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Rodriguez-Diaz C, Seyboldt C, Rupnik M. Non-human Clostridioides difficile Reservoirs and Sources: Animals, Food, Environment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1435:329-350. [PMID: 38175482 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42108-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is ubiquitous and is found in humans, animals and in variety of environments. The substantial overlap of ribotypes between all three main reservoirs suggests the extensive transmissions. Here we give the overview of European studies investigating farm, companion and wild animals, food and environments including water, soil, sediment, wastewater treatment plants, biogas plants, air, and households. Studies in Europe are more numerous especially in last couple of years, but are still fragmented in terms of countries, animal species, or type of environment covered. Soil seem to be the habitat of divergent unusual lineages of C. difficile. But the most important aspect of animals and environment is their role in C. difficile transmissions and their potential as a source for human infection is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rodriguez-Diaz
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma de Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, UGC de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christian Seyboldt
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
| | - Maja Rupnik
- National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, NLZOH, Maribor, Slovenia
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine, Maribor, Slovenia
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2
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Grześkowiak Ł, Vahjen W, Zentek J. Influence of high- and low-fermentable dietary fibres in sows' diet on the colostrum potential against Clostridioides difficile toxin-induced effects in IPEC-J2 cells. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:1376-1380. [PMID: 37203280 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Sow colostrum has been reported to protect the IPEC-J2 cells and piglet colon tissues from detrimental effect of Clostridioides difficile toxins. Since dietary fibre can influence the colostrum composition in sows, we hypothesised that it can also differentially affect the colostrum potential against C. difficile toxin-induced effects in IPEC-J2. IPEC-J2 were incubated with colostrum from sows fed either high-fermentable sugar beet pulp (SBP) or low-fermentable lignocellulose (LNC) fibres and in combination with the toxins and analysed by trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and cell viability using propidium iodide in flow cytometry. Toxins drastically decreased the integrity of IPEC-J2. Colostrum from the sows fed either SBP or LNC exerted protective effect against toxins on IPEC-J2 integrity and this effect was numerically superior in the SBP group. Differences in the percentages of TEER between different treatments were noted after 2 h (p = 0.043), 3 h (p = 0.017) and 4 h (p = 0.017) of incubation and a tendency for differences was noted after 5 h of incubation (p = 0.071). Colostrum from either SBP- or LNC-fed sows did not protect the IPEC-J2 from toxin-induced death. Colostrum of the sows fed either high-fermentable or low-fermentable fibres has a potential to protect IPEC-J2 from the loss of integrity, which may be important in protection from C. difficile-infection development in neonatal piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grześkowiak
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wilfried Vahjen
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Zentek
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Romo JA, Tomihiro M, Kumamoto CA. Pre-colonization with the fungus Candida glabrata exacerbates infection by the bacterial pathogen Clostridioides difficile in a murine model. mSphere 2023; 8:e0012223. [PMID: 37358292 PMCID: PMC10449511 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00122-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The contributions of commensal fungi to human health and disease are not well understood. Candida species such as C. albicans and C. glabrata are opportunistic pathogenic fungi and common colonizers of the human intestinal tract. They have been shown to affect the host immune system and interact with the gut microbiome and pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, Candida species could be expected to play important ecological roles in the host gastrointestinal tract. Previously, our group demonstrated that pre-colonization of mice with C. albicans protected them against lethal C. difficile infection (CDI). Here, we show that mice pre-colonized with C. glabrata succumbed to CDI more rapidly than mice that were not pre-colonized suggesting an enhancement in C. difficile pathogenesis. Further, when C. difficile was added to pre-formed C. glabrata biofilms, an increase in matrix and overall biomass was observed. These effects were also shown with C. glabrata clinical isolates. Interestingly, the presence of C. difficile increased C. glabrata biofilm susceptibility to caspofungin, indicating potential effects on the fungal cell wall. Defining this intricate and intimate relationship will lead to an understanding of the role of Candida species in the context of CDI and novel aspects of Candida biology. IMPORTANCE Most microbiome studies have only considered the bacterial populations while ignoring other members of the microbiome such as fungi, other eukaryotic microorganisms, and viruses. Therefore, the role of fungi in human health and disease has been significantly understudied compared to their bacterial counterparts. This has generated a significant gap in knowledge that has negatively impacted disease diagnosis, understanding, and the development of therapeutics. With the development of novel technologies, we now have an understanding of mycobiome composition, but we do not understand the roles of fungi in the host. Here, we present findings showing that Candida glabrata, an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that colonizes the mammalian gastrointestinal tract, can impact the severity and outcome of a Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in a murine model. These findings bring attention to fungal colonizers during CDI, a bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús A. Romo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Makenzie Tomihiro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carol A. Kumamoto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Tsekouras N, Meletis E, Kostoulas P, Labronikou G, Athanasakopoulou Z, Christodoulopoulos G, Billinis C, Papatsiros VG. Detection of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Clostridia in the Aetiology of Neonatal Piglet Diarrhoea: Important Factors for Their Prevention. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051092. [PMID: 37240738 DOI: 10.3390/life13051092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to research the involvement of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and C. difficile or C. perfringens type C in the aetiology of neonatal piglet diarrhoea in Greece and to identify preventive factors for them. A total of 78 pooled faecal samples were collected randomly from 234 suckling piglets (1-4 days of age) with diarrhoea from 26 pig farms (3 piglets × 3 litters × 26 farms = 234 piglets = 78 faecal pool samples). The collected samples were initially screened for the presence of E. coli and C. difficile or C. perfringens via cultivation on MacConkey and anaerobic blood agar, respectively. Subsequently, the samples were pooled on ELUTE cards. From samples tested, 69.23% of those in the farms were ETEC F4-positive, 30.77% were ETEC F5-positive, 61.54% ETEC were F6-positive, 42.31% were ETEC F4- and E. coli enterotoxin LT-positive, 19.23% were ETEC F5- and LT-positive, 42.31% were ETEC F6- and LT-positive, while LT was found in 57.69% of those in the farms. C. difficile was involved in many cases and identified as an emerging neonatal diarrhoea etiological agent. Specifically, Toxin A of C. difficile was found in 84.62% and Toxin B in 88.46% of those in the farms. Antibiotic administration to sows in combination with probiotics or acidifiers was revealed to reduce the detection of antigens of ETEC and the enterotoxin LT of E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Tsekouras
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
| | - Eleftherios Meletis
- Faculty of Public and Integrated Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
| | - Polychronis Kostoulas
- Faculty of Public and Integrated Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
| | | | - Zoi Athanasakopoulou
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
| | - Georgios Christodoulopoulos
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, Botanikos, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Charalambos Billinis
- Faculty of Public and Integrated Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
| | - Vasileios G Papatsiros
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
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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.
