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. 2017 Jul 15;14:88–100. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.07.029

Data from a survey of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile shedding by dogs and cats in the Madrid region (Spain), including phenotypic and genetic characteristics of recovered isolates

Sergio Álvarez-Pérez a, José L Blanco a,⁎, Celine Harmanus b, Ed J Kuijper b, Marta E García a
PMCID: PMC5537374  PMID: 28795086

Abstract

This article contains information related to a recent survey of the prevalence of fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile by dogs and cats attended in veterinary clinics located in the Madrid region (Spain). Specifically, we provide detailed information about the clinics that participated in the survey, the demographic and clinic characteristics of recruited animals and the genetic and phenotypic characteristics (including antimicrobial susceptibility data), of recovered bacterial isolates.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, Cat, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Dog, Genetic diversity


Specifications Table

Subject area Biology
More specific subject area Veterinary microbiology, anaerobes, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile
Type of data Tables, figures and text
How data was acquired Analysis of clinical data and characteristics of bacterial isolates
Data format Filtered and analyzed
Experimental factors Dogs and cats attended in veterinary clinics, and the Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile isolates obtained from their feces
Experimental features Analysis of general data about participating clinics, and the demographic and clinical features of recruited animals; genetic and phenotypic profiling of isolates
Data source location Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Data accessibility Data is provided with this article

Value of the data

  • •

    First detailed analysis of the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile shedding by small animals (dogs and cats) in the Madrid region (Spain).

  • •

    Detailed phenotypic and genetic data of recovered isolates is provided, which may be useful for comparison in future epidemiological surveys.

  • •

    Given the recent emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficle, information on the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates obtained in this survey may be particularly valuable.

1. Data

The data shown in Section 1.1 of this article provide detailed information on the veterinary clinics that participated in a recent survey of the prevalence of fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile by dogs and cats which was carried out in the Madrid region (Spain) [1]. Furthermore, the demographic and clinical features of recruited animals are detailed in Section 1.2, and Section 1.3 provides extensive data on the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of recovered bacterial isolates.

1.1. General data about participating clinics

An overview of the 17 veterinary clinics that participated in the study (hereafter referred to as clinics A to Q) is provided in Table 1. Two clinics (L and P) did not return a questionnaire of general data about their centre (see Section 2) and in two other cases (clinics H and K) the returned questionnaire was incomplete. Participating clinics were scattered within the Madrid region (14 were located in the capital city, two in other municipalities within the metropolitan area and one in a rural location) and varied widely in their year of opening (from 1981 to 2014), number of cases attended per week (x±S.D.=37.6±18.7 and 16.5±11 for dogs and cats, respectively), number of fecal cultures requested per week (1.6±2.4 and 0.9±1.8), and other parameters (Table 1). These clinics also differed in the antibiotics used for the treatment of diarrhea, but 12 of them (80% for which pharmacological data were available) reported the use of metronidazole for the treatment of these conditions. Only three clinics (20%; F, J and O) acknowledged frequent request of microbiological culturing for anaerobes, and five clinics (33.3%; D, F, H, N and O) reported occasional suspicion of C. difficile and/or C. perfringens involvement in severe cases of diarrhea.

Table 1.

Overview of the characteristics of the veterinary clinics that participated in the study.a

Clinic Opening year No. cases per weekb No. diarrea cases per weekb No. fecal samples per weekb No. fecal cultures per weekb
A 2014 61 (55 D, 6 C) 2.5 (2 D, 0.5 C) 1 (1 D) 0.5 (0.5 D)
B 1994 82 (50 D, 32 C) 2.5 (2 D, 0.5 C) 3.5 (3 D, 0.5 C) 0
C 2009 11 (10 D, 1 C) 5.5 (5 D, 0.5 C) 1 (1 D) 0
D 2014 40 (22 D, 18 C) 8 (7 D, 1 C) 7 (5 D, 2 C) 0
E 1993 40 (20 D, 20 C) 2 (2 D) 4 (2 D, 2 C) 4 (2 D, 2 C)
F 1981 100 (70 D, 30 C) 14 (10 D, 4 C) 2.3 (2 D, 0.3 C) 0.31 (0.3 D, 0.01 C)
G 1984 27.5 (16 D, 11.5 C) 11.5 (8 D, 3.5 C) 1.5 (1 D, 0.5 C) 1.5 (1 D, 0.5 C)
H 2002 55 (35 D, 20 C) 5 (4 D, 1 C) NA NA
I 1992 70 (60 D, 10 C) 8 (7 D, 1 C) 1.5 (1 D, 0.5 C) 0
J 2004 90 (48 D, 42 C) 12 (8 D, 4 C) 16 (10 D, 6 C) 14 (8 D, 6 C)
K 1985 NA NA 10 (6 D, 4 C) 10 (6 D, 4 C)
L NA NA NA NA NA
M 2001 47.5 (35 D, 12.5 C) 4.5 (4 D, 0.5 C) 4.5 (4 D, 0.5 C) 3 (2.5 D, 0.5 C)
N 1999 35 (25 D, 10 C) 4 (3 D, 1 C) 4 (3 D, 1 C) 1 (1 D)
O 2010 26 (20 D, 6 C) 3 (2.5 D, 0.5 C) 0.5 (0.5 D) 0.5 (0.5 D)
P NA NA NA NA NA
Q 2005 72 (60 D, 12 C) 20 (20 D) 2 (2 D) 0
Totalc 54.1±25.3 (37.6±18.7 D, 16.5±11 C) 7.3±5.1 (6±4.6 D, 1.3±1.4 C) 4.2±4.1 (3±2.5 D, 1.2±1.7 C) 2.5±4.1 (1.6±2.4 D, 0.9±1.8 C)
a

See also Fig. 1.

b

D, dogs; C, cats. All figures refer to the last 12-month period.

c

x±S.D.

