title: Clostridium difficile PCR ribotypes in calves, Canada.
abstract: We investigated Clostridium difficile in calves and the similarity between bovine and human C. difficile PCR ribotypes by conducting a case-control study of calves from 102 dairy farms in Canada. Fecal samples from 144 calves with diarrhea and 134 control calves were cultured for C. difficile and tested with an ELISA for C. difficile toxins A and B. C. difficile was isolated from 31 of 278 calves: 11 (7.6%) of 144 with diarrhea and 20 (14.9%) of 134 controls (p = 0.009). Toxins were detected in calf feces from 58 (56.8%) of 102 farms, 57 (39.6%) of 144 calves with diarrhea, and 28 (20.9%) of 134 controls (p = 0.0002). PCR ribotyping of 31 isolates showed 8 distinct patterns; 7 have been identified in humans, 2 of which have been associated with outbreaks of severe disease (PCR types 017 and 027). C. difficile may be associated with calf diarrhea, and cattle may be reservoirs of C. difficile for humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. arodrigu@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Palacios
authors.forename: Henry R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Stämpfli
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Duffield
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Peregrine
authors.forename: Lise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Trotz-Williams
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D021521:Ribotyping / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D024841:Fluoroquinolones