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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
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Sampath V, Song JH, Jeong J, Mun S, Han K, Kim IH. Nourishing neonatal piglets with synthetic milk and Lactobacillus sp. at birth highly modifies the gut microbial communities at the post-weaning stage. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1044256. [PMID: 36532479 PMCID: PMC9748437 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1044256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The importance of probiotics in pig production is widely recognized. However, the precise role of probiotics in regulating the gut microbiota of piglets has not been assessed extensively. Therefore, we intend to examine whether suckling pigs ingesting with synthetic milk (SM) and probiotics along with mother milk has a carryover effect on its growth and gut health at the post-weaning stage. A total of 40 [Duroc× (Yorkshire× Landrace)] neonates with an initial BW of 1.49 ± 0.28 kg were assigned to one of two treatments groups: control (CON) and treatment (TRT). Control group piglets were nourished with synthetic milk, while TRT group piglets were nourished SM with (1 × 109 CFU/g) Lactobacillus sp. probiotics. The treatment group piglets showed higher (p < 0.05) body weight and daily gain at week 3 than the CON group piglets. 16S metagenome sequencing showed average demultiplexed reads and denoised reads counts of 157,399 and 74,945, respectively. The total ASV taxonomy number classified with a confidence threshold > 70% (default) on sequence alignment with the SILVA v138 reference database was 4,474. During week 1, Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Bacteroides were confirmed as the major dominant bacterial genera in both the groups at the genus level. However, during week 2, the relative proportion of Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Proteobacteria was decreased, while that of Lactobacillus and Bacteroidota was increased in pigs receiving the probiotic supplement. During weeks 2 and 3, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota phyla were dominant in both groups. During week 6, the relative proportion of Proteobacteria was slightly increased in both groups. Furthermore, Prevotella was confirmed as the major dominant bacterial genus in both groups during weeks 3 and 6. This study suggests that nourishing neonatal piglets with synthetic milk and Lactobacillus sp. probiotics from birth to 21 days would be beneficial to enhance the gut health of piglets and to overcome post-weaning mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vetriselvi Sampath
- Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Jun Ho Song
- Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Jinuk Jeong
- Department of Bio-Convergence Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Seyoung Mun
- Department of Bio-Convergence Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - Kyudong Han
- Department of Bio-Convergence Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
- Center for Bio Medical Engineering Core Facility, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
| | - In Ho Kim
- Department of Animal Resource and Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea
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Romo JA, Kumamoto CA. Characterization of the Effects of Candida Gastrointestinal Colonization on Clostridioides difficile Infection in a Murine Model. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2542:271-285. [PMID: 36008672 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2549-1_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The role of fungal colonizers of the gastrointestinal tract during disease states is not well understood. Antibiotic treatment renders patients highly susceptible to infection by the bacterial pathogen C. difficile while also leading to blooms in fungal commensals, setting the stage for trans-kingdom interactions. Here, we describe a murine model of Candida gastrointestinal colonization coupled to a C. difficile infection (CDI) model, the measurement of CFU of both organisms, and collection of cecum and colon contents for the purpose of quantifying C. difficile toxin production. Additionally, we describe how to induce and purify C. difficile spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús A Romo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carol A Kumamoto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Nowland TL, Kirkwood RN, Pluske JR. Review: Can early-life establishment of the piglet intestinal microbiota influence production outcomes? Animal 2021; 16 Suppl 2:100368. [PMID: 34649827 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract microbiota is involved in the development and function of many body processes. Studies demonstrate that early-life microbial colonisation is the most important time for shaping intestinal and immune development, with perturbations to the microbiota during this time having long-lasting negative implications for the host. Piglets face many early-life events that shape the acquisition and development of their intestinal microbiota. The pork industry has a unique advantage in that the producer has a degree of control over what piglets are exposed to, providing conditions that allow for optimum piglet growth and development. An influx of publications within this area has occurred in recent times and with this, interest surrounding its application in pork production has increased. However, it can be difficult to distinguish which research is of most relevance to industry in terms of delivering repeatable and reliable production outcomes. In this review, we describe the literature surrounding research within pigs, predominantly during the preweaning period that has either provided solutions to industry problems or is generating information targeted at addressing relevant industry issues, with the focus being on studies demonstrating causation where possible. This review will provide a basis for the development of new studies targeted at understanding how to better support initial intestinal microbiota colonisation in order to improve piglet health and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Nowland
- Livestock Sciences, South Australian Research and Development Institute, PPPI Building, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
| | - R N Kirkwood
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - J R Pluske
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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Nag R, Markey BK, Whyte P, O'Flaherty V, Bolton D, Fenton O, Richards KG, Cummins E. A Bayesian inference approach to quantify average pathogen loads in farmyard manure and slurry using open-source Irish datasets. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 786:147474. [PMID: 33965832 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Farm-to-fork quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA) typically start with a preliminary estimate of initial concentration (Cinitial) of microorganism loading at farm level, consisting of an initial estimate of prevalence (P) and the resulting pathogen levels in animal faeces. An average estimation of the initial concentration of pathogens can be achieved by combining P estimates in animal populations and the levels of pathogens in colonised animals' faeces and resulting cumulative levels in herd farmyard manure and slurry (FYM&S). In the present study, 14 years of data were collated and assessed using a Bayesian inference loop to assess the likely P of pathogens. In this regard, historical and current survey data exists on P estimates for a number of pathogens, including Cryptosporidium parvum, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., Campylobacter spp., pathogenic E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes in several species (cattle, pigs, and sheep) in Ireland. The results revealed that Cryptosporidium spp. has potentially the highest mean P (Pmean) (25.93%), followed by MAP (15.68%) and Campylobacter spp. (8.80%) for cattle. The Pmean of E. coli is highest (7.42%) in pigs, while the Pmean of Clostridium spp. in sheep was estimated to be 7.94%. Cinitial for Cryptosporidium spp., MAP., Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., and Campylobacter spp. in cattle faeces were derived with an average of 2.69, 4.38, 4.24, 3.46, and 3.84 log10 MPN g -1, respectively. Average Cinitial of Cryptosporidium spp., Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., and E. coli in pig slurry was estimated as 1.27, 3.12, 3.02, and 4.48 log10 MPN g -1, respectively. It was only possible to calculate the average Cinitial of Listeria monocytogenes in sheep manure as 1.86 log10 MPN g -1. This study creates a basis for future farm-to-fork risk assessment models to base initial pathogen loading values for animal faeces and enhance risk assessment efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Nag
- University College Dublin, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Bryan K Markey
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Paul Whyte
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Vincent O'Flaherty
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Declan Bolton
- TEAGASC, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
| | - Owen Fenton
- TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Karl G Richards
- TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Enda Cummins
- University College Dublin, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Redding L, Huang E, Ryave J, Webb T, Barnhart D, Baker L, Bender J, Kristula M, Kelly D. Clostridioides difficile on dairy farms and potential risk to dairy farm workers. Anaerobe 2021; 69:102353. [PMID: 33639290 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2021.102353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile causes severe colitis in people and is a significant enteric pathogen in many species of animals, including swine, horses, and potentially cattle. C. difficile is shed in feces, and transmission occurs horizontally via the fecal-oral route. Livestock has been suggested as a potential reservoir for C. difficile, and while studies have shown that swine and farm workers can be colonized with identical clones of C. difficile, the zoonotic transmission of C. difficile from livestock to people has not been definitively demonstrated. The goal of this study was to determine whether dairy calves and dairy farm workers harbored genetically similar isolates of C. difficile. First, we validated a glove juice protocol for detecting C. difficile on farm workers' hands. We then visited 23 farms and collected 1) fecal samples from 92 dairy calves, 2) hand rinsates from 38 dairy farm workers, and 3) fecal samples from five of the dairy farm workers who were willing to submit them. All samples underwent anaerobic culture and qPCR to detect C. difficile. C. difficile was detected on 15 of the farms (65.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 42.7%-83.6%) and in 28 calves (30.4%, 95% CI 21.2-40.9%) but in none of the hand rinsates or human fecal samples. Thus, the zoonotic transmission of C. difficile on dairy farms could not be demonstrated, and dairy farmers did not appear to be at increased risk of acquiring C. difficile via the fecal-oral route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Redding
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Huang
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jacob Ryave
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Terry Webb
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Denise Barnhart
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Linda Baker
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Joseph Bender
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Michaela Kristula
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Donna Kelly
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
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11
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Boarini-Ferroni L, Cardozo MV, Casagrande MF, Nascimento KA, Almeida HMDS, Mechler-Dreibi ML, de Oliveira LG, Schocken-Iturrino RP. Experimental inoculation and nose-to-nose transmission of Clostridioides difficile between weaned piglets. Vet Microbiol 2020; 247:108754. [PMID: 32768208 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108754] [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: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In piglets, Clostridioides (C.) difficile infection presents mostly subclinical manifestation. As this agent became important in veterinary medicine due to a hypothesis of zoonosis, the objective of this study was to evaluate the transmission of C. difficile by nose-to-nose contact in young piglets. Six 20-day-old piglets were separated into three groups (infected, sentinel and control), and distributed in different isolation cabinets which allowed nose-to-nose contact only between infected and sentinel groups. The challenged group received an inoculum 106 CFU/mL of C. difficile 096 by oropharyngeal route. Rectal swab samples were daily collected for microbiological and molecular analysis. Euthanasia of all piglets was performed 18 days after challenge to evaluate anatomical, histological and microbiological lesions of the organs of these animals. The challenged and sentinel groups showed clinical signs of infection and genes encoding TcdB were detected by conventional PCR in both groups, confirming the transmission of the pathogen from the challenged to the sentinel piglets. At necropsy, tonsil, liver, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, ileocolic lymph nodes, jejunum, ileum, proximal colon, distal colon and cecum were collected for microbiological analysis; lesions were observed varying in degree and intensity. This study demonstrated a novel route of transmission of C. difficile between young piglets, which was proven to occur by nose-to-nose contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Boarini-Ferroni
- Sao Paulo State University, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Marita Vedovelli Cardozo
- Sao Paulo State University, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Mariana Froner Casagrande
- Sao Paulo State University, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Karla Alvarenga Nascimento
- Sao Paulo State University, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luís Guilherme de Oliveira
- Sao Paulo State University, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus Jaboticabal, Brazil.
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12
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Sevilla E, Marín C, Delgado-Blas JF, González-Zorn B, Vega S, Kuijper E, Bolea R, Mainar-Jaime RC. Wild griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) fed at supplementary feeding stations: Potential carriers of pig pathogens and pig-derived antimicrobial resistance? Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:1295-1305. [PMID: 31901154 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The carriage of two important pathogens of pigs, that is enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Clostridioides difficile, was investigated in 104 cloacal samples from wild griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) fed on pig carcasses at supplementary feeding stations (SFS), along with their level of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). E. coli was isolated from 90 (86.5%) samples, but no ETEC was detected, likely because ETEC fimbriae confer the species specificity of the pathogen. Resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent was detected in 89.9% of E. coli isolates, with AMR levels being extremely high (>70%) for tetracycline and streptomycin and very high (>50%) for ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Resistance to other critically important antimicrobials such as colistin and extended-spectrum cephalosporins was 2.2% and 1.1%, respectively, and was encoded by the mcr-1 and blaSHV-12 genes. Multidrug resistance was displayed by 80% of the resistant E. coli, and blaSHV-12 gene shared plasmid with other AMR genes. In general, resistance patterns in E. coli from vultures mirrored those found in pigs. Clostridioides difficile was detected in three samples (2.9%); two of them belonged to PCR ribotype 078 and one to PCR ribotype 126, both commonly found in pigs. All C. difficile isolates were characterized by a moderate-to-high level of resistance to fluoroquinolones and macrolides but susceptible to metronidazole or vancomycin, similar to what is usually found in C. difficile isolates from pigs. Thus, vultures may contribute somewhat to the environmental dissemination of some pig pathogens through their acquisition from pig carcasses and, more importantly, of AMR for antibiotics of critical importance for humans. However, the role of vultures would likely be much lesser than that of disposing pig carcasses at the SFS. The monitoring of AMR, and particularly of colistin-resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli, should be considered in pig farms used as sources of carcasses for SFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloísa Sevilla
- Dpto. de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 - (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Clara Marín
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
| | - José F Delgado-Blas
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal y Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruno González-Zorn
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal y Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Vega
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ed Kuijper
- Dpt. of Medical Microbiology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rosa Bolea
- Dpto. de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 - (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Raúl C Mainar-Jaime
- Dpto. de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 - (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
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13
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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.
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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)
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14
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Le Maréchal C, Druilhe C, Repérant E, Boscher E, Rouxel S, Le Roux S, Poëzévara T, Ziebal C, Houdayer C, Nagard B, Barbut F, Pourcher AM, Denis M. Evaluation of the occurrence of sporulating and nonsporulating pathogenic bacteria in manure and in digestate of five agricultural biogas plants. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e872. [PMID: 31568706 PMCID: PMC6813454 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of agricultural biogas plants has been increasing in the past decades in some European countries. Digestates obtained after anaerobic digestion (AD) of manure are usually spread on agricultural land; however, their hygiene status regarding pathogens posing public health and/or animal health challenges has been poorly characterized up to now in France. In this study, three replicates of manure and digestate were collected from five farm biogas plants receiving animal manure in order to assess the occurrence and concentrations of sporulating (Clostridium botulinum, Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium perfringens) and nonsporulating (Listeria monocytogenes, thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., Salmonella, Escherichia coli, enterococci) bacteria. Concentrations of E. coli, enterococci, and C. perfringens in digestates ranged from 102 to 104, 104 to 105, and <103 to 7 × 105 CFU/g, respectively. Salmonella and C. difficile were detected in manure and digestate from the five biogas plants at concentrations ranging from <1.3 to >7 × 102 MPN/g and from 1.3 to 3 × 102 MPN/g, respectively. Thermotolerant Campylobacter, detected in all the manures, was only found in two digestates at a concentration of cells ranging from <10 to 2.6 × 102 CFU/g. Listeria monocytogenes and C. botulinum were detected in three manures and four digestates. The bacterial counts of L. monocytogenes and C. botulinum did not exceed 3 × 102 and 14 MPN/g, respectively. C. botulinum type B was detected at very low level in both the manure and digestate of farm biogas plants with no botulism history. The levels of pathogenic bacteria in both manure and digestate suggested that some bacteria can persist throughout AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Le Maréchal
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Céline Druilhe
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Elisabeth Repérant
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Evelyne Boscher
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Sandra Rouxel
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Sophie Le Roux
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Typhaine Poëzévara
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Christine Ziebal
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Catherine Houdayer
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Bérengère Nagard
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Frédéric Barbut
- National Reference Laboratory for Clostridioides difficile, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Pourcher
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Martine Denis
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
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15
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Vidal A, Martín-Valls GE, Tello M, Mateu E, Martín M, Darwich L. Prevalence of enteric pathogens in diarrheic and non-diarrheic samples from pig farms with neonatal diarrhea in the North East of Spain. Vet Microbiol 2019; 237:108419. [PMID: 31585655 PMCID: PMC7117353 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.108419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Multiple pathogens were found in all neonatal diarrhea outbreaks. RVA was the most frequent agent associated with diarrheic cases. Other enteric pathogens can be involved in some neonatal diarrhea outbreaks. The multifactorial origin of pig diarrhea requires a personalized farm diagnosis.
Diarrhea is one of the major causes of neonatal mortality in pigs. In the present study, 31 pig farms with outbreaks of neonatal diarrhea were investigated in Catalonia (NE Spain) from February 2017 until June 2018. Two hundred and fifteen diarrheic samples from 1 to 7 days old piglets were tested for a panel of enteric pathogens. In 19 of the studied farms additional fecal samples from apparently healthy pen-mates were collected and tested for the same panel of infectious agents. Samples were bacteriologically cultured and tested by PCR for E. coli virulence factors genes, C. perfringens types A and C toxins (Cpα, Cpβ, Cpβ2) and C. difficile toxins (TcdA, TcdB). Moreover, Rotavirus A (RVA), Rotavirus B (RVB), Rotavirus C (RVC), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) were also determined by RT-qPCR. More than one pathogen could be detected in all of the outbreaks. Nevertheless, RVA was the only agent that could be statistically correlated with the outcome of diarrhea. For the other viruses and bacteria analyzed significant differences between the diseased pigs and the controls were not found. In spite of this, the individual analysis of each of the studied farms indicated that other agents such as RVB, RVC, toxigenic C. difficile or pathogenic E. coli could play a relevant role in the outbreak of diarrhea. In conclusion, the large diversity of agent combinations and disease situations detected in neonatal diarrhea outbreaks of this study stand for a more personalized diagnosis and management advice at a farm level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vidal
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Gerard E Martín-Valls
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Montse Tello
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Enric Mateu
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Marga Martín
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Laila Darwich
- Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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16
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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.
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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.
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17
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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.
