DETECTION OF TOXIGENIC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE STRAINS ISOLATED FROM MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS IN IRAN.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of toxigenic C. difficile in some of the meat products in Iran. Samples of hamburger (100), minced beef meat (150), chicken nugget (150), sausage (100) and canned meat (70) were collected from the retail trade and analysed for the presence of C. difficile using selective enrichment in C. difficile broth, subsequent alcohol shock-treatment and plating onto C. difficile selective medium. C. difficile isolates were tested for determination of toxins A and B production by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Of 570 samples tested, six (1.2%) were positive for the presence of C. difficile: one from hamburger (1.0%) and five from minced beef meat (3.3%). Among six C. difficile isolates five (83.3%) were found to be toxigenic and were positive for toxin A and/or B. This study shows the importance of minced beef meat as potential source of C. difficile infection in people who consume it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]