title: Clostridium difficile in goats and sheep in Slovenia: characterisation of strains and evidence of age-related shedding.
abstract: Diversity of Clostridium difficile in different age groups of goats (n = 109) and sheep (n = 105) was investigated. C. difficile was detected in 9.2% of goats and 5.7% of sheep. None of the adult animals were positive. Isolates belonged to four toxinotypes (0, V, XIa, XII), six PCR-ribotypes (010, 014/020, 045, 056, SLO 061, SLO 151) and six pulsotypes. PCR-ribotypes 010, 014/020, 045 and 056 were found previously in other animal species and humans in Slovenia. Additionally, three pulsotypes were indistinguishable from restriction patterns in our PFGE database of animal isolates. All strains were susceptible to metronidazol, vancomycin, moxifloxacin, and with the exception of a single non-toxigenic strain also to clindamycin and erythromycin. While all strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, oxacillin-resistance was observed only in strains of PCR-ribotype 045. This first study on C. difficile in small ruminants in Slovenia revealed the evidence of age-related shedding as the highest was demonstrated in neonatal goats and sheep aged up to 16 days.
authors: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: jana.avbersek@vf.uni-lj.si.
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Avberšek
authors: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Pirš
authors: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Mateja
authors: M
authors: Pate
authors: Institute of Public Health Maribor, Prvomajska 1, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine, Slomškov trg 15, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Rupnik
authors: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Matjaž
authors: M
authors: Ocepek
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006041:Goats; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D021521:Ribotyping; D012756:Sheep; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Faecal shedding; Goat; PCR-ribotyping; PFGE; Sheep