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Leite S, Cotias C, Rainha KC, Santos MG, Penna B, F Moraes RF, Harmanus C, Smits WK, Ferreira EDO. Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile in dogs (Canis familiaris) with gastrointestinal disorders in Rio de Janeiro. Anaerobe 2023; 83:102765. [PMID: 37573963 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2023.102765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) have a high morbidity and mortality rate and have always been considered a nosocomial disease. Nonetheless, the number of cases of community-acquired CDI is increasing, and new evidence suggests additional C. difficile reservoirs exist. Pathogenic C. difficile strains have been found in livestock, domestic animals, and meat, so a zoonotic transmission has been proposed. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to isolate C. difficile strains in dogs at a veterinary clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and characterize clinical and pathological findings associated with lower gastrointestinal tract disorders. METHODS Fifty stool samples and biopsy fragments from dogs were obtained and cultured in the CDBA selective medium. All suggestive C. difficile colonies were confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS and PCR (tpi gene). Vancomycin, metronidazole, moxifloxacin, erythromycin, and rifampicin were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Biofilm, motility assays, and a PCR for the toxins (tcdA, tcdB, and cdtB), as well as ribotyping, were also performed. RESULTS Blood samples and colonic biopsy fragments were examined in C. difficile positive dogs. Ten animals (20%) tested positive for C. difficile by using stool samples, but not from biopsy fragments. Most C. difficile strains were toxigenic: six were A+B+ belonging to RT106; two were A+B+ belonging to RT014/020; and two were A-B- belonging to RT010. All strains were biofilm producers. In the motility test, 40% of strains were as motile as the positive control, CD630 (RT012). In the disc diffusion test, two strains (RT010) were resistant to erythromycin and metronidazole; and another to metronidazole (RT014/020). In terms of C. difficile clinicopathological correlations, no statistically significant morphological changes, such as pseudomembranous and "volcano" lesions, were observed. Regarding hematological data, dogs positive for C. difficile had leucopenia (p = 0.02) and lymphopenia (p = 0.03). There was a significant correlation between senility and the presence of C. difficile in the dogs studied (p = 0,02). CONCLUSIONS Although C. difficile has not been linked to canine diarrheal disorders, it appears to be more common in dogs with intestinal dysfunctions. The isolation of ribotypes frequently involved in human CDI outbreaks around the world supports the theory of C. difficile zoonotic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzana Leite
- Departmento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes -IMPG, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Universidade Santa Úrsula, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Cotias
- H&Diagnóstico, Veterinary Diagnosis Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Bruno Penna
- Departmento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidade Federal Fluminense- UFF, Niterói, Brazil
| | | | - Céline Harmanus
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Wiep Klaas Smits
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Eliane de Oliveira Ferreira
- Departmento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes -IMPG, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Wen GL, Li SH, Qin Z, Yang YJ, Bai LX, Ge WB, Liu XW, Li JY. Isolation, molecular typing and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile in dogs and cats in Lanzhou city of Northwest China. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1032945. [DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1032945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in human and animals belonged usually to antibiotic-associated diarrhea, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening intestinal tract illnesses. This study aimed to isolation and characterization, toxin genes test, molecular typing, and drug sensitivity of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) which were isolated from clinical diseased dogs and cats. A total of 247 clinical samples were collected from five animal hospitals in Lanzhou City of Northwest China, of which dogs and cats accounted for 74.9% (185/247) and 25.1% (62/247), respectively. We successfully identified 24 C. difficile strains by 16S rRNA and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Fight Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF-MS). 10.3% (19/185) of dogs and 8.1% (5/62) of cats were positive for C. difficile. Among them, 16 strains were toxic and 8 were non-toxic, with a toxic rate of 57.9% (11/19) in dogs and 100% (5/5) in cats. A total of 10 STs and 10 RTs were identified in this study. The percentages of ST42 (RT106) and ST2 (RT014/LW01) among 16 toxic strains were 41.7 and 12.5%, respectively. However, ST3 (RT001), ST1 (RT027), ST133 (LW04), and ST-UN (LW04) had only one strain. ST42 (RT106) was the most common genotype and RT027 strain was first isolated in China from pets. Antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that isolates were extremely sensitive to vancomycin and metronidazole but were resistant to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. The drug resistant rates to clindamycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and meropenem were 62.5, 20.8, 16.7, and 8.3%, respectively. In conclusion, C. difficile was quietly prevalent in dogs and cats in Lanzhou city with RT106 and RT014 as the main ribotypes. The CDI in pets should be paying more attention and further studies are needed.
