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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Health Res Rev / The emergence of Clostridium difficile as a pathogen of food...
Animal health research reviews2005; 5(2); 321-326; doi: 10.1079/ahr200492

The emergence of Clostridium difficile as a pathogen of food animals.

Abstract: Clostridium difficile causes pseudomembranous colitis in humans, usually after disruption of the bowel flora by antibiotic therapy. Factors mediating the frank disease include the dose and toxigenicity of the colonizing strain, its ability to adhere to colonic epithelium, the concurrent presence of organisms that affect multiplication and toxin production or activity, and the susceptibility of the host. Toxins A (an enterotoxin) and B (a cytotoxin) play the major role in pathogenesis and the detection of toxins in gut contents is the gold standard for diagnosis. Disease in horses takes the form of often-fatal foal hemorrhagic enteritis. Nosocomial, antibiotic-associated, disease is increasingly common in adult horses. Enteric clinical signs are reported in ostriches, companion animals and recently calves. Clostridium difficile colitis is now a common diagnosis in neonatal pigs in the USA and elsewhere. Clinical features include onset at 1-5 days of age, sometimes with dyspnea, mild abdominal distension and scrotal edema, and commonly with yellow, pasty diarrhea. There is mesocolonic edema grossly, with microscopic diffuse colitis, mucosal edema, crypt distension, epithelial necrosis and superficial mucosal erosion. Neutrophil infiltration of the lamina propria is common, and fibrin and numerous rod-shaped bacteria are observed on the surface. About two-thirds of litters and one-third of piglets will be affected (based upon positive toxin tests), although this appears to vary with the season. The case fatality rate is probably low if considering only direct effects of C. difficile infection. The significance of toxin-positive non-diarrheic pigs and the nature of the interaction of toxins A and B with enterocytes are unknown. Given the widespread occurrence of the disease, there is substantial effort to develop immunoprophylactic products.
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Publication Date: 2005-06-30 PubMed ID: 15984348DOI: 10.1079/ahr200492Google 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 discusses the rise of Clostridium difficile as a food animal pathogen, with a particular focus on its effects on horses and pigs. The study delves into various factors influencing the disease, its diagnosis, clinical features, incidence rates, and the anticipation towards the development of immunoprophylactic products.

Causative Agent and Disease Pathogenesis

  • Clostridium difficile causes pseudomembranous colitis in humans, typically after disruption of bowel flora by antibiotics. Similar effects are now being witnessed in animals.
  • The severity of the disease depends on the colonizing strain’s dose and toxigenicity, its ability to adhere to the colonic epithelium, the presence of concurrent organisms that affect multiplication and toxin production or activity, and the host’s susceptibility.
  • Toxins A and B, secreted by the pathogen, play major roles in the disease. The presence of these toxins in gut contents is considered the gold standard for diagnosis.

Impact on Horses and Other Animals

  • In horses, disease manifestation often results in a fatal condition called foal hemorrhagic enteritis. Nosocomial, antibiotic-associated diseases are also increasingly common in adult horses.
  • Enteric clinical signs have been reported in ostriches, companion animals, calves, and notably, in neonatal pigs in the USA and other regions.

Disease Presentation in Pigs

  • Neonatal pigs are commonly diagnosed with Clostridium difficile colitis, with clinical features appearing at 1-5 days of age. Symptoms may include dyspnea, mild abdominal distension, scrotal edema, and commonly, yellow, pasty diarrhea.
  • Autopsy findings may demonstrate mesocolonic edema, with microscopic diffuse colitis, mucosal edema, crypt distension, epithelial necrosis, and superficial mucosal erosion. Often, neutrophil infiltration of the lamina propria is observed, and fibrin and numerous rod-shaped bacteria are seen on the surface.

Occurrence and Possible Outcomes

  • About two-thirds of the litters and one-third of piglets will be affected based on positive toxin tests, although this rate appears seasonal.
  • The case fatality rate is likely low if considering only direct effects of C. difficile infection. The significance of toxin-positive non-diarrheic pigs and the interaction of toxins A and B with enterocytes remains unknown.

Future Prospects

  • With the widespread occurrence of this condition, significant efforts are underway to develop immunoprophylactic products to combat the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Songer JG. (2005). The emergence of Clostridium difficile as a pathogen of food animals. Anim Health Res Rev, 5(2), 321-326. https://doi.org/10.1079/ahr200492

Publication

Animal health research reviews
ISSN: 1466-2523
NlmUniqueID: 101083072
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 5
Issue: 2
Pages: 321-326

Researcher Affiliations

Songer, J Glenn
  • Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
  • Clostridioides difficile / pathogenicity
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / epidemiology
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / veterinary
  • Food Microbiology
  • Meat
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology
  • United States / epidemiology

Citations

This article has been cited 29 times.
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