Prevalence ofClostridium difficileToxin Genes in the Feces of Veal Calves and Incidence of Ground Veal Contamination

Abstract

A study was conducted in two parts to determine the prevalence of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in veal calves and retail meat. The first part of the study focused on the veal production continuum (farm to abattoir). Fifty calves from 4 veal herds (n=200) were followed for 18-22 weeks from the time of arrival on the veal farm to the time of slaughter. Fecal samples were collected from calves every 4-6 weeks. Half of the calves included in the study (n=100) were followed to the abattoir where carcass swabs were collected post slaughter. Fecal samples and carcass swabs were screened for genes encoding C. difficile toxins TcdA, TcdB, and CDT by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Carcass swabs were also screened for toxigenic C. difficile by using traditional culture methods. In the second part of the study, ground veal products (n=50 samples) purchased from local grocery stores were examined for toxigenic C. difficile by using real-time PCR and traditional culture methods. Fecal samples from 56 of 200 (28%) calves tested positive for C. difficile toxin genes at least once over the course of the study. Calf age (p=0.011) influenced prevalence of C. difficile toxin genes in calf feces. Toxin genes of C. difficile were detected in one carcass swab by multiplex real-time PCR only. Toxigenic C. difficile was detected by PCR and culture in four (8%) and three (6%) ground veal samples, respectively. The findings of the study reveal that toxigenic C. difficile was most prevalent in veal calves (12%) just before slaughter, although viable toxigenic C. difficile was not recovered from veal carcasses. On the contrary, viable toxigenic C. difficle was recovered from 6% retail meat, thus suggesting that contamination occurs either during or after veal fabrication.

Nationwide Surveillance Study of Clostridium difficile in Australian Neonatal Pigs Shows High Prevalence and Heterogeneity of PCR Ribotypes

“…RT014 is the most common RT infecting humans in Australia (31) and in many countries in Europe, where it is also a leading cause of disease in the community (15). RT014 previously has been found in very small numbers in older cattle in Belgium (36) and in horses, domestic pets, and livestock in the Netherlands (37) and in retail meat in North America (38). The prevalence of RT014 reported in our study was higher than those of these earlier studies, 23.4% versus 1 to 2%.…”

Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review

“…In Belgium, the observed prevalence in cattle carcasses reached up to 7.9 % (8/101) . In a study conducted in Pennsylvania, Houser et al (2012) detected the tpi housekeeping gene in 4 out of 100 cattle carcass swabs by PCR, but C. difficile was not isolated using culture techniques. The same data has been reported in an Australian study of cattle carcasses sampled in the processing area of the slaughter line where none of the samples taken (n ¼ 151) were positive for C. difficile ).…”

Cross-Sectional Study Reveals High Prevalence of Clostridium difficile Non-PCR Ribotype 078 Strains in Australian Veal Calves at Slaughter

“…Detection of C. difficile in production animals has raised concerns that contaminated meat products could be a potential source of CDI in humans. Reports from North America and, to a lesser extent, Europe describe C. difficile as being isolated from cattle and meat destined for human consumption (13)(14)(15). Nothing is known about the prevalence of C. difficile in Australian production animals.…”