title: Coexistence of multiple multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis subtypes of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027 strains within fecal specimens.
abstract: We investigated whether multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) typing could identify different subtypes of Clostridium difficile ribotype 027 within the same feces specimen. Five of 39 specimens yielded at least one isolate with an MLVA profile different (more than five summed tandem repeat differences) from that of other isolates in the same specimen, thereby potentially obscuring epidemiological links between C. difficile infection cases.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Agency, West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B9 5SS, United Kingdom. Hannah.Tanner@HeartofEngland.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Hannah E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hawkey
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D021521:Ribotyping
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial