The recent emergence of a highly related virulent Clostridium difficile clade with unique characteristics.
Clin Microbiol Infect
; 26(4): 492-498, 2020 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31525517
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Clostridium difficile is a major global human pathogen divided into five clades, of which clade 3 is the least characterized and consists predominantly of PCR ribotype (RT) 023 strains. Our aim was to analyse and characterize this clade.METHODS:
In this cohort study the clinical presentation of C. difficile RT023 infections was analysed in comparison with known 'hypervirulent' and non-hypervirulent strains, using data from the Netherlands national C. difficile surveillance programme. European RT023 strains of diverse origin were collected and whole-genome sequenced to determine the genetic similarity between isolates. Distinctive features were investigated and characterized.RESULTS:
Clinical presentation of C. difficile RT023 infections show severe infections akin to those seen with 'hypervirulent' strains from clades 2 (RT027) and 5 (RT078) (35%, 29% and 27% severe CDI, respectively), particularly with significantly more bloody diarrhoea than RT078 and non-hypervirulent strains (RT023 8%, other RTs 4%, p 0.036). The full genome sequence of strain CD305 is presented as a robust reference. Phylogenetic comparison of CD305 and a further 79 previously uncharacterized European RT023 strains of diverse origin revealed minor genetic divergence with >99.8% pairwise identity between strains. Analyses revealed distinctive features among clade 3 strains, including conserved pathogenicity locus, binary toxin and phage insertion toxin genotypes, glycosylation of S-layer proteins, presence of the RT078 four-gene trehalose cluster and an esculinase-negative genotype.CONCLUSIONS:
Given their recent emergence, virulence and genomic characteristics, the surveillance of clade 3 strains should be more highly prioritized.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Clostridioides difficile
/
Infecções por Clostridium
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Child
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Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
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Infant
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Microbiol Infect
Assunto da revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
MICROBIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido