FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Clin Microbiol / Isolation of Clostridium difficile and detection of cytotoxi...
Journal of clinical microbiology1987; 25(7); 1225-1227; doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.7.1225-1227.1987

Isolation of Clostridium difficile and detection of cytotoxin in the feces of diarrheic foals in the absence of antimicrobial treatment.

Abstract: Clostridium difficile was isolated from the feces of 27 of 43 diarrheic foals (63%), and cytotoxin was detected in feces from 28 diarrheic foals (65%). The foals had not received any antimicrobial treatment before the onset of diarrhea. C. difficile was not isolated from feces of 18 normal foals without diarrhea and 62 adult horses (P less than 0.005). This finding of C. difficile and its toxins in association with diarrhea in foals adds another possible cause to the list of infectious agents which may cause diarrhea in foals.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1987-07-01 PubMed ID: 3112178PubMed Central: PMC269181DOI: 10.1128/jcm.25.7.1225-1227.1987Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper explains how Clostridium difficile, a bacteria causing diarrhea, and its cytotoxins were found in the feces of diarrheic foals that had not previously received any antimicrobial treatment. This findings suggest that Clostridium difficile might be a potential cause for diarrhea in foals.

Isolation and Detection of Clostridium difficile and cytotoxin

  • The researchers isolated Clostridium difficile from the feces of 27 out of 43 diarrheic foals, which works out to about 63% of the subjects. This means this particular bacteria was present in a majority of the foals suffering from diarrhea.
  • Their findings also show that cytotoxin, the toxic substance produced by the bacteria, was detected in the feces of around 65% (28 out of 43) of the diarrheic foals.
  • Significantly, these foals had not received any kind of antimicrobial treatment prior to the onset of diarrhea. This suggests that the presence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin was not a result of any medical intervention, but was seemingly naturally occurring.

Absence of Clostridium difficile in Healthy Foals and Adult Horses

  • In contrast, the researchers were unable to isolate Clostridium difficile in feces samples taken from 18 non-diarrheic, or normal, foals.
  • Similar results were noted in the case of 62 adult horses, where again, the bacteria was not present.
  • These findings, from a comparative perspective, showed a significant difference in the presence of Clostridium difficile between diarrheic and non-diarrheic foals (P less than 0.005).

Implications of the Findings

  • This research adds Clostridium difficile as another possible cause for diarrhea in foals. Prior to this, it had not been considered as a potential cause.
  • Naturally, such a discovery has implications on the treatment methods for diarrheic foals. Understanding the cause of the illness can lead to more effective treatment solutions.
  • Furthermore, the findings may open up new avenues for future research into infectious agents causing diarrhea in foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Jones RL, Adney WS, Shideler RK. (1987). Isolation of Clostridium difficile and detection of cytotoxin in the feces of diarrheic foals in the absence of antimicrobial treatment. J Clin Microbiol, 25(7), 1225-1227. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.25.7.1225-1227.1987

Publication

Journal of clinical microbiology
ISSN: 0095-1137
NlmUniqueID: 7505564
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 7
Pages: 1225-1227

Researcher Affiliations

Jones, R L
    Adney, W S
      Shideler, R K

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Bacterial Proteins
        • Bacterial Toxins / analysis
        • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis
        • Clostridium / isolation & purification
        • Clostridium / metabolism
        • Cytotoxins / analysis
        • Cytotoxins / biosynthesis
        • Diarrhea / microbiology
        • Diarrhea / veterinary
        • Enterotoxins
        • Feces / analysis
        • Feces / microbiology
        • Horse Diseases / microbiology
        • Horses

        References

        This article includes 15 references
        1. Hafiz S, Oakley CL. Clostridium difficile: isolation and characteristics.. J Med Microbiol 1976 May;9(2):129-36.
          pubmed: 933146doi: 10.1099/00222615-9-2-129google scholar: lookup
        2. Nachamkin I, Lotz-Nolan L, Skalina D. Evaluation of a commercial cytotoxicity assay for detection of Clostridium difficile toxin.. J Clin Microbiol 1986 May;23(5):954-5.
          pubmed: 3711282doi: 10.1128/jcm.23.5.954-955.1986google scholar: lookup
        3. Bartlett JG, Chang TW, Gurwith M, Gorbach SL, Onderdonk AB. Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis due to toxin-producing clostridia.. N Engl J Med 1978 Mar 9;298(10):531-4.
          pubmed: 625309doi: 10.1056/NEJM197803092981003google scholar: lookup
        4. George WL, Sutter VL, Citron D, Finegold SM. Selective and differential medium for isolation of Clostridium difficile.. J Clin Microbiol 1979 Feb;9(2):214-9.
          pubmed: 429542doi: 10.1128/jcm.9.2.214-219.1979google scholar: lookup
        5. England JJ, Reed DE. Negative contrast electron microscopic techniques for diagnosis of viruses of veterinary importance.. Cornell Vet 1980 Apr;70(2):125-35.
          pubmed: 6157508
        6. Rehg JE, Lu YS. Clostridium difficile typhlitis in hamsters not associated with antibiotic therapy--.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1982 Dec 1;181(11):1422-3.
          pubmed: 7174490
        7. Ellis ME, Watson BM, Milewski PJ, Jones G. Clostridium difficile colitis unassociated with antibiotic therapy.. Br J Surg 1983 Apr;70(4):242-3.
          pubmed: 6831181doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800700420google scholar: lookup
        8. Al-Jumaili IJ, Shibley M, Lishman AH, Record CO. Incidence and origin of Clostridium difficile in neonates.. J Clin Microbiol 1984 Jan;19(1):77-8.
          pubmed: 6690469doi: 10.1128/jcm.19.1.77-78.1984google scholar: lookup
        9. Tzipori S, Chandler D, Smith M. The clinical manifestation and pathogenesis of enteritis associated with rotavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections in domestic animals.. Prog Food Nutr Sci 1983;7(3-4):193-205.
          pubmed: 6361857
        10. George WL. Antimicrobial agent-associated colitis and diarrhea: historical background and clinical aspects.. Rev Infect Dis 1984 Mar-Apr;6 Suppl 1:S208-13.
          pubmed: 6372031doi: 10.1093/clinids/6.supplement_1.s208google scholar: lookup
        11. Ehrich M, Perry BD, Troutt HF, Dellers RW, Magnusson RA. Acute diarrhea in horses of the Potomac River area: examination for clostridial toxins.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1984 Aug 15;185(4):433-5.
          pubmed: 6469842
        12. Lyerly DM, Saum KE, MacDonald DK, Wilkins TD. Effects of Clostridium difficile toxins given intragastrically to animals.. Infect Immun 1985 Feb;47(2):349-52.
          pubmed: 3917975doi: 10.1128/iai.47.2.349-352.1985google scholar: lookup
        13. Harbour DA. Infectious diarrhoea in foals.. Equine Vet J 1985 Jul;17(4):262-4.
          pubmed: 4076140doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02492.xgoogle scholar: lookup
        14. Wu TC, Gersch SM. Evaluation of a commercial kit for the routine detection of Clostridium difficile cytotoxin by tissue culture.. J Clin Microbiol 1986 Apr;23(4):792-3.
          pubmed: 3700631doi: 10.1128/jcm.23.4.792-793.1986google scholar: lookup
        15. Hibbs CM, Johnson DR, Reynolds K, Harrington R Jr. Clostridium sordellii isolated from foals.. Vet Med Small Anim Clin 1977 Feb;72(2):256-8.
          pubmed: 584600

        Citations

        This article has been cited 16 times.
        1. Hain-Saunders NMR, Knight DR, Bruce M, Riley TV. Clostridioides difficile infection and One Health: an equine perspective. Environ Microbiol 2022 Mar;24(3):985-997.
          doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15898pubmed: 35001483google scholar: lookup
        2. Uzal FA, Arroyo LG, Navarro MA, Gomez DE, Asín J, Henderson E. Bacterial and viral enterocolitis in horses: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 May;34(3):354-375.
          doi: 10.1177/10406387211057469pubmed: 34763560google scholar: lookup
        3. Kopper JJ, Willette JA, Kogan CJ, Seguin A, Bolin SR, Schott HC 2nd. Detection of pathogens in blood or feces of adult horses with enteric disease and association with outcome of colitis. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2465-2472.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.16238pubmed: 34382708google scholar: lookup
        4. Mallicote M, House AM, Sanchez LC. A review of foal diarrhoea from birth to weaning. Equine Vet Educ 2012 Apr;24(4):206-214.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00358.xpubmed: 32313387google scholar: lookup
        5. Weese JS. Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile in animals. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 Mar;32(2):213-221.
          doi: 10.1177/1040638719899081pubmed: 31904312google scholar: lookup
        6. Rodriguez C, Taminiau B, Van Broeck J, Delmée M, Daube G. Clostridium difficile in Food and Animals: A Comprehensive Review. Adv Exp Med Biol 2016;932:65-92.
          doi: 10.1007/5584_2016_27pubmed: 27350639google scholar: lookup
        7. Rodriguez C, Taminiau B, Brévers B, Avesani V, Van Broeck J, Leroux A, Gallot M, Bruwier A, Amory H, Delmée M, Daube G. Faecal microbiota characterisation of horses using 16 rdna barcoded pyrosequencing, and carriage rate of clostridium difficile at hospital admission. BMC Microbiol 2015 Sep 16;15:181.
          doi: 10.1186/s12866-015-0514-5pubmed: 26377067google scholar: lookup
        8. Botha M, Botes M, Loos B, Smith C, Dicks LM. Lactobacillus equigenerosi strain Le1 invades equine epithelial cells. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012 Jun;78(12):4248-55.
          doi: 10.1128/AEM.00552-12pubmed: 22504808google scholar: lookup
        9. Magdesian KG. Neonatal foal diarrhea. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2005 Aug;21(2):295-312, vi.
          doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2005.04.009pubmed: 16051051google scholar: lookup
        10. Weese JS, Armstrong J. Outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease in a small animal veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2003 Nov-Dec;17(6):813-6.
          doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02519.xpubmed: 14658717google scholar: lookup
        11. Songer JG. Clostridial enteric diseases of domestic animals. Clin Microbiol Rev 1996 Apr;9(2):216-34.
          doi: 10.1128/CMR.9.2.216pubmed: 8964036google scholar: lookup
        12. Netherwood T, Wood JL, Townsend HG, Mumford JA, Chanter N. Foal diarrhoea between 1991 and 1994 in the United Kingdom associated with Clostridium perfringens, rotavirus, Strongyloides westeri and Cryptosporidium spp. Epidemiol Infect 1996 Oct;117(2):375-83.
          doi: 10.1017/s0950268800001564pubmed: 8870636google scholar: lookup
        13. Lyerly DM, Krivan HC, Wilkins TD. Clostridium difficile: its disease and toxins. Clin Microbiol Rev 1988 Jan;1(1):1-18.
          doi: 10.1128/CMR.1.1.1pubmed: 3144429google scholar: lookup
        14. Staempfli HR, Prescott JF, Carman RJ, McCutcheon LJ. Use of bacitracin in the prevention and treatment of experimentally-induced idiopathic colitis in horses. Can J Vet Res 1992 Jul;56(3):233-6.
          pubmed: 1423060
        15. Borges AS, Zakia LS, Yu S, Surette MG, Arroyo LG. Isolation of Clostridioides difficile from a Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital Environment. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 15;15(18).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15182703pubmed: 41007948google scholar: lookup
        16. Thanissery R, McLaren MR, Rivera A, Reed AD, Betrapally NS, Burdette T, Winston JA, Jacob M, Callahan BJ, Theriot CM. Clostridioides difficile carriage in animals and the associated changes in the host fecal microbiota. Anaerobe 2020 Dec;66:102279.
          doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102279pubmed: 33022384google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.