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A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2017
Isolation and characterization of Clostridium difficile from shellfish and marine environments
Vincenzo Pasquale1, Vincenza Jessica Romano, Maja Rupnik
1Department of Environmental Sciences, Parthenope University, Naples, Italy.
Folia Microbiologica
|September 9, 2011
Summary
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) bacteria were found in marine environments, including edible shellfish and zooplankton, in the Gulf of Naples. This suggests a potential new exposure route for humans to this pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Food safety
- Public health
Background:
- Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a significant cause of infectious diarrhea.
- Understanding environmental reservoirs of C. difficile is crucial for public health.
- Marine environments and shellfish consumption are potential, yet understudied, exposure pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of C. difficile in marine ecosystems.
- To determine if edible shellfish harbor C. difficile.
- To characterize isolated C. difficile strains and their toxin profiles.
Main Methods:
- Collection of seawater, sediment, and zooplankton samples from the Gulf of Naples.
- Acquisition of edible shellfish (mussels) from farms and wholesalers.
- Isolation of C. difficile using selective media.
- Molecular techniques for strain characterization, including PCR ribotyping and toxin gene detection.
Main Results:
- C. difficile was detected in 9 out of 21 samples (43%).
- Shellfish and zooplankton exhibited the highest prevalence of C. difficile.
- No C. difficile was found in marine sediment samples.
- Most isolates were toxin A/B positive.
- Six known PCR ribotypes were identified, with one potential new ribotype.
Conclusions:
- C. difficile is present in the marine environment of Southern Italy.
- Shellfish and zooplankton can act as reservoirs for C. difficile.
- This study highlights a novel potential route of C. difficile exposure for healthy individuals through seafood consumption.
