Clostridioides difficile in feral horse populations in Australia
- Publisher:
- American Society for Microbiology
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2025, 91, (5), pp. e0211424
- Issue Date:
- 2025-05-21
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i Clostridioides difficile /i is a known cause of diarrhea and colitis in human and non-human animals. While i C. difficile /i is regularly isolated from domesticated horses, little is known about its prevalence in wild or feral populations. In Australia, the horse population encompasses a mix of both domesticated and feral animals, with the feral population of 400,000 estimated to be the largest in the world. This study investigated the presence and characteristics of i C. difficile /i in Australian feral horses and evaluated their potential as a source or reservoir of i C. difficile /i in the wider community. Fecal samples ( i n /i 380) were collected from free-roaming feral horses from five Australian jurisdictions and cultured for i C. difficile /i . Isolates were characterized by PCR ribotyping and toxin profiling. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for fidaxomicin, vancomycin, metronidazole, rifaximin, clindamycin, erythromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, moxifloxacin, meropenem, and tetracycline. i C. difficile /i was isolated from 45 of the 380 samples (11.8 )-one-third of that seen in recent studies on Australian domesticated horses but consistent with wild animal species worldwide. Forty ribotypes (RTs) were identified, 28 of which (70 ) were novel other RTs had been previously reported in humans, livestock, and soils. Eighteen toxigenic i C. difficile /i strains were isolated, of which eight contain binary toxin genes. Strains were largely susceptible to the antimicrobial agents tested. This investigation provides preliminary information on i C. difficile /i in feral horses in Australia and allows a comparison with their domestic counterparts. The findings support the hypothesis that all horse feces represent a potential source of i C. difficile /i in the community. IMPORTANCE i Clostridioides difficile /i poses an ongoing threat to healthcare in the community, with increasing evidence of transmission outside the hospital setting. In keepin
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