Prevalence and genotypic characteristics of Clostridium difficile in a closed and integrated human and swine population

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Aug 15;77(16):5755-60. doi: 10.1128/AEM.05007-11. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

Abstract

Recently, an apparent rise in the number of cases attributed to community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection has led researchers to explore additional sources of infection. The finding of C. difficile in food animals and retail meat has raised concern about potential food-borne and occupational exposures. The objective of this study was to compare C. difficile isolated from a closed population of healthy individuals consisting of both humans and swine in order to investigate possible food safety and occupational risks for exposure. Using a multistep enrichment isolation technique, we identified 11.8% of the human wastewater samples and 8.6% of the swine samples that were positive for C. difficile. The prevalences of C. difficile in swine production groups differed significantly (P < 0.05); however, the prevalences in the two human occupational group cohorts did not differ significantly (P = 0.81). The majority of the human and swine isolates were similar based on multiple typing methods. The similarity in C. difficile prevalence in the human group cohorts suggests a low occupational hazard, while a greatly decreased prevalence of C. difficile in later-stage swine production groups suggests a diminished risk for food-borne exposure. The similarity of strains in the two host species suggests the possibility of a common environmental source for healthy individuals in a community setting.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Clostridioides difficile / classification
  • Clostridioides difficile / genetics*
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Food Safety
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Swine / microbiology*
  • Water Microbiology