Clostridium difficile infection: Main features and occurrence in domestic species in Brazil (original) (raw)
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium difficile isolated from animals and humans in Brazil
Ciência Rural, 2014
The objective of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility in Clostridium difficile strains isolated from animals and humans in Brazil. The 54 C. difficile strains used were isolated from stool samples from piglets (n=16), dogs (n=13), humans (n=13), foals (n=8) calves (n=2), an ocelot (n=1) and a maned wolf (n=1). Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the serial plate agar dilution method for penicillin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, vancomycin, metronidazole and tylosin. The C. difficile strains assessed were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin. Florfenicol resistance was rarely observed; 52 (96.4%) strains were sensitive to this antimicrobial. Five (9.3%), five (9.3%), 14 (25.9%) and 20 (37.0%) strains were resistant to oxytetracycline, penicillin, tylosin and erythromycin respectively.
Clostridium difficile ribotypes in humans and animals in Brazil
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2015
Clostridium difficile is an emerging enteropathogen responsible for pseudomembranous colitis in humans and diarrhoea in several domestic and wild animal species. Despite its known importance, there are few studies about C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotypes in Brazil and the actual knowledge is restricted to studies on human isolates. The aim of the study was therefore to compare C. difficile ribotypes isolated from humans and animals in Brazil. Seventysix C. difficile strains isolated from humans (n = 25), dogs (n = 23), piglets (n = 12), foals (n = 7), calves (n = 7), one cat, and one manned wolf were distributed into 24 different PCR ribotypes. Among toxigenic strains, PCR ribotypes 014/020 and 106 were the most common, accounting for 14 (18.4%) and eight (10.5%) samples, respectively. Fourteen different PCR ribotypes were detected among human isolates, nine of them have also been identified in at least one animal species. PCR ribotype 027 was not detected, whereas 078 were found only in foals. This data suggests a high diversity of PCR ribotypes in humans and animals in Brazil and support the discussion of C. difficile as a zoonotic pathogen.
First confirmed case of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in foals in Brazil
Ciência Rural, 2012
Despite of the substantial role of Clostridium difficile in causing diarrhea and colitis in foals, there have been no confirmed diagnoses of disease caused by this bacteria in Brazil. In this paper, we describe confirmed cases of colitis caused by C. difficile in two foals in Brazil. Two five-month-old foals with a five-day history of diarrhea after antibiotic treatment for a respiratory disease were treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. C. difficile A/B toxins were detected, and toxigenic strains of C. difficile were isolated from the foals' feces. The treatment was based on fluid therapy and antibiotics (metronidazole and ceftiofur), and the animals experienced a gradual recovery. The association between the medical history, clinical signs, laboratory exam results and therapeutic success confirmed the diagnosis of C. difficile-associated diarrhea. The present report raises the possibility that C. difficile is also a pathogen in equines...
Ciência Rural, 2021
ABSTRACT: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is the main causative agent of antimicrobial-related diarrhea in humans and a major pathogen-associated enteric disorder in foals and adult horses. Moreover, studies have suggested that animals are a possible reservoir of toxigenic C. difficile strains for humans. Despite this known importance, the epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in equine is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study described six cases of equine CDI occurring in Minas Gerais, Brazil, including the characterization of the isolates. All but one equine included in this research developed CDI after antimicrobial therapy, three of which occurred during hospitalization. Coinfection with Salmonella Heidelberg and S. Infantis was detected in three cases, making the antimicrobial treatment challenging. All animals recovered after metronidazole administration. All C. difficile isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin, while three were resistant...
BMC Microbiology, 2014
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.
Infección por Clostridium difficile en ancianos
Revista Colombiana De Gastroenterologia, 2013
Clostridium difficile infection is one of the most important causes of acute diarrhea in elderly patients. For over thirty years this infection has been associated with the use of antibiotics. Its incidence and severity among the elderly have progressively increased over the last decade resulting in increased risk morbidity and mortality from this infection among this population. This article aims to review disease associated with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) among the elderly. It emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis based on risk factors, clinical manifestations, prevention and treatment before infection reaches epidemic proportions. It also emphasizes the importance of education for health care professionals and relatives of patients in order to limit the spread of this infection and associated morbidity and mortality.
Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2016
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.
Preliminary studies on isolates of Clostridium difficile from dogs and exotic pets
BMC veterinary research, 2018
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is recognised as an emerging disease in both humans and some animal species. During the past few years, insights into human CDI epidemiology changed and C. difficile is also considered as an emerging community-acquired pathogen. Certain ribotypes (RT) are possibly associated with zoonotic transmission. The objective of this study was to assess the presence of C. difficile in a population of pets and to characterise the isolates. Faecal samples from a total of 90 diarrhoeic dogs and 24 from exotic animal species (both diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic) were analysed. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 6 (6.7%) dogs and one reptile sample (4.2%). Four (66.7%) of the six dog strains were capable of producing toxins. Four known different RTs were detected in dogs (010, 014, 123 and 358) and a new one was found in a faecal sample of an exotic animal. This new RT isolate was negative for all toxin genes tested and belonged to sequence type 347 which ...
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 2010
The aim of this study was to investigate Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to characterize epidemiologically C. difficile strains obtained from an outbreak of CDAD. Within almost a 4-year surveillance period, CDAD incidence was determined for the first time in Brazil, and a 3-fold increase was observed in the average rate of CDAD, featuring an outbreak. About 80% of the patients were over 65 years. The main antibiotic that could be probably associated to CDAD was piperacillin/tazobactam. Four toxigenic strains were isolated, 3 from stools and 1 from environmental samples. They were all resistant to clindamycin and fluoroquinolones. Fingerprinting analysis revealed their distribution between 2 different polymerase chain reaction ribotypes, with one of them being exclusively found in Brazil. It was possible to detect cross-infection and environmental contamination in the ICU. Our results highlight the importance of a continuous CDAD surveillance in the hospitals, especially when a risk group is exposed.