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Clostridioides difficile in bat guano

Petra Bandelj1, Tea Knapič2, Joyce Rousseau3

  • 1Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SI-1115, Slovenia.

Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|July 14, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Bats carry Clostridioides difficile, a pathogen linked to human and animal diseases. While not a primary source, their presence may indicate environmental contamination with this bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Zoonotic disease research
  • Microbiology
  • Wildlife health

Background:

  • Bats are reservoirs for various mammalian diseases.
  • Pathogen transmission is facilitated by bat migration and colonial behavior.
  • The environmental source of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) dissemination remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of C. difficile in bat populations.
  • To characterize C. difficile strains found in bats.

Main Methods:

  • Fecal samples were collected from 93 bats during migration across Europe.
  • Samples were tested for the presence of C. difficile.
  • Identified C. difficile isolates were characterized by ribotyping.

Main Results:

  • Clostridioides difficile was detected in 19.4% (18/93) of bat fecal samples.
  • Identified ribotypes included 078, 056, and a novel ribotype, CDB3.
  • Ribotypes 078 and 056 are known to be associated with human and animal infections.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified C. difficile in bats, with some strains linked to known pathogens.
  • Bats may serve as indicators of C. difficile environmental presence rather than a primary source.
  • Further research is needed to understand the role of bats in C. difficile ecology.
Keywords:
BatsClimate changeEpidemiologyRibotype 078Zoonosis

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