Vol. 9, Special Issue 5, Part B (2024)

Author(s): N Nagarjuna Reddy, T Srinivasa Rao, CH Bindu Kiranmayi, CH Sudha Rani, Naveen Nagella and T Swaroop

Abstract: The main objective of the study was to detect putative virulence genes in Clostridium difficile strains isolated from both animals and humans. A total of 10 C. difficile isolates, originating from various sources such as faecal swabs of food animals (3), animal-derived foods (5), and human stool samples (2), underwent analysis. Using two multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays targeting putative virulence genes (tcdA, tcdB, cdtA, and cdtB), all eight C. difficile isolates tested positive for all four virulence genes Both tcdA and tcdB found in (80%, 8/10) and tcdB (toxin B) alone found in (10%, 1/10) isolates. Binary toxin cdtA and cdtB found in (90%, 9/10) isolates. Putative virulence genes were identified in the majority of the examined C. difficile isolates. These findings signify the potential of C. difficile as an emerging foodborne pathogen.