PCR ribotyping of Clostridium difficile isolates originating from human and animal sources.
Abstract: Molecular typing of Clostridium difficile isolates from animals and humans may be useful for evaluation of the possibility for interspecies transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate C. difficile isolates from domestic animals and humans using PCR ribotyping. Isolates were also tested using PCR for the presence of genes encoding toxins A and B. One hundred and thirty-three isolates of C. difficile from dogs (n = 92), horses (n = 21) and humans (n = 20), plus one each from a cat and a calf, were evaluated. Overall, 23 ribotypes were identified. Of these, nine were identified from dogs, 12 from horses, seven from humans and one each from the cat and calf. In dogs, humans and horses, one or two different ribotypes predominated. Overall, 25 % of isolates from humans were indistinguishable from isolates from one or more animal species. Genes encoding C. difficile toxins A and B were detected in all human, equine and bovine isolates, and in 69 % of canine isolates. While different ribotypes appear to predominate in different mammalian species, several indistinguishable strains may be found in multiple species. This suggests that there is a potential for interspecies transmission of C. difficile and epidemiological studies are warranted.
Publication Date: 2005-01-28 PubMed ID: 15673511DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.45805-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research was conducted with the aim to investigate potential interspecies transmission of Clostridium difficile, specifically among domestic animals and humans, using PCR ribotyping. The study identified similarities across species, suggesting potential pathways for infection.
Study Overview
- The research was focused on evaluating the isolation of Clostridium difficile, a bacteria causing infections and conditions like diarrhea and colitis, in humans and animals using PCR ribotyping, a method of identifying the bacteria’s genetic variations. The study further aimed to establish the possibility of interspecies transmission.
- The researchers evaluated 133 isolates of C. difficile collected from different species including dogs, horses, humans, a cat and a calf.
Findings
- Each species had varying numbers of identifiable ribotypes. Dogs had nine, horses had twelve, humans had seven, with the cat and calf each having one.
- It was observed that one or two ribotypes were present in larger numbers across dogs, horses, and humans.
- The significant finding was that 25% of the human isolates showed no difference from those found in one or more animal species, which gives weight to the perspective of potential interspecies transmission of C. difficile.
- All human, equine, and bovine isolates, along with 69% of canine isolates, were discovered to have genes encoding C. difficile’s toxins A and B. These toxins are responsible for the harmful effects of the bacteria.
Conclusion
- While it is noted that different ribotypes seemed to majorly exist in different species, strain similarities across multiple species cannot be dismissed.
- The study concludes that the presence of similar strains in multiple species indicates a possible pathway for interspecies transmission of C. difficile.
- Since such transmission can lead to infections in different species, further epidemiological studies are recommended to explore this possibility.
Cite This Article
APA
Arroyo LG, Kruth SA, Willey BM, Staempfli HR, Low DE, Weese JS.
(2005).
PCR ribotyping of Clostridium difficile isolates originating from human and animal sources.
J Med Microbiol, 54(Pt 2), 163-166.
https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.45805-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 2Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 2Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 2Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 2Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 2Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 2Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacterial Proteins / genetics
- Bacterial Toxins / genetics
- Cats
- Cattle
- Clostridioides difficile / classification
- Clostridioides difficile / genetics
- Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
- Clostridium Infections / diagnosis
- Clostridium Infections / microbiology
- Clostridium Infections / transmission
- DNA, Bacterial / analysis
- Dogs
- Enterotoxins / genetics
- Horses
- Humans
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Ribosomal / analysis
- RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
- Ribotyping
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