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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.
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Publication Date: 1987-07-01 PubMed ID: 3112178PubMed Central: PMC269181DOI: 10.1128/jcm.25.7.1225-1227.1987Google Scholar: Lookup
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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

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 16 times.
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