Abstract
The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased dramatically over the past decade in humans.1,2 Its treatment, however, has largely remained the same with the exception of oral vancomycin use as a first-line agent in severe disease.1,2,4 For the past 10 years, human CDI deaths have been almost 7 times the rate of all other intestinal infections combined. Worldwide, several major CDI outbreaks have occurred and this epidemic has contributed to the rising incidence and mortality of CDI.5 The purpose of this presentation is to review diagnostic testing, management, treatment, infection control, and prevention strategies that were utilized to combat CDI morbidity in a population of South American Sea Lions at Coral World Ocean Park.2,3,4 Four South American sea lions and two additional sea lions added to the population were infected with Clostridium difficile. Clinical signs included watery diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, and abdominal pain. Some sea lions were more severely affected than others. Clinical signs correlated with positive CDI infection and colonization results of diagnostics which included ELISA toxin, cytotoxicity assays, cytology, fecal cultures and PCR. Multiple environmental and sanitary protocols and practices, changes in substrate, addition of probiotics, decreasing use of antibiotics and diet changes all contributed to the decrease of outbreaks with CDI.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Nicole Stacy, DVM, Dipl. ACVP with the Aquatic Animal Health Program at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the diligent training staff at Coral World Ocean Park.
* Presenting author
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