Clostridium difficule in sheep and lambs in Australia

Summary

A highly virulent strain of Clostridium difficile (called PCR ribotype 027 in Europe and NAP1 in the USA) has emerged in North America and Europe over the last 10 years. Rates of detection of C. difficile have risen dramatically, C. difficile disease has been more severe, and attributable mortality was >10% in those aged >60 years. C. difficile is the most commonly diagnosed cause of infectious hospital-acquired diarrhoea in developed countries. The majority of patients with C. difficile infection (CDI) have been exposed to antimicrobials that reduce colonisation resistance of the large intestine allowing subsequent infection with C. difficile. Acquisition of C. difficile is facilitated by its ability to form spores that are resistant to many disinfectants allowing it to remain viable in the hospital environment for long periods of time. Toxigenic isolates of C. difficile usually produce two toxins, toxin A and toxin B, and these are thought of as the major virulence factors.
 
The objectives of this project was: 1) To undertake a survey of Australian sheep and lambs for C. difficile presence and determine the prevalence and concentration in 3 geographic regions. 2) To type C. difficile isolates recovered to see if there is any relationship with human isolates in Australia. 3) To assess any risk of food-borne transmission of C. difficile from contamination.