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Finsterwalder SK, Loncaric I, Cabal A, Szostak MP, Barf LM, Marz M, Allerberger F, Burgener IA, Tichy A, Feßler AT, Schwarz S, Monecke S, Ehricht R, Ruppitsch W, Spergser J, Künzel F. Dogs as carriers of virulent and resistant genotypes of Clostridioides difficile. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:673-681. [PMID: 35546073 PMCID: PMC9544694 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
While previous research on zoonotic transmission of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CA-CDI) focused on food-producing animals, the present study aimed to investigate whether dogs are carriers of resistant and/or virulent C. difficile strains. Rectal swabs were collected from 323 dogs and 38 C. difficile isolates (11.8%) were obtained. Isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and a DNA hybridization assay. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), core genome MLST (cgMLST) and screening for virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were performed based on WGS. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, vancomycin and metronidazole were determined by E-test. Out of 38 C. difficile isolates, 28 (73.7%) carried genes for toxins. The majority of isolates belonged to MLST sequence types (STs) of clade I and one to clade V. Several isolates belonged to STs previously associated with human CA-CDI. However, cgMLST showed low genetic relatedness between the isolates of this study and C. difficile strains isolated from humans in Austria for which genome sequences were publicly available. Four isolates (10.5%) displayed resistance to three of the tested antimicrobial agents. Isolates exhibited resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and metronidazole. These phenotypic resistances were supported by the presence of the resistance genes erm(B), cfr(C) and tet(M). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Our results indicate that dogs may carry virulent and antimicrobial-resistant C. difficile strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Finsterwalder
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - I Loncaric
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Cabal
- AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria
| | - M P Szostak
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - L M Barf
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - M Marz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.,FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Jena, Germany.,InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - F Allerberger
- AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria
| | - I A Burgener
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Tichy
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A T Feßler
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Centre of Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research (TZR), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Schwarz
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Centre of Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research (TZR), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Monecke
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena, Jena, Germany.,Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany.,Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinik Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - R Ehricht
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena, Jena, Germany.,Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - W Ruppitsch
- AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Spergser
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Künzel
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Kullin B, Abratt VR, Reid SJ, Riley TV. Clostridioides difficile infection in Africa: A narrative review. Anaerobe 2022; 74:102549. [PMID: 35337974 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) places a burden on healthcare facilities worldwide. Most research studies have been concentrated in high-income countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, where C. difficile is the leading cause of diarrhoea associated with antimicrobial use. This narrative review summarises African CDI studies, focussing on reports published in the last 20 years. Although relatively sparse, the data suggest that CDI is an important cause of diarrhoea on the continent. African CDI patient populations are often younger than in European and North American settings, probably due to the high prevalence of co-morbid conditions such as tuberculosis, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Strain typing data are rare and where reported generally limited to single sites and institutions. Despite challenges, including a lack of facilities and awareness, there is a need for further investigation to more accurately determine the true burden of disease caused by C. difficile in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Kullin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Valerie R Abratt
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sharon J Reid
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thomas V Riley
- Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia WA, Australia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia; Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, WA, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
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Tsai CS, Hung YP, Lee JC, Syue LS, Hsueh PR, Ko WC. Clostridioides difficile infection: an emerging zoonosis? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2021; 19:1543-1552. [PMID: 34383624 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1967746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and one of the common infections in healthcare facilities. In recent decades, there has been an emerging threat of community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI). Environmental transmission of C. difficile in the community setting has become a major concern, and animals are an important reservoir for C. difficile causing human diseases. AREAS COVERED In this article, the molecular epidemiology of C. difficile in animals and recent evidences of zoonotic transfer to humans are reviewed based on an electronic search in the databases of PubMed and Google Scholar. EXPERT OPINION C. difficile can be found in stool from diarrheal dogs and cats; therefore, household pets could be a potential source. C. difficile will threaten human health because hypervirulent C. difficile ribotype 078 strains have been found in retail chickens, pig farms, and slaughterhouses. Risk factors for fecal C. difficile carriage in animals include young age, dietary changes, and antibiotic abuse in domestic animals. With the advent of whole genome sequencing techniques, there will be more solid evidence indicating zoonotic transfer of C. difficile from animals to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Shiang Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Yunlin, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Pin Hung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Chieh Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Shan Syue
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ren Hsueh
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Ko
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Bjöersdorff OG, Lindberg S, Kiil K, Persson S, Guardabassi L, Damborg P. Dogs are carriers of Clostridioides difficile lineages associated with human community-acquired infections. Anaerobe 2021; 67:102317. [PMID: 33418077 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There is an increasing concern about the role of animals as reservoirs of Clostridioides difficile. In this study, we investigated prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic potential of C. difficile in dogs. Two-hundred and twenty-five dog faecal deposits were collected from trashcans in nine public gardens. C. difficile was isolated using selective plating and enrichment culture, identified by MALDI-TOF, tested for susceptibility to seven antibiotics by E-test, and sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq platform. Genome sequences were analysed to determine multilocus sequence types and resistance and toxin gene profiles. Zoonotic potential was assessed by measuring genetic variations of core genome (cg)MLST types between canine isolates and 216 temporally and spatially related human clinical isolates from a national database. C. difficile was isolated from 11 samples (4.9%). Seven isolates were toxigenic (tcdA+, tcdB+, cdtA/B-) and belonged to the sequence types ST2, ST6, ST10 and ST42. The four non-toxigenic isolates were assigned to ST15, ST26 and one novel ST. ST2, corresponding to PCR ribotype RT014/020, was the dominating lineage (n = 4) and, together with ST26 and ST42 isolates, showed close resemblance to human isolates, i.e. 2-5 allelic differences among the 1999 genes analysed by cgMLST. Three non-toxigenic isolates displayed resistance to clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline mediated by erm(B) and tet(M). Resistance to metronidazole, moxifloxacine, rifampicin or vancomycin was not detected. In conclusion, a small proportion of faecal deposits contained toxigenic C. difficile such as ST2 (RT014/020), which is a major cause of community-acquired infections. Our finding suggests that pathogenic strains can be exchanged between dogs and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Graaf Bjöersdorff
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Sanna Lindberg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer Kiil
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Persson
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luca Guardabassi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Peter Damborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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