The relation between farm specific factors and prevalence of Clostridium difficile in slaughter pigs

Foodborne ingestion through pork products of Clostridium difficile has been suggested a possible route of transmission of C difficile from pigs to humans. To determine whether C. difficile bacteria are present in the intestines of slaughter pigs, rectum contents of 677 slaughter pigs from 52 farms were collected at the slaughterhouse. Data on farm specific factors were collected and the association of these factors with the presence of C. difficile in pig herds from 39 farms was assessed. The prevalence of C. difficile and the ribotypical diversity that were found in this study were much higher than previously reported in literature, with an overall C. difficile prevalence of 8.6% (58/677). Sixteen distinct C. difficile ribotypes were identified, predominantly type 078 (31.0%, 18/58). This type is also commonly found in humans with C. difficile infection (CDI). Both on individual pig level and on herd level, no significant difference between the prevalence of C. difficile in pigs derived from conventional or organic farming types was detected. Farm system, size, and presence of other animal species on the farm did not result in significant different prevalences of C. difficile.