Genotypic Investigation of Clostridium difficile in Prince Edward Island. Issue 6 (2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, H; Abbott, LP; Low, DE; Willey, B; Mulvey, M; Weese, J Scott
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology =. Volume 19:Issue 6(2008)
• Page Start: 409
• Page End: 412
• Publication Date: 2008
• Subjects: Clostridium difficile -- Microbiology -- Molecular epidemiology; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Infection; Communicable Diseases; Communicable Disease Control; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1155/2008/848045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1712-9532

Abstract

Abstract : Clostridium difficile is an important cause of disease in Canada; however, little information is available about the disease in the Maritime provinces. The objective of the present study was to characterize C difficile isolates obtained from people hospitalized with C difficile infection in Prince Edward Island. One hundred twenty-six C difficile ELISA toxin-positive stool samples were obtained and cultured using an enrichment protocol. C difficile was isolated from 105 of 126 (83%) samples. Twenty-two different ribotypes were identified. The most common ribotype, ribotype W, was a North American pulsotype 2 (NAP2), toxinotype 0 strain, which represented 18% of isolates. The next most common ribotype was a NAP1, toxinotype III strain, which accounted for 11% of isolates. Ribotype 027/NAP1 only accounted for five (4.7%) isolates. Forty-five per cent of isolates possessed genes encoding production of binary toxin. Three different ribotypes, all NAP1, toxinotype III strains, had a frameshift mutation in the tcdC gene (Δ117), while one isolate (ribotype 078, NAP4, toxinotype V) had a truncating mutation (C184T) in the tcdC gene.