1.2. Demographic and clinical features of recruited animals

The demographic characteristics of recruited animals are summarized in Table 2 and Fig. 1, Fig. 2. A total of 142 animals, including 105 dogs and 37 cats (73.9% and 26.1% of total, respectively; Fig. 1A) of diverse breeds (Fig. 2), were recruited for the study. The male/female ratio of animals varied widely among clinics, with the overall values for dogs and cats being similar (56.2%, 43.8% and 56.8%, 43.2%, respectively; Fig. 1C). The age distribution of sampled animals also showed ample variation among clinics, but the overall values were similar for the dog and cat subpopulations: 20%, 45.7%, 32.4% of dogs and 10.8%, 54.1%, 32.4% of cats had <1 year, 1–6 years and ≥7 years, respectively (Table 2).

Table 2.

Overview of the animals that were recruited for this studya.

Clinic Nb Dogs
Cats
n Sex ratioc Age distribution
Days since last episode of diarrhea
n Sex ratioc Age distribution
Days since last episode of diarrhea
<1 yr 1–6 yr ≥7 yr 0 ≤30 >30 <1 yr 1–6 yr ≥7 yr 0 ≤30 >30
A 6 6 2:1 33.3% 66.7% 0% 0% 66.7% 33.3% 0 – – – – – – –
B 15 12 1:5 25% 25% 50% 25% 0% 75% 3 2:1 0% 33.3% 66.7% 0% 0% 100%
C 8 4 3:1 50% 50% 0% 0% 25% 75% 4 1:1 0% 25% 75% 50% 0% 50%
D 3 2 1:1 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 1 0:1 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 100%
E 4 3 2:1 0% 66.7% 33.3% 0% 66.7% 33.3% 1 0:1 0% 0% 100% 100% 0% 0%
F 12 5 2:3 0% 20% 80% 0% 40% 60% 7 4:3 14.3% 85.7% 0% 0% 0% 100%
G 17 15 11:4 20% 40% 40% 13.3% 26.7% 60% 2 0:1 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100%
H 5 5 4:1 100% 0% 0% 20% 20% 60% 0 – – – – – – –
I 6 5 4:1 20% 60% 20% 40% 20% 40% 1 1:0 0% 0% 100% 0% 100% 0%
J* 8 3 2:1 0% 66.7% 0% 33.3% 66.7% 0% 5 3:2 20% 60% 0% 40% 60% 0%
K 2 2 1:0 0% 50% 50% 0% 0% 100% 0 – – – – – – –
L* 2 2 0:1 0% 0% 50% 50% 0% 50% 0 – – – – – – –
M 27 22 4:7 4.5% 59.1% 36.4% 0% 13.6% 86.4% 5 3:2 20% 60% 20% 0% 0% 100%
N* 9 8 7:1 12.5% 37.5% 50% 12.5% 0% 37.5% 1 1:0 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 100%
O 11 4 1:1 25% 75% 0% 0% 25% 75% 7 5:2 14.3% 57.1% 28.6% 0% 0% 100%
P 1 1 0:1 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0 – – – – – – –
Q 6 6 5:1 16.7% 50% 33.3% 33.3% 33.3% 33.3% 0 – – – – – – –
Total* 142 105 59:46 20% 45.7% 32.4% 13.3% 21.9% 61% 37 21:16 10.8% 54.1% 32.4% 13.5% 10.8% 75.7%
a

See also Fig. 1. Asterisks indicate that there were some recruited animals with missing data and thus the sum of percentages can be <100%.

b

Total number of animals that were recruited (i.e. dogs and cats).

