[en] Zoonotic transmission of Clostridium difficile has been largely hypothesised to occur after direct or indirect contact
with contaminated animal faeces. Recent studies have reported the presence of the bacterium in the natural
environment, including in soils and rivers. If C. difficile spores are scattered in the environment, they can easily
enter the respiratory tract of dogs, and therefore, dog nasal discharge could be a direct route of transmission not
previously investigated. This study reports for the first time the presence of C. difficile in the respiratory tracts of
dogs. The bacterium was isolated from 6 (17.1%) out of 35 nasal samples, with a total of 4 positive dogs (19%).
C. difficile was recovered from both proximal and distal nasal cavities. All isolates were toxigenic and belonged to
PCR-ribotype 014, which is one of the most predominant types in animals and in community-acquired C. difficile
infections in recent years. The findings of this study demonstrate that the nasal cavity of dogs is contaminated
with toxigenic C. difficile, and therefore, its secretions could be considered as a new route by which bacteria are
spread and transmitted.
Research Center/Unit :
FARAH - Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health - ULiège
Disciplines :
Microbiology
Author, co-author :
Rodriguez, Cristina; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences des Denrées alimentaires > Microbiologie
Taminiau, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires (DDA) > Microbiologie des denrées alimentaires
Bouchafa, L.; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences des Denrées alimentaires > Microbiologie
Romijn, Sylvain ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Dép. clinique des animaux de compagnie et des équidés (DCA) > Pathologie médicale des petits animaux
Van Broeck, J.; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > National Reference Center Clostridium difficile
Delmée, Michel; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > National Reference Center Clostridium difficile
Clercx, Cécile ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Dép. clinique des animaux de compagnie et des équidés (DCA) > Pathologie médicale des petits animaux
Daube, Georges ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de sciences des denrées alimentaires (DDA) > Microbiologie des denrées alimentaires
Language :
English
Title :
Clostridium difficile beyond stools: dog nasal discharge as a possible new vector of bacterial transmission
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