Evaluation of an immunochromatographic test for the detection of glutamate dehydrogenase for the diagnosis of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in dogs.

This study aimed to evaluate an immunochromatographic test used to detect glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in dogs. Fecal samples of 119 diarrheic dogs were subjected to toxigenic culture as the "gold standard" method and to GDH detection (Ecodiagnostica, Brazil). Samples positive for toxigenic C. difficile strains and those positive in the GDH test were also subjected to A/B toxin detection using an enzyme immunoassay kit (C. difficile Tox A/B II, Techlab Inc., USA). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) were measured for GDH detection and compared with the toxigenic culture results. A total of 19 (15.9%) dogs were positive for toxigenic C. difficile. Of these, 10 (52.6%) dogs were positive for A/B toxins using the enzyme immunoassay kit and 18 (15.2%) were positive in the GDH test, leading to a sensitivity and NPV of 89.4% and 97.9%, respectively. Three animals, two of which were colonized with non-toxigenic strains, were positive for GDH, though not confirmed with CDI, resulting in a high specificity (97%) and PPV (85%). The results suggest that the lateral flow test for GDH detection could be a useful method for diagnosing CDI in dogs, similar to that previously described for humans and other animal species.

Enteric Organisms Detected in Feces of Dogs With Bloody Diarrhea: 45 Cases.

Bloody diarrhea is a common condition in dogs, but studies evaluating the enteropathogens involved specifically in adult dogs are scarce. In the present study, stool samples from 45 adult dogs with bloody diarrhea were evaluated for the four enteric organisms mainly reported in these cases: canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella spp. In addition, the samples were also tested for coronavirus, rotavirus, Giardia spp., and Escherichia coli pathotypes to provide a better understanding of possible co-occurrence. Vaccination status, diet, and clinical outcome were also obtained when available. CPV-2b was identified in 17 dogs (37.8%), being the most frequent cause of bloody diarrhea, including completely vaccinated adult dogs. Toxigenic C. difficile and C. perfringens netF+ were detected in 6 (13.3%) and 5 (11.1%) dogs, in some cases in a co-occurrence with other enteric organisms. Three fatal cases of salmonellosis were identified in dogs fed a raw meat-based diet, raising the risks associated with this increasing practice.

Clostridioides difficile infection in dogs with chronic-recurring diarrhea responsive to dietary changes.

Five dogs with chronic-recurring diarrhea were positive for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), but were unresponsive to treatment with metronidazole. One of these animals was subjected to a colonoscopy, which revealed eosinophilic infiltration of the colon. All five animals completely recovered after dietary changes. The present work suggests that CDI might occur in dogs with other intestinal alterations. In addition, this report suggests that dysbiosis should be considered in animals that have chronic-recurring diarrhea and test positive for C. difficile.

Detection of toxins A/B and isolation of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens from dogs in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to detect C. difficile A/B toxins and to isolate strains of C. perfringens and C. difficile from diarrheic and non-diarrheic dogs in Brazil. Stool samples were collected from 57 dogs, 35 of which were apparently healthy, and 22 of which were diarrheic. C. difficile A/B toxins were detected by ELISA, and C. perfringens and C. difficile were identified by multiplex PCR. C. difficile A/B toxins were detected in 21 samples (36.8%). Of these, 16 (76.2%) were from diarrheic dogs, and five (23.8%) were from non-diarrheic dogs. Twelve C. difficile strains (21.1%) were isolated, of which ten were A(+)B(+) and two were A(-)B(-). All non-toxigenic strains were isolated from non-diarrheic animals. The binary toxin gene cdtB was found in one strain, which was A(+)B(+) and was derived from a non-diarrheic dog. C. perfringens strains were isolated from 40 samples (70.2%). Of these, 18 (45%) were from the diarrheic group, and 22 (55%) belonged to the non-diarrheic group. All isolates were classified as C. perfringens type A and there was an association between the detection of the cpe gene and the presence of diarrhea. Interestingly, ten strains (25%) were positive for the presence of the cpb2 gene. The high rate of detection of the A/B toxins in non-diarrheic dogs suggests the occurrence of subclinical disease in dogs or carriage of its toxins without disease. More studies are needed to elucidate the epidemiology of C. difficile and C. perfringens in dogs and to better our understanding of C. difficile as a zoonotic agent. This is the first study to report the binary toxin gene in C. difficile strains isolated from dogs in Brazil.

Detection of toxins A/B and isolation of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens from dogs in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The objective of this study was to detect C. difficileA/B toxins and to isolate strains of C. perfringensand C. difficile from diarrheic and non-diarrheic dogs in Brazil. Stool samples were collected from 57 dogs, 35 of which were apparently healthy, and 22 of which were diarrheic. C. difficileA/B toxins were detected by ELISA, and C. perfringensand C. difficilewere identified by multiplex PCR. C. difficileA/B toxins were detected in 21 samples (36.8%). Of these, 16 (76.2%) were from diarrheic dogs, and five (23.8%) were from non-diarrheic dogs. Twelve C. difficile strains (21.1%) were isolated, of which ten were A+B+and two were A-B-. All non-toxigenic strains were isolated from non-diarrheic animals. The binary toxin gene cdtBwas found in one strain, which was A+B+and was derived from a non-diarrheic dog. C. perfringensstrains were isolated from 40 samples (70.2%). Of these, 18 (45%) were from the diarrheic group, and 22 (55%) belonged to the non-diarrheic group. All isolates were classified as C. perfringenstype A and there was an association between the detection of the cpegene and the presence of diarrhea. Interestingly, ten strains (25%) were positive for the presence of the cpb2gene. The high rate of detection of the A/B toxins in non-diarrheic dogs suggests the occurrence of subclinical disease in dogs or carriage of its toxins without disease. More studies are needed to elucidate the epidemiology of C. difficileand C. perfringensin dogs and to better our understanding of C. difficileas a zoonotic agent. This is the first study to report the binary toxin gene in C. difficilestrains isolated from dogs in Brazil.