c

Number of males: number of females.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Characteristics of the animal populations recruited for this study. A) Bar plot showing the distribution of recruited animals per species: dog, green bars; cats, orange bars. For each participating clinic (A to Q), the overall number of animals is indicated between parentheses. B) Bar plot of the overall age distribution of dogs (n=105; green bars) and cats (n=37; orange bars) recruited for the study. C) Pie charts of the overall sex distribution of dogs (n=105) and cats (n=37) included in the study. Blue and pink sectors represent male (M) and female (F) subpopulations, respectively. D) Bar plot of the antimicrobial treatments administered to recruited dogs and cats (green and orange bars, respectively) ≤30 days before sampling. E) Bar plot of recent pharmacological treatments administered to recruited dogs and cats (green and orange bars, respectively) ≤30 days before sampling. Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting-enzyme; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PPIs, proton pump inhibitors. In panels D and E, pharmacological treatment data were not available for a total of 48 animals (32 dogs and 16 cats).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Bar plots showing the breed distribution of recruited dogs (n=105, left panel) and cats (n=37, right panel). *Other dog breeds (n): Boxer (3), Setter (3), Shih Tzu (3), American Staffordshire Terrier (2), Belgian Shepherd (2), Border Collie (2), Chinese Shar-Pei (2), Cocker Spaniel (2), Golden Retriever (2), Labrador Retriever (2), Pug (2), Shiba Inu (2), Andalusian Hound (1), Chihuahua (1), Dalmatian (1), Galician Palleiro (1), Hound (1), Mastiff (1), Miniature Pinscher (1), Pit bull (1), Poodle (1), Water dog (1).

The overall proportion of dogs and cats with diarrhea on the sampling date were very similar (13.3% and 13.5%, respectively), and in both cases most animals had not suffered any episode of diarrhea within the preceding 30 days (61% and 75.7%, respectively) (Table 2). Only 24.7% (18/73) of dogs and 14.3% (3/21) of cats for which medication data was available were under antibiotic treatment on the sampling date or within the previous 30 days, with metronidazole and amoxicillin ranking first and second, respectively (Fig. 1D). Other pharmacological treatments of sampled animals are shown in Fig. 1E.

The demographic data and clinical features of animals yielding positive fecal cultures for C. perfringens and/or C. difficile are detailed in Table 3 (see also Álvarez-Pérez et al. [1]).

Table 3.

Signalment and clinical data of animals yielding positive fecal cultures for Clostridium perfringens and/or C. difficile, and characteristics of recovered isolates.

Clinic Animala Species, breedb Age (yr.)b Sex Diagnosis Other medical conditions of relevance Diarrhoeac Antibiotic treatment(s)d Genotype (antimicrobial resistances) ofC. perfringensisolatese Genotype (antimicrobial resistances) ofC. difficileisolatesf
A A/02 Dog, Mixed-breed 5 F Routine analysis None No None p063, p064, p065 –
B B/02 Dog, Whippet 13 F Routine analysis Lymphoma No None p067 –
B/06 Dog, Whippet 7 F Routine analysis None No None p027, p028 [2 isolates] –
B/07 Dog, Schnauzer 9 F Routine analysis None No None p011, p012, p023 –
B/08 Dog, Schnauzer 9 F Routine analysis None No None p002, p047, p051 RT154/d05 (PEN), RT154/d06 (PEN), RT154/d07 (PEN)
B/11 Dog, Mixed Setter <1 F Recent history of Isospora infection None Yes Metronidazole p035, p036 [2 isolates] –
B/12 Dog, Mixed Miniature Pinscher 6 F Routine analysis None No None p037 –
B/13 Cat, European shorthair 9 F Routine analysis None No None p003 (MTZ), p006, p031 –
B/14 Cat, European shorthair 1 M Routine analysis None No None p069, p072 –
D D/02 Dog, Hound 1 F Routine analysis None No None p087 (MTZ), p088 (LZD), p095 –
E E/03 Dog, Yorkshire Terrier 11 M Gastroenteritis with vomiting Heart failure Yes (5 d) Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid NA RT?/d13 (CLI/ERY/PEN) [2 isolates], RT?/d14 (CLI/ERY/PEN)
F F/09 Cat, Persian 6 M Routine analysis None No None p004, p005 –
G G/01 Dog, Labrador 12 M Routine analysis None Yes (7 d) Doxycycline p106 –
Follow-up analysis None No None p041, p092, p097 –
G/05 Dog, Boxer <1 M Routine analysis Food allergy No None p030 (MTZ), p050, p096 –
G/06 Cat, Persian 2 F Routine analysis None No None p026 –
H H/03 Dog, Mastiff <1 F Routine analysis None No None p078 (PEN), p102 (IPM, PEN), p103 –
H/05 Dog, Pit bull <1 M Routine analysis None No None p008, p034, p079 (IPM, LZD, PEN) –
I I/02 Cat, European shorthair 14 M Digestive disease None Yes (3 d) None p054, p055 –
I/04 Dog, Mixed-breed 1 H Digestive disease None Yes (0 d) None p082, p099 –
Follow-up analysis None No None p052 (LZD) –
J J/01 Dog, Schnauzer ? F Routine analysis Food allergy Yes (10 d) None p053, p058 (ERY, LVX) –
J/03 Dog, Golden Retriever 4 M Acute enteritis None Yes (0 d) None p013, p017, p018 –
J/07 Dog,? 1 M Routine analysis None Yes (8 d) None p101 –
K K/02 Dog, Poodle 10 M Routine analysis Heart murmur No None p089 –
M M/04 Dog, Giant Schnauzer 11 F Routine analysis None Yes (30 d) None p090[2 isolates], p091 –
Follow-up analysis None Yes (5 d) None p043 (TET), p076 (TET), p077 –
M/06 Dog, Brittany 6 F Routine analysis Obesity No None p060, p061, p066 –
Follow-up analysis Obesity No None p068, p070 (TET), p104 –
M/07 Dog, Brittany 3 F Entetitis Recent Toxocara canis infection, obesity Yes (25 d) None p081 –
Follow-up analysis Obesity No None p033, p042 (TET), p056 –
M/08 Dog, Mixed Hound 3 F Routine analysis None No None p040, p062, p080 –
M/13 Cat, European shorthair 4 F Routine analysis None No None p025, p029, p071 –
M/14 Dog, Mixed-breed 8 F Routine analysis Recent removal of mammary tumor No Amoxicillin p016, p020, p021 RT106/d01 (PEN), RT106/d03 (PEN), RT106/d15 (PEN)
Follow-up analysis None No None p014[2 isolates], p015 –
M/23 Dog, Yorkshire Terrier 12 F Routine analysis Frequent pseudo-pregnancies, benign mammary tumors No None p032 –
M/25 Dog, German Shepherd 5 F Routine analysis Obesity No None p001 (TET), p057 –
Follow-up analysis Obesity No None p083 (TET), p084 (LZD, TET), p085 (LZD. TET) –
M/26 Dog, Mixed-breed 2 M Routine analysis Seizure disorder No None p038, p039 –
Follow-up analysis Seizure disorder No None p086 (MTZ), p093, p100 –
N N/01 Dog, Mixed Shih Tzu 1 M Routine analysis None No None p044, p045, p046 –
N/12&14g Dog, Shih Tzu 12 M Routine analysis None Yes (0 d) None p019, p024 –
N/19&20g Dog, French Bulldog 7 M Routine analysis None No None – RT009-like/d04, RT009-like/d08 (PEN), RT009-like/d09 (PEN), RT009-like/d10 (PEN), RT009-like/d11 (PEN), RT009-like/d12
O O/04 Cat, European shorthair 4 M Routine analysis None No None p094 –
O/11 Dog, Border Collie 2 M Routine analysis None Yes (7 d) None p007, p009, p010 –
Q Q/03 Dog, Maltese 7 M Routine analysis Frequent gastrointestinal problems, heart disease No None p073 (MTZ), p074, p075 (LZD) RT106/d01 (PEN) [2 isolates], RT106/d02 (PEN)
Q/04 Dog, Mixed Labrador 2 M Allergic colitis Frequent gastrointestinal problems Yes (0 d) Sulfadiazine/trimethoprim p059 –
Follow-up analysis None No None p022, p098 –
Q/05 Dog, Dachshund 14 M Routine analysis None No None p048, p049 –
a

