Evaluation of three Enzyme Immuno Assays for Clostridium difficile in neonatal piglets.

Abstract

This study compares three different Enzyme Immuno Assays (EIA’s) ((Immunocard Toxins A&B®, Wampole® C. Difficile tox A/B and Premier TM Toxins A&B) for the detection of Clostridium difficile in neonatal diarrhoea of piglets (0-7 days). Diarrhoeal samples (n=65) from seven different farms in the Netherlands were collected. 44 of these 65 samples were tested simultaneously with three EIA’s. Bacterial culture was performed on all 65 samples. No significant association was found between the EIA’s and bacterial culture. In total we found 41 of 65 samples positive for Clostridium Difficile with bacterial culture. 15 of these were confirmed by PCR all to be ribotype 078.