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Clostridioides difficile in Australian dairy farms
Su-Chen Lim1, Jessica Chisholm2, Deirdre A Collins1
1School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, WA, Australia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia.
Anaerobe
|July 10, 2025
Summary
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is prevalent on Australian dairy farms, found in 100% of farms and 44.4% of samples. Soil, effluent, and faeces showed the highest contamination, indicating a potential zoonotic transmission risk.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a significant cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in humans and animals.
- Understanding the environmental reservoirs and transmission dynamics of C. difficile is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of C. difficile on Australian dairy farms.
- To assess the potential for zoonotic transmission of C. difficile from dairy environments.
Main Methods:
- Collection of 320 samples (faeces, swabs, effluent, soil, water) from seven dairy farms across two Australian states.
- Isolation and characterization of C. difficile strains using ribotyping.
- Identification of specific C. difficile ribotypes (RTs) and their association with sample types.
Main Results:
- C. difficile was detected on all seven farms (100%) and in 44.4% of all samples.
- Highest prevalence observed in soil (94.3%), effluent (73.7%), and faeces (60.4%).
- Forty-four distinct C. difficile ribotypes were identified, with 17 previously found in humans. RT 127 was the predominant strain (42.5%).
Conclusions:
- Australian dairy farms are widely contaminated with C. difficile, particularly RT 127.
- Dairy farm environments, including animals and environmental samples, represent a significant reservoir for C. difficile.
- The findings suggest a potential risk for zoonotic transmission of C. difficile from these settings.