Recruited animals were designated by a capital letter (corresponding to the clinic of origin) followed by a virgule and consecutive numbers.

b

?: Missing data.

c

No: no diarrhea episodes were reported within the previous 30 days. For positive responses, the number of days since the last episode of diarrhea is indicated between parentheses.

d

Antibiotic treatment(s) administered within the previous 30 days. For an overview of other pharmacological treatments see Fig. 1E.

e

AFLP genotypes were arbitrarily designated by a lower case ‘p’ followed by a number (see Table 4). In vitro resistance to benzylpenicillin (PEN), erythromycin (ERY), imipenem (IPM), levofloxacin (LVX), linezolid (LZD), metronidazole (MTZ) and/or tetracycline (TET) is indicated between parentheses. The number of isolates belonging to each strain type (when different to one) is shown between square brackets. Dashes mean that C. perfringens was not isolated from the corresponding animal. NA: not analyzed (a single fecal swab was available for some animals, and this was used for C. difficile testing).

f

In this case, ribotype (RT) and AFLP fingerprinting information is included. AFLP genotypes were arbitrarily designated by a lower case ‘d’ followed by a number (see Table 5). In vitro resistance to benzylpenicillin (PEN), clindamycin (CLI) and/or erythromycin (ERY) is indicated between parentheses. Additionally, all C. difficile isolates displayed resistance to levofloxacin and imipenem. The number of isolates belonging to each strain type (when different to one) is shown between square brackets. RT?: unknown ribotype. Dashes mean that C. difficile was not isolated from the corresponding animal.

g

These animals were sampled twice during the study period.

1.3. Genetic and phenotypic characteristic of C. perfringens and C. difficile isolates

Table 3 includes an overview of the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the bacterial isolates obtained from recruited animals. Additionally, the toxinotypes, PCR ribotypes (only for C. difficile isolates), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) genotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of C. perfringens and C. difficile isolates are detailed in Table 4, Table 5, respectively.

Table 4.

Characteristics of the Clostridium perfringens isolates obtained in the study.

