Bats are associated with the emergence of several mammalian diseases. Their sessional migration, and tendency to form large colonies in close proximity to human habitats enables effective intra-and inter-species transmission of pathogens. Clostridioides difficile is an important enteric pathogen in humans and animals; however, the source of its dissemination in the population is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of C. difficile in bats, and to characterize C. difficile isolates.
Feces (n = 93) was sampled from bats during their migration across Europe. Eighteen samples (19.4%) were positive for C. difficile; ribotypes 078, 056, and a new ribotype CDB3 were identified.
Clostridioides difficile ribotypes 078 and 056 are associated with human and animal diseases. The C. difficile prevalence and ribotypes in this study do not necessarily identify bats as a significant source, but more likely as an indicator of C. difficile perpetuation in the environment.
1.Univ Ljubljana, Vet Fac, SI-1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia 2.Slovenian Museum Nat Hist, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia 3.Univ Guelph, Dept Pathobiol, Ontario Vet Coll, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada 4.Slovenian Assoc Bat Res & Conservat, SI-1000 Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia 5.Ctr Cartog Fauna & Flora, SI-2204 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Recommended Citation:
Bandelj, Petra,Knapic, Tea,Rousseau, Joyce,et al. Clostridioides difficile in bat guano[J]. COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES,2019-01-01,65:144-147