Presence of Clostridioides difficile on spinach, carrots, cheese and milk in Turkey

Gizem Taylan Yalçın; Melike Nur Tosun Demir; Gizem Korkmazer; Alper Akçalı; Nükhet Nilüfer Demirel Zorba

doi:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102933

Presence of Clostridioides difficile on spinach, carrots, cheese and milk in Turkey

Anaerobe. 2024 Dec 4:91:102933. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102933. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Gizem Taylan Yalçın¹, Melike Nur Tosun Demir¹, Gizem Korkmazer¹, Alper Akçalı², Nükhet Nilüfer Demirel Zorba³

Affiliations

¹ Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Engineering Faculty Food Engineering, Canakkale, Turkey.
² Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology Canakkale, Turkey.
³ Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Engineering Faculty Food Engineering, Canakkale, Turkey. Electronic address: dnukhet@comu.edu.tr.

PMID: 39643236
DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102933

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of Clostridioides difficile in water, soil, fertilizers, and animal feces suggests the potential existence of C. difficile in foods that come into contact with these sources or become contaminated through indirect means.

Material & method: A total of 431 samples, consisting of spinach and carrots and raw milk and cheese obtained from cows, goats, buffalo, and sheep, were examined for the presence of C. difficile. Isolates were identified by real-time PCR, ribotyped, and their toxin profiles were determined. Antibiotic susceptibility to vancomycin, clindamycin, and metronidazole was evaluated using the E-test.

Results: C. difficile was detected in 3.27 % (4/122) of spinach, 1.85 % (2/108) of carrots, and 2.19 % (2/91) of milk samples. No C. difficile was detected in the cheeses (n = 110). All isolates were obtained from different fields/farms. Only one isolate (from spinach) carried the tcdA and tcdB toxin genes. Six different PCR ribotypes were detected, with two (001, 060) being identified. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, clindamycin, and metronidazole.

Conclusion: The prevalence of C. difficile in spinach, carrot, and milk samples from selected regions was low, and nontoxigenic strains were prevalent. Despite the low prevalence, the detection of C. difficile in these foods highlights the potential risk of foodborne transmission of this pathogen and underscores the need for monitoring and control strategies to ensure food safety.

Keywords: C. difficile; Cheese; One Health; Raw milk; Vegetable.