Isolatea Toxinotypeb AFLP genotypec Antibiotic susceptibility (MIC, µg/ml)d
AMC CLI ERY IPM LVX LZD MTZ PEN RIF TEC TET TGC VAN
A/02P1 A (cpe, cpb2*) p063 0.125 0.25 2 0.064 0.5 4 16 0.5 0.008 0.064 8 1 1
A/02P2 A (cpb2*) p064 0.032 0.032 0.064 0.064 0.25 0.125 8 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
A/02P3 A (cpe) p065 0.032 0.032 0.032 0.064 0.25 0.125 8 0.064 0.002 0.032 0.125 0.064 0.5
B/02P1 A p067 0.032 0.064 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.008 <0.016 0.125 0.064 0.5
B/06P1 A (cpb2*) p027 0.064 0.064 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.032 0.004 <0.016 4 0.25 0.5
B/06P2 A (cpb2*) p028 0.032 0.125 2 0.5 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.5 0.5
B/06P3 A (cpb2*) p028 <0.016 0.5 2 0.5 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.008 0.032 4 0.5 0.5
B/07P1 A (cpe) p011 0.032 0.125 1 0.032 0.25 4 16 0.032 0.004 <0.016 2 0.125 0.25
B/07P2 A (cpe) p012 0.032 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 0.25
B/07P3 A (cpe) p023 <0.016 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 2 16 0.125 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 0.25
B/08P1 A (cpb2*) p047 0.032 0.064 2 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.004 <0.016 4 0.125 0.5
B/08P2 A (cpb2*) p002 0.032 0.25 2 0.064 0.25 2 16 0.064 0.008 0.032 2 0.5 0.5
B/08P3 A (cpb2*) p051 0.016 0.125 2 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.008 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
B/11P1 A (cpb2*) p035 0.125 0.016 1 0.064 0.25 1 16 0.125 0.004 <0.016 4 0.125 0.5
B/11P2 A (cpb2*) p036 0.016 0.25 2 0.064 0.25 2 8 0.125 0.004 0.016 4 0.5 0.5
B/11P3 A (cpb2*) p036 0.032 0.25 2 0.008 0.5 2 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.5 0.5
B/12P1 A p037 0.032 0.016 0.125 0.064 0.25 1 8 0.032 0.004 <0.016 1 0.125 0.5
B/13P1 A (cpb2*) p003 0.064 0.064 2 0.032 0.5 4 32 (R) 0.064 0.008 0.032 2 0.064 0.5
B/13P2 A p006 0.032 0.064 2 0.25 0.5 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.064 8 0.125 0.5
B/13P3 A p031 0.064 0.25 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.008 <0.016 8 0.125 0.5
B/14P1 A p069 0.064 0.125 2 0.064 0.5 2 16 0.25 0.008 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
B/14P2 A p072 0.032 2 2 0.032 0.25 <0.016 8 0.064 0.004 <0.016 4 0.25 0.5
D/02P1 E (cpe) p087 0.064 <0.016 1 0.5 0.25 2 32 (R) 0.064 0.002 0.032 4 0.064 0.5
D/02P2 E (cpe) p088 0.064 0.064 4 0.125 0.25 8 (R) 8 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.25 1
D/02P3 E (cpe) p095 0.032 0.032 1 0.064 0.5 1 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 2 0.25 0.5
F/09P2 A p004 0.125 0.064 0.5 0.25 0.25 0.5 8 0.25 0.004 0.032 0.125 0.064 0.5
F/09P3 A p005 0.064 0.064 2 1 0.25 4 8 0.25 0.008 0.064 4 0.064 1
G/01P1 A p105 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.5 1 16 0.064 0.004 <0.016 1 0.125 0.5
G2/01P1† A (cpb2*) p092 0.064 0.064 4 0.125 0.25 4 8 0.125 0.008 0.064 4 0.25 0.5
G2/01P2† A (cpb2*) p097 0.064 <0.016 0.064 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.016 4 0.064 0.5
G2/01P3† A (cpb2*) p041 0.032 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 4 8 0.125 0.004 0.016 8 0.25 0.5
G/05P1 A (cpb2*) p030 0.125 0.064 2 0.064 0.25 4 32 (R) 0.125 0.008 0.032 8 0.125 0.5
G/05P2 A (cpb2*) p050 0.064 0.25 1 0.064 0.25 2 8 0.5 0.004 <0.016 4 0.25 0.5
G/05P3 A p096 <0.016 0.125 1 0.032 0.5 4 4 0.125 0.004 <0.016 4 0.125 0.5
