; University of Guelph; Guelph ON Canada
| | - C. Xu
- Shanghai Ocean University; Shanghai China
| | - M. Habash
- School of Environmental Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph ON Canada
| | - S. Sultan
- School of Environmental Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph ON Canada
| | - S.J. Weese
- Pathobiology; University of Guelph; Guelph ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Moono P, Foster NF, Hampson DJ, Knight DR, Bloomfield LE, Riley TV. Clostridium difficile Infection in Production Animals and Avian Species: A Review. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2016; 13:647-655. [PMID: 27602596 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2016.2181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis in hospitalized humans. Recently, C. difficile infection (CDI) has been increasingly recognized as a cause of neonatal enteritis in food animals such as pigs, resulting in stunted growth, delays in weaning, and mortality, as well as colitis in large birds such as ostriches. C. difficile is a strictly anaerobic spore-forming bacterium, which produces two toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) as its main virulence factors. The majority of strains isolated from animals produce an additional binary toxin (C. difficile transferase) that is associated with increased virulence. C. difficile is ubiquitous in the environment and has a wide host range. This review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical presentations, risk factors, and laboratory diagnosis of CDI in animals. Increased awareness by veterinarians and animal owners of the significance of clinical disease caused by C. difficile in livestock and avians is needed. Finally, this review provides an overview on methods for controlling environmental contamination and potential therapeutics available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Moono
- 1 Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia , Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Niki F Foster
- 2 Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre , Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - David J Hampson
- 3 School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University , Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Daniel R Knight
- 1 Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia , Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Lauren E Bloomfield
- 4 Healthcare Associated Infection Unit, Department of Health, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Shenton Park, WA, Australia
| | - Thomas V Riley
- 1 Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia , Nedlands, WA, Australia .,2 Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre , Nedlands, WA, Australia .,3 School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University , Murdoch, WA, Australia .,4 Healthcare Associated Infection Unit, Department of Health, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Shenton Park, WA, Australia .,5 School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bloomfield LE, Riley TV. Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Community-Associated Clostridium difficile Infection: A Narrative Review. Infect Dis Ther 2016; 5:231-51. [PMID: 27370914 PMCID: PMC5019973 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-016-0117-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) was once considered a primarily nosocomial concern. Emerging evidence from the last 20 years has highlighted a drastic shift in the known epidemiology of CDI, with disease outside of hospitals apparently occurring more frequently and causing severe disease in populations that were thought to be at low risk. This narrative review summarises potential pathways for infection outside of the hospital environment and highlights likely routes of transmission. Further, evidence is presented on potential risk factors for development of disease. Understanding the epidemiology of CDI outside of hospitals is essential to the ability to prevent and control disease in vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Bloomfield
- School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
- Western Australian Department of Health, Communicable Diseases Control Directorate, Shenton Park, WA, Australia
| | - Thomas V Riley
- Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, 6027, WA, Australia.
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, 6150, WA, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Grześkowiak Ł, Zentek J, Vahjen W. Determination of the extent of Clostridium difficile colonisation and toxin accumulation in sows and neonatal piglets. Anaerobe 2016; 40:5-9. [PMID: 27108595 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is an important spore-forming, opportunistic pathogen in animal husbandry and health care. In pig farming, only neonatal piglets are affected, and diarrhoea and necrotising lesions are common symptoms leading to dehydration and in some cases death. This study aimed at the assessment of the quantitative development of C. difficile colonisation in neonatal piglets by determining the shedding of spores and C. difficile toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) concentrations in sow (n = 5-6) and piglet pen faeces (n = 5-6) at different time points. Spores were quantified on selective agar plates and toxins using ELISA method. C. difficile was not detected in the faeces of all but one sow during the perinatal period. Faeces of 2- and 4-day-old piglets contained 0.65 log cells/g and 5.88 log cells/g of C. difficile, respectively. Toxins were detected on day 4 at a concentration of 2.13 log ng/g (TcdA) and 2.06 log ng/g (TcdB). On day 6, concentration of C. difficile reached 6.14 log CFU/g and toxins 2.02 log ng/g (TcdA) and 2.20 log ng/g (TcdB). Two-week-old piglets showed 4.72 log CFU/g of C. difficile but toxins could not be detected. At 21 days of age, both C. difficile and toxins were undetectable. The concentration and the prevalence of C. difficile were positively associated with the prevalence of toxins in piglets. A very short time window for colonisation by C. difficile, including toxin-producing strains can be observed in neonatal piglets. The significance for animal health and the risk of a carrier status need to be addressed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grześkowiak
