Possible seasonality of Clostridium difficile in retail meat, Canada

Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 May;15(5):802-5. doi: 10.3201/eid1505.081084.

Abstract

We previously reported Clostridium difficile in 20% of retail meat in Canada, which raised concerns about potential foodborne transmissibility. Here, we studied the genetic diversity of C. difficile in retail meats, using a broad Canadian sampling infrastructure and 3 culture methods. We found 6.1% prevalence and indications of possible seasonality (highest prevalence in winter).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Cattle / microbiology
  • Clostridioides difficile / classification
  • Clostridioides difficile / drug effects
  • Clostridioides difficile / genetics
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
  • Culture Media
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / epidemiology*
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / transmission
  • Food Contamination*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Meat / microbiology*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Ribotyping
  • Seasons*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Culture Media