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18
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Candel-Pérez C, Martínez-Miró S, Ros-Berruezo G, Martínez-Graciá C. Effect of Specimen Type and Processing on the Detection of Clostridioides [Clostridium] difficile in Piglet Fecal Samples. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2019; 16:731-737. [PMID: 31225737 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2019.2629] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Subclinical Clostridioides difficile colonization in piglets could be a potential source of this bacterium for community-acquired C. difficile infection. The purposes of this study were to assess the effect of specimen type and processing on C. difficile isolation, culture, and detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to determine the occurrence of C. difficile in piglets of different ages. We compared different culture procedures-direct plating, ethanol shock, and an enrichment step-to isolate C. difficile from swine feces and rectal swabs. DNA was isolated directly from feces, processed feces, and bacterial isolates to detect the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene and identify the toxins A and B genes. The results show that ethanol shock increased the C. difficile isolation from feces, while it decreased it for rectal swabs, in comparison with direct plating. The use of the enrichment broth gave the highest C. difficile recovery from both types of specimen. Our findings show low sensitivity for tpi gene detection after the DNA extraction directly from feces and an increase in PCR-positive samples when feces were processed before the DNA extraction. The overall prevalence of C. difficile was 16.9% (22/130), of which 100% were found to be toxigenic as assessed by the enrichment culture of fecal samples. The rate of isolation of positive samples decreased with the animal age, regardless of the presence or absence of diarrhea. Our results demonstrate the persistent reservoir of toxigenic C. difficile in fecal samples of piglets and support the impact of specimen processing on its isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Candel-Pérez
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Martínez-Miró
- Department of Animal Production, Veterinary Faculty, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gaspar Ros-Berruezo
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carmen Martínez-Graciá
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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19
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Villagómez-Estrada S, Blanco JL, Melo-Duran D, Martín C, Harmanus C, Kuijper EJ, García ME. Detection of Clostridium difficile in the environment in a veterinary teaching hospital. Anaerobe 2019; 57:55-58. [PMID: 30898637 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present study focused on detecting the presence of Clostridium difficile on veterinary hospital surfaces of large and small animal areas at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid. Isolated C. difficile strains were further characterized and investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Of n = 23 sampling area, 17% were positive for the presence of C. difficile. The isolates belonged to PCR ribotypes 078, 014, 039, and 154, of which RT 078 and 014 are also frequently found as human pathogens. Two isolates had high level resistance to metronidazole. These results suggest that the veterinary hospital environment constitutes a potential reservoir of zoonotical transferable C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Villagómez-Estrada
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Blanco
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Diego Melo-Duran
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Martín
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Celine Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ed J Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marta E García
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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20
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Oliveira Júnior CA, Silva ROS, Cruz DSG, Pires IH, Guedes RMC, Faria Lobato FC. The non-toxigenic strain of Clostridioides difficile Z31 can prevent infection by C. difficile in experimental model piglets. Anaerobe 2018; 55:24-28. [PMID: 30292822 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
One of the main challenges associated with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in humans and domestic animals is the lack of an effective preventive strategy. One strategy with promising results is the oral administration of non-toxigenic strains of C. difficile (NTCD). Recently, Z31, a NTCD strain isolated from a healthy dog, showed promising results to prevent CDI in hamsters. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the capacity of Z31 to prevent CDI in piglets using an experimental model. Twenty neonatal piglets were randomly distributed in three groups: G1 - 106 spores of Z31 followed by 107 spores of a toxigenic C. difficile strain (n = 7), G2 (positive control) - 107 spores of a toxigenic C. difficile strain (n = 7), and G3 (negative control) - no biological inoculum (n = 6). All animals were kept in individual insulators and observed for 60 h. Data regarding clinical signs, macro and microscopic lesions, toxigenic culture of C. difficile, and detection of A/B toxins in the feces were evaluated. All evaluated parameters were significantly lower in animals that received Z31 compared to the positive control. Thus, oral administration of Z31 was able to prevent CDI in piglets in an experimental model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Augusto Oliveira Júnior
- Veterinary School. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Antônio Carlos Avenue, 6627, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Otávio Silveira Silva
- Veterinary School. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Antônio Carlos Avenue, 6627, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Diogo Soares Gonçalves Cruz
- Veterinary School. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Antônio Carlos Avenue, 6627, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Isadora Honorato Pires
- Veterinary School. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Antônio Carlos Avenue, 6627, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Roberto Maurício Carvalho Guedes
- Veterinary School. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Antônio Carlos Avenue, 6627, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Francisco Carlos Faria Lobato
- Veterinary School. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Antônio Carlos Avenue, 6627, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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21
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Shaughnessy MK, Snider T, Sepulveda R, Boxrud D, Cebelinski E, Jawahir S, Holzbauer S, Johnston BD, Smith K, Bender JB, Thuras P, Diez-Gonzalez F, Johnson JR. Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Clostridium difficile in Retail Meats, Food-Producing and Companion Animals, and Humans in Minnesota. J Food Prot 2018; 81:1635-1642. [PMID: 30198756 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-18-104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Community-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) now accounts for approximately 50% of CDI cases in central Minnesota; animals and meat products are potential sources. From November 2011 to July 2013, we cultured retail meat products and fecal samples from food-producing and companion animals in central Minnesota for C. difficile by using standard methods. The resulting 51 C. difficile isolates, plus 30 archived local veterinary C. difficile isolates and 208 human CA-CDI case isolates from central Minnesota (from 2012) from the Minnesota Department of Health, were characterized molecularly, and source groups were compared using discriminant analysis. C. difficile was recovered from 0 (0%) of 342 retail meat samples and 51 (9%) of 559 animal fecal samples. Overall, the 81 animal source isolates and 208 human source isolates were highly diverse genetically. Molecular traits segregated extensively in relation to animal versus human origin. Discriminant analysis classified 95% of isolates correctly by source group; only five (2.5%) human source isolates were classified as animal source. These data do not support meat products or food-producing and companion animals as important sources of CA-CDI in the central Minnesota study region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K Shaughnessy
- 1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.,2 Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9588-5045 [J.R.J.])
| | - Tim Snider
- 2 Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9588-5045 [J.R.J.])
| | | | - David Boxrud
- 4 Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
| | - Elizabeth Cebelinski
- 4 Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
| | - Selina Jawahir
- 4 Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
| | - Stacy Holzbauer
- 4 Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975.,5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027, USA
| | - Brian D Johnston
- 1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.,2 Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9588-5045 [J.R.J.])
| | - Kirk Smith
- 4 Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
| | - Jeff B Bender
- 3 University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - Paul Thuras
- 1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.,2 Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9588-5045 [J.R.J.])
| | | | - James R Johnson
- 1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.,2 Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 (ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9588-5045 [J.R.J.])
