title: Colitis associated with Clostridium difficile in specific-pathogen-free C3H-scid mice.
abstract: Soft feces and a decreased delivery rate were observed in a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) C3H-scid mouse breeding colony. Grossly, the ceca were shrunken and edematous in the affected mice. Histopathologically, severe edema in the cecal submucosa as well as infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria and submucosa of the ceca and colon were observed. No pathogenic microorganisms were detected by the routine microbiological tests. By anaerobic bacterial-examination, Clostridium (C.) difficile with toxin A was isolated from the cecal contents of the affected mice. The mice were diagnosed with C. difficile-associated colitis. This case appears to be the first report of natural infection with C. difficile in SPF mice with clinical signs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Development and Research Group, Research Center for Radiation Safety, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Riichirou
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iritani
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayao
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kokubo
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsushita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000254:growth & development*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile