MOLECULAR TOXINOTYPING OF CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS AND CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE CATTLE AND SWINE ISOLATES BY PCR ASSAYS

Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile are common causes of enteritis and enterotoxaemia in humans and domestic and wild animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the enterotoxigenic profile of cattle and swine isolates by PCRs. Methods One hundred and nineteen bovine (faecal and intestine) samples and 110 swine faeces were analyzed by culture assay. All C. perfringens isolates were screened for the characterization of the toxinotype. C. difficile strains were PCR-tested for the presence of tcdA/tcdB and cdtA/cdtB genes. Results Overall, 53 bovine samples tested positive: 37 for C. perfringens and 16 for C. difficile. In two C. perfringens-positive diarrhoeic samples, C. difficile was also isolated. All C. perfringens isolates were type A; C. difficile strains resulted tcdA/tcdB and cdtA/cdtB-negative. Sixty-five swine resulted positive: 17 for C. perfringens and 38 for C. difficile. All C. perfringens isolates were type A; eight were also cpb2-positive. All C. difficile strains resulted tcdA/tcdB and cdtA/cdtB-negative. In one C. perfringens cpb2-positive diarrhoeic sample C. difficile (tcdA/tcdB and cdtA/cdtB-positive) was also isolated. Clinical Significance Understanding the diversity of toxigenic strains may lead to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis in cattle and swine and help in the development of effective intervention methods for controlling clostridial disease outbreaks.