Rodents are carriers of Clostridioides difficile strains similar to those isolated from piglets

• Published in: Anaerobe 2018-06, Vol.51, p.61-63
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Carlos Augusto, de Paula Gabardo, Michelle, Guedes, Roberto Maurício Carvalho, Poncet, Fabrice, Blanc, Dominique S., Lobato, Francisco Carlos Faria, Silva, Rodrigo Otávio Silveira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Toxins - analysis; Bacteriological Techniques; Carrier State - microbiology; Carrier State - veterinary; Clostridium difficile; Clostridium difficile - classification; Clostridium difficile - genetics; Clostridium difficile - isolation & purification; Clostridium Infections - microbiology; Clostridium Infections - veterinary; Disease Reservoirs - microbiology; Feces - microbiology; Genotype; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mice; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Mus musculus; Rats; Rattus rattus; Rodentia - microbiology; Swine; Swine Diseases - microbiology
• ISSN: 1075-9964; 1095-8274
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2018.04.006

Features of Clostridioides difficile transmission in swine and the role of rodents as C. difficile reservoir are not clear. To investigate if rodents can carry strains of C. difficile that are genetically similar to those isolated from swine, 97 fecal samples from neonatal piglets and 41 intestinal contents from rodents were collected in two farms. All samples were subjected to C. difficile culture and the presence of A/B toxins in piglet feces were accessed by commercial enzyme imunoassay (EIA). C. difficile isolates were typed by double- (DLST) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). C. difficile was isolated from 15.5% of piglets and 31.7% of rodents. Most isolates were identified as DLST type 4-4 and 17-5 (both are ST11), which were found in both rodents and piglets. Results of this study suggested that rodents may have a role on the transmission and spread of C. difficile strains to swine. •The role of rodents as C. difficile reservoir for piglets is not clear.•C. difficile isolates from rodents and piglets from the same farms were submitted to MLST and DLST.•Most isolates were identified as DLST types 4-4 and 17-5, both are (MLST) ST11.•Rodents may have a role on the transmission and spread of C. difficile strains to piglets.