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22
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Grześkowiak ŁM, Pieper R, Huynh HA, Cutting SM, Vahjen W, Zentek J. Impact of early-life events on the susceptibility to Clostridium difficile colonisation and infection in the offspring of the pig. Gut Microbes 2018; 10:251-259. [PMID: 30252612 PMCID: PMC6546313 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2018.1518554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile has been documented as a major cause of uncontrolled outbreaks of enteritis in neonatal pigs and antibiotic-associated infections in clinical settings. It belongs to the natural cohort of early colonisers of the gastrointestinal tract of pigs and can be detected in faeces up to two weeks post-partum. In older pigs, it often remains under the detection limit. Most neonatal pigs show no clinical signs of disease although C. difficile and its toxins can be detected at high levels in faeces. Increased mortality rates associated with C. difficile on pig farms are, so far, considered "spontaneous" and the predisposing factors are mostly not defined. The infection caused by C. difficile is multifactorial and it is likely that the repertoire of maternal factors, host physiology, the individually developing gut microbiota, co-infections and environmental stress define the conditions for disease development. In this addendum to our recently published work on CDI in neonatal piglets, we discuss the "early-life events" that influence C. difficile spread and infection in neonatal piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz M. Grześkowiak
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,CONTACT Łukasz M. Grześkowiak
| | - Robert Pieper
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hong A. Huynh
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Simon M. Cutting
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Wilfried Vahjen
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Zentek
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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23
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Brown AWW, Wilson RB. Clostridium difficile colitis and zoonotic origins-a narrative review. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf) 2018; 6:157-166. [PMID: 30151199 PMCID: PMC6101521 DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile is a major cause of hospital-associated diarrhoea, and in severe cases leads to pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. The frequency of C. difficile infection (CDI) has increased in recent decades, with 453 000 cases identified in 2011 in the USA. This is related to antibiotic-selection pressure, disruption of normal host intestinal microbiota and emergence of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile strains. The burden of community-acquired CDI has been increasingly appreciated, with disease identified in patients previously considered low-risk, such as young women or patients with no prior antibiotic exposure. C. difficile has been identified in livestock animals, meat products, seafood and salads. It has been postulated that the pool of C. difficile in the agricultural industry may contribute to human CDI. There is widespread environmental dispersal of C. difficile spores. Domestic households, turf lawns and public spaces are extensively contaminated, providing a potential reservoir for community-acquired CDI. In Australia, this is particularly associated with porcine-derived C. difficile UK PCR ribotype 014/020. In this article, the epidemiological differences between hospital- and community-acquired CDI are discussed, including some emerging evidence for community-acquired CDI being a possible zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander W W Brown
- General Surgery Department, Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth St, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert B Wilson
- General Surgery Department, Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth St, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
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24
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Álvarez-Pérez S, Blanco JL, Astorga RJ, Gómez-Laguna J, Barrero-Domínguez B, Galán-Relaño A, Harmanus C, Kuijper E, García ME. Distribution and tracking of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens in a free-range pig abattoir and processing plant. Food Res Int 2018; 113:456-464. [PMID: 30195542 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The presence and genetic diversity of Clostridium difficile and C. perfringens along the slaughtering process of pigs reared in a free-range system was assessed. A total of 270 samples from trucks, lairage, slaughter line and quartering were analyzed, and recovered isolates were toxinotyped and genotyped. C. difficile and C. perfringens were retrieved from 14.4% and 12.6% of samples, respectively. The highest percentage of positive samples for C. difficile was detected in trucks (80%) whereas C. perfringens was more prevalent in cecal and colonic samples obtained in the slaughter line (85% and 45%, respectively). C. difficile isolates (n = 105) were classified into 17 PCR ribotypes (including 010, 078, and 126) and 95 AFLP genotypes. C. perfringens isolates (n = 85) belonged to toxinotypes A (94.1%) and C (5.9%) and were classified into 80 AFLP genotypes. The same genotypes of C. difficile and C. perfringens were isolated from different pigs and occasionally from environmental samples, suggesting a risk of contaminated meat products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Álvarez-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Blanco
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rafael J Astorga
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Jaime Gómez-Laguna
- Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Belén Barrero-Domínguez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Angela Galán-Relaño
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Celine Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ed Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marta E García
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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25
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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]
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26
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Identification of large cryptic plasmids in Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile. Plasmid 2018; 96-97:25-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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27
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Non-human C. difficile Reservoirs and Sources: Animals, Food, Environment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1050:227-243. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-72799-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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28
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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]
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29
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Orden C, Neila C, Blanco JL, Álvarez-Pérez S, Harmanus C, Kuijper EJ, García ME. Recreational sandboxes for children and dogs can be a source of epidemic ribotypes of Clostridium difficile. Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:88-95. [PMID: 28686001 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Different studies have suggested that the sand of public playgrounds could have a role in the transmission of infections, particularly in children. Furthermore, free access of pets and other animals to the playgrounds might increase such a risk. We studied the presence of Clostridium difficile in 20 pairs of sandboxes for children and dogs located in different playgrounds within the Madrid region (Spain). Clostridium difficile isolation was performed by enrichment and selective culture procedures. The genetic (ribotype and amplified fragment length polymorphism [AFLP]) diversity and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was also studied. Overall, 52.5% (21/40) of samples were positive for the presence of C. difficile. Eight of the 20 available isolates belonged to the toxigenic ribotypes 014 (n = 5) and 106 (n = 2), both regarded as epidemic, and CD047 (n = 1). The other 12 isolates were non-toxigenic, and belonged to ribotypes 009 (n = 5), 039 (n = 4), and 067, 151 and CD048 (one isolate each). Nevertheless, all isolates (even those of a same ribotype) were classified into different AFLP genotypes indicating non-relatedness. In conclusion, our results revealed the presence of epidemic ribotypes of C. difficile in children's and dog's sandboxes located nearby, which constitutes a major health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Orden
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Neila
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Blanco
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Álvarez-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Celine Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ed J Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marta E García
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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30
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Prevalence and characteristics of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile in dogs and cats attended in diverse veterinary clinics from the Madrid region. Anaerobe 2017; 48:47-55. [PMID: 28687280 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite extensive research on the epidemiology of pathogenic clostridia in dogs and cats, most published studies focus on a selected animal population and/or a single veterinary medical centre. We assessed the burden of Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile shedding by small animals in 17 veterinary clinics located within the Madrid region (Spain) and differing in size, number and features of animals attended and other relevant characteristics. In addition, we studied the genetic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility of recovered isolates. Selective culture of all fecal specimens collected during a single week from dogs (n = 105) and cats (n = 37) attended in participating clinics yielded C. perfringens/C. difficile from 31%, 4.8% of the dogs, and 20%, 0% of the cats analyzed, respectively, and three dogs yielded both species. Furthermore, 17 animals (15 dogs and two cats) that yielded a positive culture for either species were recruited for a follow-up survey and C. perfringens was again obtained from nine dogs. Considerable differences in prevalence were observed among participating clinics for both clostridial species. C. perfringens isolates (n = 109) belonged to toxinotypes A (97.2%) and E (three isolates from one dog), whereas C. difficile isolates (n = 18) belonged to the toxigenic ribotypes 106 (33.3%) and 154 (16.7%), a 009-like ribotype (33.3%) and an unknown non-toxigenic ribotype (16.7%). Amplified fragment length polymorphism-based fingerprinting classified C. perfringens and C. difficile isolates into 105 and 15 genotypes, respectively, and tested isolates displayed in vitro resistance to benzylpenicillin (2.8%, 88.8%), clindamycin (0%, 16.7%), erythromycin (0.9%, 16.7%), imipenem (1.8%, 100%), levofloxacin (0.9%, 100%), linezolid (5.5%, 0%), metronidazole (4.6%, 0%) and/or tetracycline (7.3%, 0%). All animals from which multiple isolates were retrieved yielded ≥2 different genotypes and/or antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Future studies should focus on the seasonal and geographical variations of prevalence and diversity patterns of clostridial species in small animals.
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31
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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]
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32
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Álvarez-Pérez S, Blanco JL, Harmanus C, Kuijper E, García ME. Subtyping and antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 078/126 isolates of human and animal origin. Vet Microbiol 2016; 199:15-22. [PMID: 28110780 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.12.001] [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] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype complex 078/126 (RT078/126) is often involved in human disease and is also frequently isolated from diverse animal species. The high genetic relatedness between human and animal RT078/126 isolates found in different regions has encouraged discussion about the zoonotic potential of this lineage. We compared for the first time the genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of human and animal C. difficile RT078/126 isolates from Spain. A collection of 96 isolates (50 of human and 46 of animal origin; 63 and 33 of ribotypes 078 and 126, respectively) was subtyped by an improved amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting method and tested for in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 67 genotypes were distinguished, three of which grouped together isolates of human and animal origin. Furthermore, two main groups of isolates that mostly correlated with PCR ribotypes could be distinguished in the AFLP dendrogram. Human origin was significantly associated with resistance to ertapenem, erythromycin and moxifloxacin; resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin was associated with RT126 and AFLP group 1. Twenty-nine isolates (30.2% of total) displayed heteroresistance to metronidazole. Substantial differences were observed in the susceptibility profiles of isolates belonging to a same genotype. Altogether, these results provide a valuable baseline for future studies on the epidemiology of C. difficile RT078/126.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Álvarez-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Blanco
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Celine Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ed Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marta E García
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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33
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Hussain I, Borah P, Sharma R, Rajkhowa S, Rupnik M, Saikia D, Hasin D, Hussain I, Deka N, Barkalita L, Nishikawa Y, Ramamurthy T. Molecular characteristics of Clostridium difficile isolates from human and animals in the North Eastern region of India. Mol Cell Probes 2016; 30:306-311. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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34
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McElroy MC, Hill M, Moloney G, Mac Aogáin M, McGettrick S, O'Doherty Á, Rogers TR. Typhlocolitis associated with Clostridium difficile ribotypes 078 and 110 in neonatal piglets from a commercial Irish pig herd. Ir Vet J 2016; 69:10. [PMID: 27547375 PMCID: PMC4992205 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-016-0070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium difficile is a recognised cause of typhlocolitis and diarrhoea in neonatal pigs but has never been confirmed in association with pathology and disease in Irish pigs. Case Presentation Four neonatal piglets, with a history of diarrhoea were referred to the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston for necropsy. They were from a fully integrated, commercial pig farm with approximately 1000 sows. Three piglets had acute, superficial, erosive and suppurative typhlocolitis and the other had mild suppurative mesocolitis. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) toxins A/B were detected using ELISA in the colonic contents from each piglet. C. difficile isolates from two of the piglets were PCR-ribotyped as 078 and an isolate from a third pig was ribotyped as 110. Conclusions This is the first report confirming C. difficile in association with typhlocolitis in Irish pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire C McElroy
- Pathology Division, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Martin Hill
- Pathology Division, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Geraldine Moloney
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Micheál Mac Aogáin
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Shane McGettrick
- Pathology Division, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Áine O'Doherty
- Pathology Division, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Thomas R Rogers
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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35
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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.
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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
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36
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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.
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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
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37
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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.
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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.
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Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance in Clostridium difficile With Special Reference to the Horse. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-016-0029-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Fröschle B, Messelhäusser U, Höller C, Lebuhn M. Fate of Clostridium botulinum
and incidence of pathogenic clostridia in biogas processes. J Appl Microbiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Fröschle
- Department for Quality Assurance and Analytics; Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL); Freising Germany
| | - U. Messelhäusser
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL); Oberschleißheim Germany
| | - C. Höller
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL); Oberschleißheim Germany
| | - M. Lebuhn
- Department for Quality Assurance and Analytics; Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL); Freising Germany
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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
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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.
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Usui M, Nanbu Y, Oka K, Takahashi M, Inamatsu T, Asai T, Kamiya S, Tamura Y. Genetic relatedness between Japanese and European isolates of Clostridium difficile originating from piglets and their risk associated with human health. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:513. [PMID: 25339943 PMCID: PMC4189341 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile colonization in pig intestine has been a public health concern. We analyzed C. difficile prevalence among piglets in Japan to clarify their origin and extent of the associated risk by using molecular and microbiological methods for both swine and human clinical isolates and foreign isolates. C. difficile was isolated from 120 neonatal piglet fecal samples. Toxin gene profile, antimicrobial susceptibilities, PCR ribotype, and multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) type of swine isolates were determined and compared with those of human clinical and foreign isolates. One-hundred C. difficile strains were isolated from 69 (57.5%) samples, and 61 isolates (61%) were toxin gene-positive. Some isolates were resistant to antimicrobials, contributing to antibiotic-associated diarrhea by C. difficile. These results suggest that C. difficile, prevalent among Japanese pigs, is a potential risk for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Furthermore, PCR ribotype 078 (12 isolates), which has been linked to multiple outbreaks worldwide, was the third-most frequently isolated of the 14 PCR ribotypes identified. Moreover, MLVA revealed that all 12 PCR ribotype 078 isolates were genetically related to European PCR ribotype 078 strains found in both humans and pigs. To date, in Japan, many breeding pigs have been imported from European countries. The genetic relatedness of C. difficile isolates of Japanese swine origin to those of European origin suggests that they were introduced into Japan via imported pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Usui
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Safety, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yukie Nanbu
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Safety, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kentaro Oka
- Miyarisan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motomichi Takahashi
- Miyarisan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Inamatsu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Asai
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University Gifu, Japan
| | - Shigeru Kamiya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Tamura
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Safety, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University Hokkaido, Japan
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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: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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.