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise Strasse 49, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Zentek
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise Strasse 49, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wilfried Vahjen
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise Strasse 49, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bandelj P, Blagus R, Briski F, Frlic O, Vergles Rataj A, Rupnik M, Ocepek M, Vengust M. Identification of risk factors influencing Clostridium difficile prevalence in middle-size dairy farms. Vet Res 2016; 47:41. [PMID: 26968527 PMCID: PMC4788955 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-016-0326-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Farm animals have been suggested to play an important role in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the community. The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with C. difficile dissemination in family dairy farms, which are the most common farming model in the European Union. Environmental samples and fecal samples from cows and calves were collected repeatedly over a 1 year period on 20 mid-size family dairy farms. Clostridium difficile was detected in cattle feces on all farms using qPCR. The average prevalence between farms was 10% (0–44.4%) and 35.7% (3.7–66.7%) in cows and calves, respectively. Bacterial culture yielded 103 C. difficile isolates from cattle and 61 from the environment. Most C. difficile isolates were PCR-ribotype 033. A univariate mixed effect model analysis of risk factors associated dietary changes with increasing C. difficile prevalence in cows (P = 0.0004); and dietary changes (P = 0.004), breeding Simmental cattle (P = 0.001), mastitis (P = 0.003) and antibiotic treatment (P = 0.003) in calves. Multivariate analysis of risk factors found that dietary changes in cows (P = 0.0001) and calves (P = 0.002) increase C. difficile prevalence; mastitis was identified as a risk factor in calves (P = 0.001). This study shows that C. difficile is common on dairy farms and that shedding is more influenced by farm management than environmental factors. Based on molecular typing of C. difficile isolates, it could also be concluded that family dairy farms are currently not contributing to increased CDI incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Bandelj
- Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, cesta v Mestni log 47, 1115, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Rok Blagus
- Institute for biostatistics and Medical informatics, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1104, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Olga Frlic
- , Vinharje 6, 4223, Poljane nad Skofjo Loko, Slovenia
| | | | - Maja Rupnik
- National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Prvomajska ulica 1, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia.,Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaz Ocepek
- Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, cesta v Mestni log 47, 1115, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Modest Vengust
- Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, cesta v Mestni log 47, 1115, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Wu YC, Lee JJ, Tsai BY, Liu YF, Chen CM, Tien N, Tsai PJ, Chen TH. Potentially hypervirulent Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 078 lineage isolates in pigs and possible implications for humans in Taiwan. Int J Med Microbiol 2016; 306:115-22. [PMID: 26915500 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a human and animal pathogen. Recently, the incidence of community-acquired C. difficile infection has increased, and many studies have indicated that C. difficile might be food-borne. The correlation between C. difficile infection in humans and in animals has been a topic of debate. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic relatedness of C. difficile from human and pigs in Taiwan. We investigated the molecular epidemiology of C. difficile in healthy humans and pigs from 2011 to 2015. The isolation rate of C. difficile from pigs in 13 commercial farms was 49% (100/204), and a high proportion of hypervirulent (C. difficile carrying tcdA, tcdB, and cdtA/B genes and a 39-bp deletion in the tcdC gene) ribotype 078 lineage isolates (90%, 90/100; including 078, 126, 127, and 066-like isolates) were identified. In addition, the C. difficile ribotype 127 isolates from pigs typically exhibited moxifloxacin resistance (37/43; 86%). In healthy humans, the isolation rate was 4.3% (3/69), and all healthy human isolates were non-toxigenic. In particular, we compared the porcine isolates with two patient strains (ribotype 127) obtained from two hospitals in central Taiwan. The multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis revealed a high genetic relatedness between ribotype 127 from patients and pigs. This study indicated that isolates of the ribotype 078 lineage, and especially ribotype 127, were widely distributed in pig farms and showed a high frequency of moxifloxacin resistance. The closely related ribotype 127 from patients and pigs may have had a common origin or low diversity. In conclusion, C. difficile ribotype 127 is a noteworthy pathogen in pigs and poses a potential public health threat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chen Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No.250, Guoguang Rd., South Dist., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
| | - Jen-Jie Lee
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No.250, Guoguang Rd., South Dist., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
| | - Bo-Yang Tsai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Fen Liu
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No.250, Guoguang Rd., South Dist., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Ming Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, No.699, Sec. 8, Taiwan Blvd., Taichung 435, Taiwan.
