Isolation of Clostridium difficile from pigs

Jones, M R; Hunter, D

doi:10.1136/vr.112.11.253

Cited by 30 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…156 There is a single case report of pseudomembranous typhlocolitis in 8-week-old pigs, but Salmonella typhimurium was isolated in addition to C. difficile. 69 Our unpublished data and anecdotal evidence confirm this as a neonatal disease of pigs.…”

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confidence: 62%

The Comparative Pathology ofClostridium difficile-associated Disease

2006

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Abstract. Clostridium difficile is a confirmed pathogen in a wide variety of mammals, but the incidence of disease varies greatly in relation to host species, age, environmental density of spores, administration of antibiotics, and possibly, other factors. Lesions vary as well, in severity and distribution within individuals, and in some instances, age groups, of a given species. The cecum and colon are principally affected in most species, but foals and rabbits develop severe jejunal lesions. Explanations for variable susceptibility of species, and age groups within a species, are largely speculative. Differences in colonization rates and toxin-receptor densities have been proposed. Clostridium difficile-associated disease is most commonly diagnosed in Syrian hamsters, horses, and neonatal pigs, but it is reported sporadically in many other species. The essential virulence factors of C. difficile are large exotoxins, toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). Receptor-mediated endocytosis of the toxins is followed by endosomal acidification, a necessary step for conversion of the toxin to its active form in the cytosol. Cell-surface receptors have been characterized for TcdA, but remain to be identified for TcdB. Both TcdA and TcdB disrupt the actin cytoskeleton by disrupting Rho-subtype, intracellular signaling molecules. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton is catastrophic for cellular function, but inflammation and neurogenic stimuli are also involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

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confidence: 62%

The Comparative Pathology ofClostridium difficile-associated Disease

2006

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“…For example, if it were shown to be a common member of the faecal flora of a livestock animal, it could contaminate meat at slaughter; or, if it was widely distributed in soil it could contaminate raw food such as fresh vegetables. Despite isolated reports of C. dfjcile in two sick piglets [13] and in one of 162 Nigerian cattle [14], there has not been a large survey of the prevalence of C. dijjcile in the gut of animals in the human food chain. The results of the present study suggest that consumption of beef, pork or lamb is not likely to be an important source of exposure to C. difJicile, as it was not part of the faecal flora of 104 cattle, 100 pigs and 1% of sheep.…”

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The distribution of Clostridium difficile in the environment of South Wales

Saif

Brazier²

1996

Journal of Medical Microbiology

229

168

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A large study of the distribution of Clostridium difJicile in the environment of the Cardiff area of South Wales was performed with a methodology designed to maximise recovery. A total of 2580 samples was taken, with 184 (7.1%) yielding isolates. The highest yield for C. d i f f i l e was obtained from river waters, with 14 (87.5%) of 16 samples from four rivers positive, and from sea water samples with 7 (44%) of 15 positive from six beaches on the Bristol Channel. In addition, 7 (46.7%) of 15 samples of lake water were also positive. Twenty-two (21%) of 104 soil samples, taken from random sites in Cardiff, were positive, as were 20% of environmental samples from four Cardiff hospitals. C. difficile was also isolated from 50% of eight swimming pool waters examined and 1 (5.5%) of 18 of mains tap water. Carriage of C. difficile in 524 faecal samples of assorted farm animals was c. 1%, and was 10% in dogs and 2% in cats. In private residences, the organism was present in 12 (2.2%) of 550 samples. While 2.4% of 300 raw vegetable samples were positive, none of 107 assorted fish gut contents was. These findings indicate that C. difficile may be more widely distributed in the general environment, particularly water, than was previously thought.

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“…However, most of the recovered isolates were identified as non-cytotoxigenic. In the same year, C. difficile was recovered from pigs (Jones and Hunter 1983) and identified as the causative agent of antibiotic-associated colitis in a Kodiak bear (Orchard et al 1983). Interest in the study of C. difficile in animals continued to increase during this period.…”

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Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review

Rodríguez

Taminiau

Broeck

et al. 2016

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

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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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Isolation of Clostridium difficile from pigs

Cited by 30 publications

References 0 publications

The Comparative Pathology ofClostridium difficile-associated Disease

The Comparative Pathology ofClostridium difficile-associated Disease

The distribution of Clostridium difficile in the environment of South Wales

Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review

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