Abstract:
Objective: Clostridia are widely distributed in natural environments and are inhabitants of both human and animal gastrointestinal tract. These organisms are important pathogens that may cause pseudomembranous colitis, necrotizing enteritis, food poisoning and the other intestinal disorders, such as diarrhea. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Clostridium species in the hospitalized patients and to compare them with healthy subjects as a control group. Methodology: A total of 300 stool specimens were collected from 150 patients with acute diarrhea (In three hospitals affiliated with to Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences in Ahwaz City in Iran) and 150 cases without diarrhea as a control group. After ethanolic treatment, the specimens were inocolated onto culture media such as: Blood Agar and Selective CCFA Medium (Cycloserine–Cefoxitin–Fructose Agar). The plates were incubated under anaerobic coditions and the grown colonies were presumptively identified as Clostridia, based on their morphology, Gram‘s stain, aerotolerant test and situation of bacterial spores. The species of these Clostridia were definitively determined by the other standard tests such as: Motility, SH2, Indol and biochemical tests. Results: This study resulted in isolation of Clostridia spp from 38 patients (25.3%) and 48 cases (32%) of control group. Fifteen different species of Clostridia were isolated from the patients and control group. The most predominat isolated species were ramosum, perfringens, subterminale, sordellii, innocuum, clostridioform and sphenoides. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained, there was no significant difference between the Clostridia spp isolated from the patients and control group, so more studies are recommended for clarifying the role of Clostridia spp in causing diarrhoea.
Page(s):
209-212
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, Volume: 24, Issue: 2, Year: 2008