| | - Ni Tien
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No.91 Hsuehshih Rd., Taichung 404, Taiwan.
| | - Pei-Jane Tsai
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
| | - Ter-Hsin Chen
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, No.250, Guoguang Rd., South Dist., Taichung 402, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Rodriguez C, Taminiau B, Van Broeck J, Delmée M, Daube G. Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 932:65-92. [PMID: 27350639 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2016_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Zoonoses are infections or diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact, close proximity or the environment. Clostridium difficile is ubiquitous in the environment, and the bacterium is able to colonise the intestinal tract of both animals and humans. Since domestic and food animals frequently test positive for toxigenic C. difficile, even without showing any signs of disease, it seems plausible that C. difficile could be zoonotic. Therefore, animals could play an essential role as carriers of the bacterium. In addition, the presence of the spores in different meats, fish, fruits and vegetables suggests a risk of foodborne transmission. This review summarises the current available data on C. difficile in animals and foods, from when the bacterium was first described up to the present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Rodriguez
- Department of Food Science, University of Liège-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Avenue de Cureghem 10, bât 43bis Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
| | - B Taminiau
- Department of Food Science, University of Liège-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Avenue de Cureghem 10, bât 43bis Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - J Van Broeck
- Belgian Reference Centre for Clostridium difficile (NRC), Pôle de microbiologie médicale, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - M Delmée
- Belgian Reference Centre for Clostridium difficile (NRC), Pôle de microbiologie médicale, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - G Daube
- Department of Food Science, University of Liège-Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Avenue de Cureghem 10, bât 43bis Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of antimicrobial and health care-associated diarrhea in humans, presenting a significant burden to global health care systems. In the last 2 decades, PCR- and sequence-based techniques, particularly whole-genome sequencing (WGS), have significantly furthered our knowledge of the genetic diversity, evolution, epidemiology, and pathogenicity of this once enigmatic pathogen. C. difficile is taxonomically distinct from many other well-known clostridia, with a diverse population structure comprising hundreds of strain types spread across at least 6 phylogenetic clades. The C. difficile species is defined by a large diverse pangenome with extreme levels of evolutionary plasticity that has been shaped over long time periods by gene flux and recombination, often between divergent lineages. These evolutionary events are in response to environmental and anthropogenic activities and have led to the rapid emergence and worldwide dissemination of virulent clonal lineages. Moreover, genome analysis of large clinically relevant data sets has improved our understanding of CDI outbreaks, transmission, and recurrence. The epidemiology of CDI has changed dramatically over the last 15 years, and CDI may have a foodborne or zoonotic etiology. The WGS era promises to continue to redefine our view of this significant pathogen.
