[en] Faecal carriage of Clostridium difficile in healthy animals has been reported recently, especially in piglets
and calves. However there is limited data about carriage in animals just prior to slaughter in Europe. The
main objective of this study was to determine the presence of C. difficile in pigs and cattle at the
slaughterhouse. C. difficile was isolated in 6.9% of the cattle at the slaughterhouse. None of the pig
slaughter samples were positive for C. difficile after an enrichment time of 72 h. For complementary data,
a short study was conducted in piglets and calves at farms. C. difficile was more prevalent in piglets
(78.3%) than in calves (22.2%) on the farms. Regarding the piglet samples, 27.8% of the positive samples
were detected without enrichment of stools. The PCR ribotype 078 was predominant in farm animals.
Samples isolated from slaughter cattle presented the widest range in PCR-ribotype variety, and the most
prevalent PCR ribotype was 118a UCL. The results of this study confirm that C. difficile is present in
slaughter animals in Belgium with a large percentage of toxigenic strains also commonly found in
humans.
Disciplines :
Food science
Author, co-author :
Rodriguez Diaz, Cristina ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires > Microbiologie des denrées alimentaires
Taminiau, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires > Microbiologie des denrées alimentaires
Vandebroek, Johan; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > Institut de Recherche Clinique > Pôle de microbiologie
Avesani, Véronique; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > Pôle de microbiologie > Pôle de microbiologie
Delmée, Michel; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > Institut de Recherche Clinique > Pôle microbiologie > 2012
Daube, Georges ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires > Microbiologie des denrées alimentaires
Language :
English
Title :
Clostridium difficile in young farm animals and slaughter animals in Belgium
Publication date :
18 December 2012
Journal title :
Anaerobe
ISSN :
1075-9964
eISSN :
1095-8274
Publisher :
Academic Press, London, United Kingdom
Volume :
18
Issue :
6
Pages :
621-625
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
University of Liège - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Food Science Department - Food Microbiology
Funders :
FPS Health Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment [BE]
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