G/06P1 A p026 0.125 0.125 2 0.064 0.5 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.032 8 0.25 1
H/03P1 A p102 8 0.125 2 ≥32 (R) 0.25 4 16 8 (R) 0.004 0.032 8 0.125 0.5
H/03P2 A p078 4 0.032 2 1 0.25 4 16 8 (R) 0.004 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
H/03P3 A p103 0.032 0.064 1 0.125 2 2 8 0.064 0.004 0.064 8 0.5 0.5
H/05P1 A p079 8 0.125 2 ≥32 (R) 0.25 8 (R) 16 8 (R) 0.004 0.032 8 0.5 0.5
H/05P2 A p008 0.032 0.125 1 0.064 0.25 1 4 0.064 0.002 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
H/05P3 A p034 <0.016 0.064 2 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.032 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
I/02P1 A p054 0.064 0.064 2 0.125 0.25 2 16 0.125 0.004 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
I/02P2 A p055 0.032 <0.016 4 0.064 0.5 0.25 16 0.064 <0.002 <0.016 4 0.064 0.5
I/04P1 A (cpe) P099 0.125 0.032 0.25 0.125 0.25 1 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 0.125 0.032 0.5
I/04P2 A p082 0.032 0.25 2 0.032 0.25 0.5 16 0.125 <0.002 <0.016 4 0.125 0.5
I2/04P1† A (cpe) p052 0.032 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 8 (R) 16 0.125 0.008 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
J/01P1 A (cpb2*) p053 0.064 0.125 2 0.064 0.5 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.032 8 0.5 1
J/01P2 A (cpb2*) p058 0.064 0.25 32 (R) 0.125 ≥32 (R) 2 16 0.125 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
J/03P1 A p018 0.064 0.032 2 0.064 0.5 4 16 0.064 0.004 <0.016 0.125 0.064 0.5
J/03P2 A (cpb2*) p013 0.125 0.032 0.125 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.064 <0.002 2 1 0.032 2
J/03P3 A (cpb2*) p017 0.016 0.032 0.125 0.032 0.25 2 16 0.064 0.004 <0.016 2 0.032 0.5
J/07P1 A (cpb2) p101 0.016 <0.016 0.125 0.064 0.25 1 16 0.032 0.008 0.032 0.125 0.032 0.5
K/02P1 A p089 0.032 0.125 2 0.5 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
M/04P1 A (cpe) p090 0.064 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.064 8 0.5 0.5
M/04P2 A (cpe) p090 0.032 0.125 2 1 0.5 4 16 0.064 0.004 0.064 4 0.5 0.5
M/04P3 A (cpe) p091 0.032 <0.016 <0.016 0.5 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.016 0.064 4 0.125 0.5
M2/04P1† A (cpb2*) p043 0.032 0.032 2 0.25 0.25 4 16 0.032 0.004 0.016 16 (R) 1 0.5
M2/04P2† A (cpb2*) p076 0.032 0.064 2 0.5 0.25 4 8 0.064 0.008 0.016 16 (R) 0.5 0.5
M2/04P3† A (cpb2*) p077 0.032 0.032 0.064 0.064 0.5 2 8 0.064 0.004 0.016 4 0.25 0.5
M/06P1 A (cpb2*) p066 0.125 0.064 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.5 0.008 0.064 8 2 1
M/06P2 A (cpb2*) p060 0.032 0.064 1 0.064 0.25 2 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
M/06P3 A (cpe, cpb2*) p061 0.032 0.032 0.5 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
M2/06P1† A p068 0.064 0.064 2 0.5 0.5 4 16 0.25 0.008 0.032 8 0.125 0.5
M2/06P2† A p070 0.016 0.125 2 0.032 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 16 (R) 0.5 0.5
M2/06P3† A p104 0.064 0.032 0.25 0.125 0.25 4 8 0.125 0.008 0.016 4 0.5 0.5
M/07P1 A p081 0.25 0.032 2 0.125 0.25 4 8 1 0.008 0.032 4 0.5 0.5
M2/07P1† A (cpb2*) p042 <0.016 0.032 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.016 16 (R) 1 0.5
M2/07P2† A p056 0.032 0.064 4 0.125 0.25 4 8 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
M2/07P3† A p033 0.032 0.064 1 0.125 0.5 4 8 0.25 0.008 0.032 8 0.25 0.5
M/08P1 A (cpb2*) p062 0.064 0.5 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.25 <0.002 0.032 8 2 0.5
M/08P2 A p040 0.032 0.064 0.25 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.016 1 0.064 0.5
