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Gastrointestinal carriage of Clostridium difficile in cats and dogs attending veterinary clinics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

T. V. Riley ,
J. E. Adams ,
G. L. O'Neill  and
R. A. Bowman
T. V. Riley
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology. University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia
J. E. Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology. University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia
G. L. O'Neill
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology. University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia
R. A. Bowman
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology. University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia
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Summary

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Cats and dogs being treated at two veterinary clinics were investigated for gastrointestinal carriage of Clostridium difficile using selective solid and en-richment media. Thirty-two (39.5%) of 81 stool samples yielded C. difficile. There were significant differences in isolation rates between clinics, 61.0% of animals being positive at one clinic compared to 17.5% at the other (Chi-square, P < 0.005). Of 29 animals receiving antibiotics, 15 (52.0%) harboured C. difficile while 11 (23.9%) of 46 animals not receiving antibiotics were positive (Chi-square, P < 0.01). There was no difference in carriage rate between cats (38.1%) and dogs (40.0%). The environment at both veterinary clinics was surveyed for the presence of C. difficile. Fifteen of 20 sites at one clinic were positive compared to 6 of 14 sites at the other clinic. Both cytotoxigenic and noncytotoxigenic isolates of C. difficile were recovered from animals and environmental sites. These findings suggest that household pets may be a potentially significant reservoir of infection with C. difficile.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 107 , Issue 3 , December 1991 , pp. 659 - 665
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

References

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