Collapse
|
39
|
Moono P, Putsathit P, Knight DR, Squire MM, Hampson DJ, Foster NF, Riley TV. Persistence of Clostridium difficile RT 237 infection in a Western Australian piggery. Anaerobe 2015; 37:62-6. [PMID: 26679487 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is commonly associated with healthcare-related infections in humans, and is an emerging pathogen in food animal species. There is potential for transmission of C. difficile from animals or animal products to humans. This study aimed to determine if C. difficile RT 237 had persisted in a Western Australian piggery or if there had been a temporal change in C. difficile diversity. C. difficile carriage in litters with and without diarrhea was investigated, as was the acquisition of C. difficile over time using cohort surveys. Rectal swabs were obtained from piglets aged 1-10 days to determine prevalence of C. difficile carriage and samples were obtained from 20 piglets on days 1, 7, 13, 20, and 42 of life to determine duration of shedding. Isolation of C. difficile from feces was achieved by selective enrichment culture. All isolates were characterized by standard molecular typing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on selected isolates (n = 29). Diarrheic piglets were more likely to shed C. difficile than the non-diseased (p = 0.0124, χ2). In the cohort study, C. difficile was isolated from 40% samples on day 1, 50% on day 7, 20% on day 13, and 0% on days 20 and 42. All isolates were RT 237 and no antimicrobial resistance was detected. The decline of shedding of C. difficile to zero has public health implications because slaughter age pigs have a low likelihood of spreading C. difficile to consumers via pig meat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Moono
- Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Papanin Putsathit
- Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel R Knight
- Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michele M Squire
- Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David J Hampson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Niki F Foster
- Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine (WA), Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas V Riley
- Microbiology & Immunology, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine (WA), Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Larsson J, Aspán A, Lindberg R, Grandon R, Båverud V, Fall N, Jacobson M. Pathological and bacteriological characterization of neonatal porcine diarrhoea of uncertain aetiology. J Med Microbiol 2015; 64:916-926. [PMID: 26272503 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal porcine diarrhoea of uncertain aetiology has been reported from a number of countries. This study investigated 50 diarrhoeic and 19 healthy piglets from 10 affected Swedish herds. The piglets were blood-sampled for analysis of serum γ-globulin and necropsied, and the intestines were sampled for histopathology and cultured for Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. Escherichia coli isolates (n = 276) were examined by PCR for virulence genes encoding LT, STa, STb, EAST1, VT2e, F4, F5, F6, F18, F41, AIDA-I, intimin, and for the genes aaiC and aggR. Selected isolates were analysed for additional virulence genes by a microarray and subjected to O-typing. Clostridium perfringens isolates (n = 152) were examined by PCR for genes encoding major toxins, enterotoxin and beta2-toxin. There was no difference in serum γ-globulin concentration between diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets, and pathological lesions in the intestines were generally mild. Porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, a common cause of piglet diarrhoea, was only found in two piglets. Further, the virulence gene profiling did not suggest involvement of other diarrhoeogenic pathotypes of Escherichia coli. Growth of Clostridium perfringens did not differ between diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets. All isolates were type A, all were negative for enterotoxin, and 151 of 152 isolates were beta2-toxin positive. In pigs ≥ 2 days old, moderate to profuse growth of Clostridium difficile was more common in the controls. In conclusion, it was not possible to relate Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens type A and C or Clostridium difficile to neonatal porcine diarrhoea in any of the investigated herds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Larsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Aspán
- Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, SE-75189 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ronny Lindberg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rodrigo Grandon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Viveca Båverud
- Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, SE-75189 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nils Fall
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magdalena Jacobson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Bondo KJ, Weese JS, Rouseau J, Jardine CM. Longitudinal study of Clostridium difficile shedding in raccoons on swine farms and conservation areas in Ontario, Canada. BMC Vet Res 2015; 11:254. [PMID: 26446591 PMCID: PMC4597454 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-015-0563-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium difficile is an important enteropathogen affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The objectives of this study were to 1) compare the prevalence and characteristics of C. difficile isolated from the feces of raccoons trapped on swine farms and conservation sites, and 2) investigate the role of raccoons as potential reservoirs for host-adapted strains of C. difficile using a longitudinal study. Fecal swabs were collected from raccoons at 5 conservation sites and 5 swine farms, once every five weeks, from May to November, 2012. Results Clostridium difficile was isolated from 9 % (38/444) of samples, from 12 % (37/302) of raccoons, from all 10 sites. A total of 19 different ribotypes were identified, including 5 ribotypes that matched recognized international designations and which are also found in humans (001, 014, 056, 078, and 103). Location type (farm or conservation area) was not associated with C. difficile status (P = 0.448) but only 3 ribotypes (014, 056, and 078) were found in both location types. The prevalence of ribotype 078 was significantly higher on farms (4 %; 9/220) compared to conservation sites (1 %; 2/225) (P = 0.034). Only one of 108 raccoons caught in multiple sessions was positive on more than one occasion. Conclusions We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that raccoons harbour host-adapted strains of C. difficile; rather, it appears that raccoons transiently acquire C. difficile from the environment. Raccoons are unlikely to be maintaining C. difficile, but because we detected C. difficile strains that have the potential to cause illness in humans and livestock, and because raccoons can move relatively large distances, they may play a role in the dissemination of pathogenic ribotypes of C. difficile throughout the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J Bondo
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Joyce Rouseau
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Magistrali CF, Maresca C, Cucco L, Bano L, Drigo I, Filippini G, Dettori A, Broccatelli S, Pezzotti G. Prevalence and risk factors associated with Clostridium difficile shedding in veal calves in Italy. Anaerobe 2015; 33:42-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2015.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
43
|
Squire MM, Knight DR, Riley TV. Community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection and Australian food animals. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/ma15040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic Gram positive spore-forming bacterium, the leading cause of infectious diarrhoea (C. difficile infection; CDI) in hospitalised humans. The assumption that CDI is primarily a hospital-acquired infection is being questioned. Community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI) is increasing1 particularly in groups previously considered at low risk2,3. In Australia, CA-CDI rates doubled during 2011 and increased by 24% between 2011 and 20124. Two potentially high-risk practices in Australian food animal husbandry may present a risk for CA-CDI: slaughtering of neonatal animals for food, and effluent recycling to agriculture.
Collapse
|
44
|
Álvarez-Pérez S, Blanco JL, Peláez T, Lanzarot MP, Harmanus C, Kuijper E, García ME. Faecal shedding of antimicrobial-resistant Clostridium difficile
strains by dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2014; 56:190-5. [DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Álvarez-Pérez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense; Madrid Spain
| | - J. L. Blanco
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense; Madrid Spain
| | - T. Peláez
- Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas; Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón; Madrid Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina; Universidad Complutense; Madrid Spain
| | - M. P. Lanzarot
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense; Madrid Spain
| | - C. Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - E. Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - M. E. García
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria; Universidad Complutense; Madrid Spain
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Nationwide surveillance study of Clostridium difficile in Australian neonatal pigs shows high prevalence and heterogeneity of PCR ribotypes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 81:119-23. [PMID: 25326297 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03032-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is an important enteric pathogen of humans and the cause of diarrhea and enteritis in neonatal pigs. Outside Australia, prevalence in piglets can be up to 73%, with a single PCR ribotype (RT), 078, predominating. We investigated the prevalence and genotype of C. difficile in Australian pig herds. Rectal swabs (n = 229) were collected from piglets aged <7 days from 21 farms across Australia. Selective culture for C. difficile was performed and isolates characterized by PCR for toxin genes and PCR ribotyping. C. difficile was isolated from 52% of samples by direct culture on chromogenic agar and 67% by enrichment culture (P = 0.001). No association between C. difficile recovery or genotype and diarrheic status of either farm or piglets was found. The majority (87%; 130/154) of isolates were toxigenic. Typing revealed 23 different RTs, several of which are known to cause disease in humans, including RT014, which was isolated most commonly (23%; 36/154). RT078 was not detected. This study shows that colonization of Australian neonatal piglets with C. difficile is widespread in the herds sampled.
Collapse
|
46
|
Dahms C, Hübner NO, Wilke F, Kramer A. Mini-review: Epidemiology and zoonotic potential of multiresistant bacteria and Clostridium difficile in livestock and food. GMS HYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL 2014; 9:Doc21. [PMID: 25285265 PMCID: PMC4184042 DOI: 10.3205/dgkh000241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM Information on the epidemiology of multiresistant bacteria (MRB) with zoonotic potential is growing but still remains quite incomplete. This narrative mini-review provides a general overview of the epidemiology of the most important zoonotic MRB in cattle, swine and poultry in Europe. METHODS A literature search was conducted mainly on the PubMed website including articles published until April 2012. RESULTS Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) especially poses a zoonotic risk to people working in close contact with livestock. These people may become carriers themselves and the hazard of transmission into health-care facilities needs surveillance. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing bacteria are widely spread in both humans and livestock, sharing similar genotypes, especially of the CTX-M-group, which makes a zoonotic transfer very likely. Identical strains of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were found both in humans and animals, after ingestion of animal strains transient colonization of the human gut may be possible. Only a few data are available on the transmission of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) between humans and animals. Direct contact to colonized animals may be a risk factor as well as the exchange of resistance genes between human and animal staphylococci. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) ribotype 078 emerges in livestock and humans and a zoonotic transmission seems probable as genotypes and diseases resemble each other. CONCLUSION All discussed MRB and C. difficile are important nosocomial agents which also occur in livestock and were found in foods of animal origin. Further analysis is needed to reveal the exact transmission routes and to perform a reliable risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Dahms
- Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nils-Olaf Hübner
- Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
- Institute of Medical Diagnostics (IMD), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Florian Wilke
- Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Axel Kramer
- Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a well-known enteric pathogen of humans and the causative agent of high-morbidity enteritis in piglets aged 1 to 7 days. C. difficile prevalence in Australian piglets is as high as 70%. The current diagnostic assays have been validated only for human infections, and there are no published studies assessing their performance in Australian piglets. We evaluated the suitability of five assays for detecting C. difficile in 157 specimens of piglet feces. The assays included a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LMIA)-PCR for tcdA (illumigene C. difficile; Meridian), a real-time PCR for tcdB (GeneOhm Cdiff; Becton Dickinson), two-component enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for C. difficile glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (EIA-GDH) and TcdA/TcdB (EIA-TcdA/TcdB) (C. diff Quik Chek; Alere), and direct culture (DC) (C. difficile chromID agar; bioMérieux). The assays for detection of the organism were compared against enrichment culture (EC), and assays for detection of toxins/toxin genes were compared against EC followed by PCR for toxin genes (toxigenic EC [TEC]). The recovery of C. difficile by EC was 39.5% (n = 62/157), and TEC revealed that 58.1% (n = 36/62) of isolates were positive for at least one toxin gene (tcdA/tcdB). Compared with those for EC/TEC, the sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values were, respectively, as follows: DC, 91.9, 100.0, 100.0, and 95.0%; EIA-GDH, 41.9, 92.6, 78.8, and 71.0%; EIA-TcdA/TcdB, 5.6, 99.2, 66.7, and 77.9%; real-time PCR, 42.9, 96.7, 78.9, and 85.4% and LMIA-PCR, 25.0, 95.9, 64.3, and 81.1%. The performance of the molecular methods was poor, suggesting that the current commercially available assays for diagnosis of C. difficile in humans are not suitable for use in piglets. C. difficile recovery by the DC provides a cost-effective alternative.
Collapse
|
48
|
Avberšek J, Pirš T, Pate M, Rupnik M, Ocepek M. Clostridium difficile in goats and sheep in Slovenia: Characterisation of strains and evidence of age-related shedding. Anaerobe 2014; 28:163-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
49
|
Himsworth CG, Patrick DM, Mak S, Jardine CM, Tang P, Weese JS. Carriage of Clostridium difficile by wild urban Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and black rats (Rattus rattus). Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:1299-305. [PMID: 24317079 PMCID: PMC3911036 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03609-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is an important cause of enteric infections in humans. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding whether animals could be a source of C. difficile spores. Although colonization has been identified in a number of domestic species, the ability of commensal pests to serve as a reservoir for C. difficile has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether urban rats (Rattus spp.) from Vancouver, Canada, carry C. difficile. Clostridium difficile was isolated from the colon contents of trapped rats and was characterized using ribotyping, toxinotyping, and toxin gene identification. Generalized linear mixed models and spatial analysis were used to characterize the ecology of C. difficile in rats. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 95 of 724 (13.1%) rats, although prevalence differed from 0% to 46.7% among city blocks. The odds of being C. difficile positive decreased with increasing weight (odds ratio [OR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.87), suggesting that carriage is more common in younger animals. The strains isolated included 9 ribotypes that matched recognized international designations, 5 identified by our laboratory in previous studies, and 21 "novel" ribotypes. Some strains were clustered geographically; however, the majority were dispersed throughout the study area, supporting environmental sources of exposure and widespread environmental contamination with a variety of C. difficile strains. Given that urban rats are the source of a number of other pathogens responsible for human morbidity and mortality, the potential for rats to be a source of C. difficile for humans deserves further consideration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea G. Himsworth
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David M. Patrick
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sunny Mak
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Claire M. Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Tang
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - J. Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Norén T, Johansson K, Unemo M. Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 046 is common among neonatal pigs and humans in Sweden. Clin Microbiol Infect 2014; 20:O2-6. [DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Revised: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|