Krijger I M, Meerburg B G, Harmanus C, Burt S A
Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Farm Technology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Lett Appl Microbiol. 2019 Jul;69(1):35-40. doi: 10.1111/lam.13159. Epub 2019 May 2.
With wild rodents and insectivores being present around humans and their living, working and food production environments, it is important to gain knowledge of the zoonotic pathogens present in these animals. The enteropathogen Clostridium difficile, an opportunistic anaerobic bacteria, can be carried by both animals and humans, and is distributed globally. It is known that there is genetic overlap between human and animal sources of C. difficile. In this study, the aim was to assess the presence of C. difficile in rodents and insectivores trapped on and around pig and cattle farms in the Netherlands. In total 347 rodents and insectivores (10 different species) were trapped and 39·2% tested positive for presence of C. difficile. For all positive samples the ribotype (RT) was determined, and in total there were 13 different RTs found (in descending order of frequency: 057, 010, 029, 005, 073, 078, 015, 035, 454, 014, 058, 062, 087). Six of the RTs isolated from rodents and insectivores are known to be associated with human C. difficile infection; RT005, RT010, RT014, RT015, RT078 and RT087. The presence of rodents and insectivores in and around food production buildings (e.g. farms) could contribute to the spread of C. difficile in the human environment. In order to enable on-farm management for pathogen control, it is essential to comprehend the role of wild rodents and insectivores that could potentially affect the ecology of disease agents on farms. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows that rodents and insectivores in and around food production buildings (e.g. farms) can carry Clostridium difficile ribotypes associated with human C. difficile infection (CDI). C. difficile spores in rodent and insectivore droppings are able to survive in the environment for prolonged periods, leading to host-to-host exposure and transmission. Therefore we can state that rodent and insectivore presence on farms is a risk for zoonotic pathogen transmission of C. difficile.
由于野生啮齿动物和食虫动物存在于人类及其生活、工作和食物生产环境周围，了解这些动物中存在的人畜共患病原体非常重要。肠道病原体艰难梭菌是一种机会性厌氧菌，可由动物和人类携带，全球均有分布。已知人类和动物来源的艰难梭菌存在基因重叠。在本研究中，目的是评估在荷兰的猪场和牛场及其周围捕获的啮齿动物和食虫动物中艰难梭菌的存在情况。总共捕获了347只啮齿动物和食虫动物（10个不同物种），39.2%检测出艰难梭菌呈阳性。对所有阳性样本确定了核糖体分型（RT），总共发现了13种不同的RT（按频率降序排列：057、010、029、005、073、078、015、035、454、014、058、062、087）。从啮齿动物和食虫动物中分离出的6种RT已知与人类艰难梭菌感染有关；RT005、RT010、RT014、RT015、RT078和RT087。食物生产建筑（如农场）及其周围存在啮齿动物和食虫动物可能会导致艰难梭菌在人类环境中传播。为了实现农场病原体控制管理，必须了解野生啮齿动物和食虫动物可能对农场病原体生态产生影响的作用。研究的意义和影响：本研究表明，食物生产建筑（如农场）及其周围的啮齿动物和食虫动物可携带与人类艰难梭菌感染（CDI）相关的艰难梭菌核糖体分型。啮齿动物和食虫动物粪便中的艰难梭菌孢子能够在环境中长期存活，导致宿主间接触和传播。因此我们可以说，农场中存在啮齿动物和食虫动物是艰难梭菌人畜共患病原体传播的一个风险因素。
