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Clostridium difficile

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Sections available in full article	Classification, Distribution, Significance, Active Forms, Active Form 1, Resting forms, Resting Form 1, Clinical Effects, Epidemiology, Pathological effects, Other Host Effects, Control, Diagnosis, Useful samples, Specimen storage, Transport of samples, Field diagnosis, Laboratory diagnosis, Sources, Publications,
Contributors	Dr Richard Walker DVM PhD MPVM DipACVM
Synonyms	C. difficile

Latin: difficile - difficult; refers to the unusual difficulty encountered in its isolation and study.

Causes antibiotic-induced enterocolitis in humans, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits (rats and mice are not affected).
Causes diarrhea (not associated with antibiotics) in dogs, pigs and foals.
Clostridium difficileis the cause of antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis in human beings.
Also associated with natural diarrheal disease in dogs, foals, bears, and laboratory animals.

Weese J S et al(2001) The roles of Clostridium difficile and enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in diarrhea in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 15 (4), 374-378.
Berry A P & Levett P N (1986) Chronic diarrhea in dogs associated with Clostridium difficile infection. Vet Rec 118 , 102.
Struble A L, Tang Y J, Kass P H et al(1994) Fecal shedding of Clostridium difficile in dogs - a period prevalence survey in a veterinary medical teaching hospital. J Vet Diag Invest 6 (3), 342-7.
Riley T V, Adams J E, O'Neill G L & Bowman R A (1991) Gastrointestinal carriage of Clostridium difficile in cats and dogs attending veterinary clinics. Epidemiol Infec 107 (3), 659-65.

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