Emerging Infectious Diseases (May 2009)

Possible Seasonality of Clostridium difficile in Retail Meat, Canada

  • Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios,
  • Richard J. Reid-Smith,
  • Henry R. Staempfli,
  • Danielle Daignault,
  • Nicol Janecko,
  • Brent P. Avery,
  • Hayley Martin,
  • Angela D. Thomspon,
  • L. Clifford McDonald,
  • Brandi M. Limbago,
  • J. Scott Weese

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1505.081084
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 5
pp. 802 – 805

Abstract

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We previously reported Clostridium difficile in 20% of retail meat in Canada, which raised concerns about potential foodborne transmissibility. Here, we studied the genetic diversity of C. difficile in retail meats, using a broad Canadian sampling infrastructure and 3 culture methods. We found 6.1% prevalence and indications of possible seasonality (highest prevalence in winter).

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