Table 3 Clostridium difficile isolates from environmental samples and their molecular characterization
Environmental samples | C. difficile culture results | C. difficile strain characterization | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn | All year | Ribotypes | Toxinotypes | |
Manure | 4/20 (20%) | 7/20 (35%) | 5/20 (25%) | 7/20 (35%) | 23/80 (28.7%) | 001/072, 002, 014/020, 023, 033, 077, SLO 036, SLO 053, SLO 060 | 0, IV, XIa, XIc (new) |
Soil | 5/20 (25%) | 8/20 (40%) | 7/20 (35%) | 8/20 (40%) | 28/80 (35%) | 001/072, 012, 014/020, 018, 023, 033, 081, SLO 025, SLO 057, SLO 060, SLO 063 | 0, IV, XIa, XIc (new), tox- |
Silage/hay | 0/20 (0%) | 1/20 (5%) | 0/20 (0%) | 2/20 (10%) | 3/80 (3.75%) | 001/072, 003, SLO 116 | 0, tox- |
Water | 1/20 (5%) | 0/20 (0%) | 1/20 (5%) | 1/20 (5%) | 3/80 (3.75%) | 014/020, SLO 036 | 0, XIa |
Other animals on farms | 1 (2 strains)/32 (3.1%)–adult rooster | 0/33 (0%) | 1/24 (4.2%)–rooster 2 weeks | 0/26 (0%) | 2/115 (1.7%) | 045, SLO 060, SLO 196 (new) | V, XIa, tox- |
Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) | / | / | 0/20 (0%) | / | 0/20 (0%) | Â | Â |
Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) | / | / | 2/20 (10%) | / | 2/20 (10%) | 033 | XIc (new) |
Total | 11 (12)/112 (9.8%) | 16/113 (14.2%) | 16/144 (11.1%) | 18/106 (17%) | 61/475 (12.8%) | Â | Â |