Carriage of Clostridium difficile and other enteric pathogens among a 4-H avocational cohort.
Abstract: Clostridium difficile (CD), Salmonella, Campylobacter and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are major causes of morbidity in a variety of enteric diseases in humans and animals, but subclinical carriage in both is probably more common than are clinical cases. Little is known regarding the prevalence of these pathogens in animals raised for exhibit at Michigan county fairs or the frequency with which Michigan citizens raising these animals may have been subclinically colonized. To address these issues, 361 fecal specimens from 158 humans and 203 of their farm animals were cultured for CD, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Additionally, 50 people and their cattle were tested for EHEC. No EHEC, Salmonella or Campylobacter were detected. However, 16 specimens (4.4%) were positive for CD: 13 humans, two horses and one pig. None of the farm animal specimens submitted by any of the 13 CD-positive humans were positive for CD. Strain characterization [toxinotype, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)] demonstrated that the human CD isolates were similar to what has been reported previously in the general US population. We conclude that horses and farm animals (cattle, sheep, goats and swine) at 1-2 months before market weight showed no evidence of wide-spread carriage of the common enteric pathogens, including the recently reported CD toxinotype V. These results provide no support to the hypothesis that 4-H members or others visiting county fair animal husbandry projects in these counties may be at increased risk for acquisition of CD, Salmonella, Campylobacter or EHEC from animals.
© 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2010-06-10 PubMed ID: 20529211DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01338.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research investigates the prevalence of Clostridium difficile and other digestive pathogens in both humans and farm animals raised for local county fairs in Michigan, concluding that there is no significant risk of contracting these pathogens from these animals.
Objective of the Research
- The main aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of major gastrointestinal pathogens such as Clostridium difficile (CD), Salmonella, Campylobacter, and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in animals raised for exhibition at Michigan’s county fairs and the humans caring for them.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted their tests on 361 fecal specimens, with 158 collected from humans and 203 from their farm animals.
- These samples were then cultured for CD, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.
- An additional subset of 50 people and their cattle were tested for EHEC.
Research Findings
- The tests revealed no instances of EHEC, Salmonella, or Campylobacter.
- Only 16 specimens, equalling to 4.4% of the total, tested positive for Clostridium difficile. These included 13 humans, two horses, and one pig.
- Interestingly, none of the farm animal specimens presented by any of the 13 CD-positive people tested positive for CD.
- Further characterization of strains, via methods including toxinotype and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), indicated that the human CD isolates were not significantly different from those usually found in the general population in the US.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that farm animals (including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) at 1-2 months before market weight did not show extensive carriage of common enteric pathogens, including the previously reported CD toxinotype V.
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that 4-H members or others visiting county fair animal husbandry projects in Michigan may be at an increased risk of contracting CD, Salmonella, Campylobacter, or EHEC from these animals.
Cite This Article
APA
McNamara SE, Abdujamilova N, Somsel P, Gordoncillo MJ, DeDecker JM, Bartlett PC.
(2010).
Carriage of Clostridium difficile and other enteric pathogens among a 4-H avocational cohort.
Zoonoses Public Health, 58(3), 192-199.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01338.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Infectious Diseases Division, Bureau of Laboratories, Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, MI, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / microbiology
- Campylobacter / isolation & purification
- Carrier State / microbiology
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Cattle / microbiology
- Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
- Cohort Studies
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
- Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
- Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
- Feces / microbiology
- Humans
- Michigan
- Risk Factors
- Salmonella / isolation & purification
Grant Funding
- N01-AI-30058 / NIAID NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Spigaglia P, Barbanti F, Faccini S, Vescovi M, Criscuolo EM, Ceruti R, Gaspano C, Rosignoli C. Clostridioides difficile in Pigs and Dairy Cattle in Northern Italy: Prevalence, Characterization and Comparison between Animal and Human Strains. Microorganisms 2023 Jul 2;11(7).
- Dost I, Abdel-Glil M, Schmoock G, Menge C, Berens C, González-Santamarina B, Wiegand E, Neubauer H, Schwarz S, Seyboldt C. Clostridioides difficile in South American Camelids in Germany: First Insights into Molecular and Genetic Characteristics and Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Jan 4;12(1).
- Weese JS, Slovis N, Rousseau J. Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile in neonatal foals and mares at a referral hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Mar;35(2):1140-1146.
- Stout AE, Hofmar-Glennon HG, André NM, Goodman LB, Anderson RR, Mitchell PK, Thompson BS, Lejeune M, Whittaker GR, Goodrich EL. Infectious disease surveillance of apparently healthy horses at a multi-day show using a novel nanoscale real-time PCR panel. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jan;33(1):80-86.
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