Ciência Rural (May 2016)

Prevention of Clostridium difficile infection in hamsters using a non-toxigenic strain

  • Carlos Augusto de Oliveira Júnior,
  • Rodrigo Otávio Silveira Silva,
  • Amanda Nádia Diniz,
  • Prhiscylla Sadanã Pires,
  • Francisco Carlos Faria Lobato,
  • Ronie Antunes de Assis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20150454
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 5
pp. 853 – 859

Abstract

Read online

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to evaluate five non-toxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile (NTCD) in vitro and to select one strain to prevent C. difficile (CDI) infection in hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus ). The NTCD strains were evaluated for spore production in vitro, antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. Approximately 107 spores of the selected strain (Z31) were administered by esophageal gavage in hamsters pretreated with 30mg kg-1 of clindamycin. The challenge with a toxigenic strain of C. difficile was conducted at 36 and 72h, and the animals were observed for 28 days. The NTCD strain of C. difficile (Z31) was able to prevent CDI in all animals that received it.

Keywords