Clostridioides difficile in Calves in Central Italy: Prevalence, Molecular Typing, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Association with Antibiotic Administration

Abstract

The emergence of Clostridioides difficile as the main agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea has raised concerns about its potential zoonotic role in different animal species. The use of antimicrobials is a major risk factor for C. difficile infection. Here, we provide data on C. difficile infection in dairy and beef calves in Umbria, a region in central Italy. This cross-sectional study focuses on prevalence, risk factors, ribotypes, toxinotypes and antimicrobial resistance profiles of circulating ribotypes. A prevalence of 19.8% (CI95%, 12–27.6%) positive farms was estimated, and the prescription of penicillins on the farms was associated with C. difficile detection (OR = 5.58). Eleven different ribotypes were found, including the ST11 sublineages RT-126 and -078, which are also commonly reported in humans. Thirteen isolates out of 17 showed resistance to at least one of clindamycin, moxifloxacin, linezolid and vancomycin. Among them, multiple-drug resistance was observed in two isolates, belonging to RT-126. Furthermore, RT-126 isolates were positive for tetracycline resistance determinants, confirming that tetracycline resistance is widespread among ST11 isolates from cattle. The administration of penicillins increased the risk of C. difficile in calves: this, together with the recovery of multi-resistant strains, strongly suggests the need for minimising antibiotic misuse on cattle farms.

Comparison of Automated Ribotyping, spa Typing, and MLST in 108 Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Orthopedic Infections

“…Ribotyping could therefore be an advantage in a preliminary study where it is required clinical isolates that possess distinct pathogenic characteristics (Table 3). The study of Blasi F et al [34] exhibits that C. difficile strains belonging to the same ribotypes have the same toxinotypes and antimicrobial resistance profiles. Additionally, it would be an additional value to improve the information obtained from spa typing and MLST in order to associate the identified clones with probable emerging global clones with special genetic lineages and also to verify the incidence of the same clones in the laboratory databases and to compare their genetic and phenotypic properties.…”

Molecular Methods for Pathogenic Bacteria Detection and Recent Advances in Wastewater Analysis

“…These facts raise concerns of C. difficile infection and transmission and entail its surveillance based on WBE. Several studies have investigated the prevalence of C. difficile in wastewater by cultivation and PCR methods [59,65,66].…”

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Clostridioides difficile Isolated from Pig Carcasses and Pork Products in Central Italy

“…This ribotypeis often found in community-acquired infections and it is among the ten most frequently isolated ribotypes in European populations [ 30 ]. RT-078 is the most common ribotype in pigs, cattle and horses worldwide [ 31 ] and in a recent study performed in Central Italy, it was detected in dairy and beef cattle farms [ 32 ]. In the same study, RT-126 turned out to be the most commonly isolated ribotype in calves [ 32 ].…”

“…RT-078 is the most common ribotype in pigs, cattle and horses worldwide [ 31 ] and in a recent study performed in Central Italy, it was detected in dairy and beef cattle farms [ 32 ]. In the same study, RT-126 turned out to be the most commonly isolated ribotype in calves [ 32 ]. The prevalence of this ribotype in humans is variable, ranging from 3% in a European survey [ 33 ] to 34.4% in Spain [ 34 ].…”