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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
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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.
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Janezic S, Zidaric V, Pardon B, Indra A, Kokotovic B, Blanco JL, Seyboldt C, Diaz CR, Poxton IR, Perreten V, Drigo I, Jiraskova A, Ocepek M, Weese JS, Songer JG, Wilcox MH, Rupnik M. International Clostridium difficile animal strain collection and large diversity of animal associated strains. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:173. [PMID: 24972659 PMCID: PMC4100527 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium difficile is an important cause of intestinal infections in some animal species and animals might be a reservoir for community associated human infections. Here we describe a collection of animal associated C. difficile strains from 12 countries based on inclusion criteria of one strain (PCR ribotype) per animal species per laboratory. Results Altogether 112 isolates were collected and distributed into 38 PCR ribotypes with agarose based approach and 50 PCR ribotypes with sequencer based approach. Four PCR ribotypes were most prevalent in terms of number of isolates as well as in terms of number of different host species: 078 (14.3% of isolates; 4 hosts), 014/020 (11.6%; 8 hosts); 002 (5.4%; 4 hosts) and 012 (5.4%; 5 hosts). Two animal hosts were best represented; cattle with 31 isolates (20 PCR ribotypes; 7 countries) and pigs with 31 isolates (16 PCR ribotypes; 10 countries). Conclusions This results show that although PCR ribotype 078 is often reported as the major animal C. difficile type, especially in pigs, the variability of strains in pigs and other animal hosts is substantial. Most common human PCR ribotypes (014/020 and 002) are also among most prevalent animal associated C. difficile strains worldwide. The widespread dissemination of toxigenic C. difficile and the considerable overlap in strain distribution between species furthers concerns about interspecies, including zoonotic, transmission of this critically important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maja Rupnik
- National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Maribor, Slovenia.
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Jonach B, Boye M, Stockmarr A, Jensen TK. Fluorescence in situ hybridization investigation of potentially pathogenic bacteria involved in neonatal porcine diarrhea. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:68. [PMID: 24628856 PMCID: PMC3995547 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neonatal diarrhea is a multifactorial condition commonly present on pig farms and leads to economic losses due to increased morbidity and mortality of piglets. Immature immune system and lack of fully established microbiota at birth predispose neonatal piglets to infection with enteric pathogens. The microorganisms that for decades have been associated with enteritis and diarrhea in suckling piglets are: rotavirus A, coronavirus, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Clostridium perfringens type C, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Cystoisospora suis and Strongyloides ransomi. However, in recent years, the pig industry has experienced an increased number of neonatal diarrhea cases in which the above mentioned pathogens are no longer detected. Potentially pathogenic bacteria have recently received focus in the research on the possible etiology of neonatal diarrhea not caused by common pathogens. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of E. coli, Enterococcus spp., C. perfringens and C. difficile in the pathogenesis of neonatal porcine diarrhea with no established casual agents. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes was applied on the fixed intestinal tissue samples from 51 diarrheic and 50 non-diarrheic piglets collected from four Danish farms during outbreaks of neonatal diarrhea not caused by well-known enteric pathogens. Furthermore, an association between the presence of these bacteria and histological lesions was evaluated. Results The prevalence of fluorescence signals specific for E. coli, C. perfringens and C. difficile was similar in both groups of piglets. However, Enterococcus spp. was primarily detected in the diarrheic piglets. Furthermore, adherent bacteria were detected in 37 % diarrheic and 14 % non-diarrheic piglets. These bacteria were identified as E. coli and Enterococcus spp. and their presence in the intestinal mucosa was associated with histopathological changes. Conclusions The results of this study showed that simultaneous colonization of the intestinal mucosa by adherent non-ETEC E. coli and Enterococcus spp. can be involved in the pathogenesis of neonatal porcine diarrhea. These bacteria should be considered in diagnosis of diarrhea in piglets, when detection of common, well-known enteric agents is unsuccessful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Jonach
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, Frederiksberg 1870, Denmark.
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Álvarez-Pérez S, Blanco JL, Martínez-Nevado E, Peláez T, Harmanus C, Kuijper E, García ME. Shedding of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 078 by zoo animals, and report of an unstable metronidazole-resistant isolate from a zebra foal (Equus quagga burchellii). Vet Microbiol 2014; 169:218-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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50
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Bandelj P, Trilar T, Blagus R, Ocepek M, Rousseau J, Weese JS, Vengust M. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Clostridium difficile isolated from European Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) during migration. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:40. [PMID: 24507706 PMCID: PMC3922269 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium difficile is an important bacterial pathogen of humans and a variety of animal species. Birds, especially migratory passerine species, can play a role in the spread of many pathogens, including Clostridium difficile. Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) nest in close proximity to human habitats and their biology is closely associated with cattle farming. Therefore, we hypothesized that Barn Swallows can be the reservoir of Clostridium difficile. Results Barn Swallows (n = 175) were captured on their autumn migration across Europe to sub-Saharan Africa. Droppings were collected from juvenile (n = 152) and adult birds (n = 23). Overall prevalence of Clostridium difficile was 4% (7/175); 4.6% (7/152) in juvenile birds and 0/23 in adults. Clostridium difficile ribotypes 078, 002 and 014 were identified, which are commonly found in farm animals and humans. Three new Clostridium difficile ribotypes were also identified: SB3, SB159 and SB166, one of which was toxigenic, harbouring genes for toxins A and B. Conclusions Results of this study indicate that Barn Swallows might play a role in national and international dissemination of Clostridium difficile and could serve as a source for human and animal infection. Clostridium difficile ribotype 078 was identified, which has been reported as an emerging cause of community-associated Clostridium difficile infection in humans. Based on this and other studies, however, it is more likely that Barn Swallows have a more indicative than perpetuating role in Clostridium difficile epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Modest Vengust
- Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana SI-1115, Slovenia.
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