M/08P3 A p080 0.032 <0.016 0.032 0.064 0.5 1 8 0.064 <0.002 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
M/13P1 A (cpb2*) p029 0.125 0.25 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.004 0.032 8 4 1
M/13P2 A (cpb2*) p025 0.032 0.032 0.032 0.032 0.25 0.125 8 0.064 <0.002 0.032 4 0.032 0.5
M/13P3 A (cpe) p071 0.032 1 2 0.125 0.5 2 8 0.064 0.002 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
M/14P1 A (cpe) p016 0.016 0.064 2 0.064 0.25 4 8 0.064 0.004 0.016 0.125 0.064 0.5
M/14P2 A (cpe) p020 0.125 0.5 2 0.064 0.25 2 4 0.125 0.004 <0.016 2 0.032 0.5
M/14P3 A (cpe) p021 0.032 0.125 2 0.032 0.25 2 8 0.064 0.008 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
M2/14P1† A (cpb2*) p014 <0.016 0.032 2 0.125 0.25 1 8 0.064 <0.002 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
M2/14P2† A (cpb2*) p015 0.064 0.032 0.032 0.064 0.25 2 16 0.064 0.004 0.016 4 0.5 0.5
M2/14P3† A (cpb2*) p014 0.064 0.032 2 0.125 0.25 2 16 0.064 0.004 0.016 4 0.5 0.5
M/23P1 A (cpb2) p032 0.064 0.25 2 0.016 0.25 2 16 0.25 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 1
M/25P1 A p001 0.125 2 4 0.064 0.5 4 16 0.25 0.008 0.125 16 (R) 2 1
M/25P2 A p057 0.032 0.016 2 0.064 0.25 2 8 0.032 0.002 0.064 8 0.125 0.5
M2/25P1† A p083 0.032 0.125 2 0.064 0.5 4 8 0.125 0.004 0.064 16 (R) 1 0.5
M2/25P2† A p084 0.032 0.125 2 0.125 0.25 8 (R) 8 0.125 0.008 0.032 16 (R) 2 0.5
M2/25P3† A p085 0.032 0.125 2 0.125 0.25 8 (R) 8 0.125 0.004 0.032 16 (R) 1 0.5
M/26P1 A p039 0.125 0.125 4 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.25 0.004 0.032 8 0.25 1
M/26P2 A p038 0.032 <0.016 1 0.064 0.25 2 8 0.064 0.002 0.016 8 0.064 0.5
M2/26P1† A p100 0.032 0.032 2 1 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
M2/26P2† A p086 0.016 0.064 2 0.125 0.5 4 32 (R) 0.125 0.008 0.032 2 0.125 0.5
M2/26P3† A (cpb2*) p093 0.016 0.064 2 0.5 0.5 4 8 0.064 0.004 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
N/01P1 A (cpb2*) p044 0.125 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.004 <0.016 8 0.25 1
N/01P2 A (cpb2*) p045 0.032 0.064 2 0.064 0.5 4 16 0.25 0.004 0.064 8 0.5 0.5
N/01P3 A (cpb2*) p046 0.032 0.125 4 0.064 0.5 1 8 0.125 0.004 <0.016 8 0.25 0.5
N/12P1 A (cpe) p024 0.064 0.064 2 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.064 0.008 0.032 4 0.5 0.5
N/14P1 A p019 0.032 0.032 0.25 0.125 0.25 2 8 0.032 0.004 <0.016 4 0.125 0.5
O/04P1 A p094 0.125 0.064 2 0.25 0.25 4 16 1 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
O/11P1 A (cpb2*) p007 0.064 <0.016 0.064 0.064 0.25 4 8 0.125 <0.002 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
O/11P2 A p009 0.032 0.064 1 0.032 0.25 1 8 0.032 0.004 0.032 8 0.125 0.5
O/11P3 A p010 0.032 0.064 2 0.064 0.25 2 8 0.064 0.004 0.032 8 0.125 0.5
Q/03P1 A p073 0.125 0.016 2 0.064 0.25 4 32 (R) 0.064 0.004 <0.016 4 0.125 0.5
Q/03P2 A p075 0.064 0.032 2 0.125 0.25 8 (R) 8 0.25 0.008 0.032 4 0.125 0.5
Q/03P3 A p074 0.032 0.125 2 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.008 0.032 4 0.25 0.5
Q/04P2 A p059 0.032 0.125 2 0.125 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
Q2/04P1† A (cpb2*) p022 <0.016 0.125 2 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.016 4 0.25 0.5
Q2/04P3† A p098 0.032 0.016 4 0.064 0.25 4 16 0.125 0.004 0.032 2 0.125 0.5
Q/05P1 A (cpb2*) p048 0.016 <0.016 0.25 0.064 0.5 1 16 0.016 <0.002 <0.016 1 0.125 0.5
Q/05P2 A (cpb2*) p049 <0.016 0.125 2 0.064 0.5 2 16 0.25 0.004 0.016 4 0.125 0.5
a

Isolates whose names only differ in the last number were retrieved from the same animal (e.g. H/05P1, H/05P2 and H/05P3; see Table 3). Daggers (and the number 2 after the clinic's code) indicate isolates that were obtained in the follow-up analysis.

b

cpe: possession of the gene encoding for enterotoxin. cpb2: possession of the gene encoding for β2 toxin, with asterisks indicating atypical forms of the gene (as determined by PCR amplification).

c

According to the UPGMA dendrogram shown in Fig. 1 of Álvarez-Pérez et al. [1].

d

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). AMC, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; CLI, clindamycin; ERY, erythromycin; IPM, imipenem; LVX, levofloxacin; LZD, linezolid; MTZ, metronidazole; PEN, benzylpenicillin; RIF, rifampicin; TEC, teicoplanin; TET, tetracycline; TGC, tigecycline; VAN, vancomycin. R: MIC value above the breakpoint for in vitro resistance.

Table 5.

Characteristics of the Clostridium difficile isolates obtained in the study.

Isolatea PCR ribotypeb AFLP genotypec Antibiotic susceptibility (MIC, µg/ml)d
AMC CLI ERY IPM LVX LZD MTZ PEN RIF TEC TET TGC VAN
B/08D1 RT154 d06 1 0.125 0.25 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.25 0.064 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.064 0.032 0.016 0.25
B/08D2 RT154 d07 0.25 0.064 0.25 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.25 0.032 2 (R) <0.002 0.032 0.032 0.032 0.125
B/08D3 RT154 d05 0.125 0.032 0.064 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.125 0.032 32 (R) <0.002 0.064 <0.016 <0.016 0.125
E/03D1 RT? d13 0.5 ≥256 (R) ≥256 (R) ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 1 0.032 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.064 0.5 <0.016 0.125
E/03D2 RT? d13 0.25 ≥256 (R) ≥256 (R) ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.5 0.064 ≥32 (R) 0.004 0.032 1 0.032 0.125
E/03D3 RT? d14 0.5 ≥256 (R) ≥256 (R) ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 1 0.125 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.032 0.5 0.032 0.125
M/14D1 RT106 d15 0.5 0.064 0.125 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.25 0.064 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.032 <0.016 <0.016 0.125
M/14D2 RT106 d01 0.25 0.25 1 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.125 0.064 4 (R) 0.004 0.032 <0.016 <0.016 0.25
M/14D3 RT106 d03 0.5 0.125 0.25 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.5 0.125 2 (R) <0.002 0.032 0.032 <0.016 0.125
N/19D1 RT009-like d08 0.5 0.064 0.25 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.5 0.032 4 (R) <0.002 0.064 0.032 <0.016 0.25
N/19D2 RT009-like d04 0.064 <0.016 0.016 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.064 <0.016 1 <0.002 0.032 <0.016 <0.016 0.125
N/19D3 RT009-like d09 0.25 <0.016 0.064 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.125 <0.016 4 (R) <0.002 0.032 0.032 <0.016 0.125
N/20D1 RT009-like d10 0.25 0.064 0.125 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.25 0.032 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.032 0.032 <0.016 0.25
N/20D2 RT009-like d11 1 0.016 0.032 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.25 0.064 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.032 <0.016 0.032 0.125
N/20D3 RT009-like d12 1 0.125 0.25 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.125 0.064 1 <0.002 0.064 <0.016 <0.016 0.125
Q/03D1 RT106 d01 0.25 0.064 0.064 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.125 0.032 ≥32 (R) <0.002 0.032 <0.016 <0.016 0.125
Q/03D2 RT106 d02 0.25 0.064 0.25 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.125 0.032 2 (R) <0.002 0.064 0.032 0.032 0.25
Q/03D3 RT106 d01 0.25 0.125 0.125 ≥32 (R) ≥32 (R) 0.25 0.032 2 (R) <0.002 0.064 0.064 <0.016 0.25
a

Isolates were retrieved from the same animal (B/08D1, B/08D2 and B/08D3; see Table 3).

b

Toxin profiles: RT009-like, A-B-CDT- (but with a positive PCR result for tcdB); RT106, A+B+CDT-; RT154, A+B+CDT-; RT? (unknown ribotype), A-B-CDT-.

c

According to the UPGMA dendrogram shown in Fig. 2 of Álvarez-Pérez et al. [1].

d

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). AMC, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; CLI, clindamycin; ERY, erythromycin; IPM, imipenem; LVX, levofloxacin; LZD, linezolid; MTZ, metronidazole; PEN, benzylpenicillin; RIF, rifampicin; TEC, teicoplanin; TET, tetracycline; TGC, tigecycline; VAN, vancomycin. R: MIC value above the breakpoint for in vitro resistance.

2. Experimental design, materials and methods

Our survey was performed during one week (from November 24 to December 1, 2015) in a total of 17 primary care veterinary clinics from the Madrid region (Spain). The staff of participating clinics received training for data and sample collection, and email and telephonic support was available throughout the duration of the study. Veterinarians of participating centers were asked to select two swab samples of all feces shed by dogs and cats at their clinic, regardless of the age, origin and clinical condition of the animals, and to send those samples to a central reference laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Complutense University of Madrid. Additionally, the staff of each participating clinic had to complete a questionnaire of general data about the centre and a second questionnaire for each pair of fecal swabs obtained requesting data on the sample (collection date, consistency of feces and presence of blood) and the animal of origin (species, breed, sex, age, clinical status and episodes of diarrhea and medication(s) within the previous 30 days). An informed consent and agreement to participate in the study was obtained from the owners of each animal before enrolment. Animals were always handled by experienced veterinary practitioners in strict accordance with good animal practice and the Spanish legislation.

The owners of animals yielding a positive culture for C. difficile and/or C. perfringens were invited to participate in a follow-up survey performed four months after the first study (in March 2016). In this case, fecal swab samples and clinical information of animals was obtained as explained above.

The microbiology procedures used for C. perfringens and C. difficile isolation from fecal samples, and the methods used for toxin profiling, PCR ribotyping, AFLP subtyping and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of recovered isolates are detailed in our previous publication [1].

Funding sources

This work was supported by grant AGL2013-46116-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the following veterinary clinics for providing us with the fecal samples and clinical data analyzed in this study: Alcorisa, Altamira, Ascao, Coslada, Draco, Madrivet, Eraso, Fauna, La Estrella, Las Cigüeñas, Quintana, Robledo de Chavela, Sarria, Tabarca, Tucán, Venus and Zafra.

Reference

  • 1.S. Álvarez-Pérez, J.L. Blanco, C. Harmanus, E.J. Kuijper, M.E. García, Prevalence and characteristics of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile in dogs and cats attended in divers eveterinary clinics from the Madrid region, Anaerobe (2017) 48, 47-55, 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.06.023 [DOI] [PubMed]

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