HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Northey, G. Articles by Brazier, J. S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Northey, G. Articles by Brazier, J. S Agricola Articles by Northey, G. Articles by Brazier, J. S

Subtyping of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 001 by REP-PCR and PFGE

Gemma Northey, Micaela Gal, Ahmed Rahmati and Jon S Brazier

Anaerobe Reference Laboratory, NPHS Microbiology Cardiff, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK

Correspondence Jon S. Brazier brazier{at}cf.ac.uk

Received December 20, 2004
Accepted February 24, 2005

The REP-PCR (repetitive sequence-based PCR using repetitive extragenic palindromic primers) typing method and a modified PFGE method were applied to isolates of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 001 with the aim of comparing their performance as methods of subtyping this organism. Of 200 isolates from 60 hospitals tested by REP-PCR, eight subtypes were identified and labelled as REP-PCR subtypes 001–008. The predominant subtype, REP-PCR subtype 003, accounted for 47 % of the total. Fifty-two of the 200 isolates were analysed by a modified PFGE method and seven subtypes were identified, labelled as PF-A–PF-G. There was excellent correlation between REP-PCR subtypes and PFGE subtypes with both methods displaying broadly similar discriminatory powers. However, REP-PCR subtyping proved to be a much easier, cheaper and more rapid method suitable for application for routine subtyping of C. difficile ribotype 001. Application of REP-PCR subtyping to UK isolates of C. difficile PCR ribotype 001 from 60 different centres revealed a wide distribution of REP-PCR subtype 003 throughout England and Wales, with a regional clustering of REP-PCR subtype 001 around Northwest England and North Wales. Analysis of isolates from a single hospital over a 4-year period revealed a change in predominant subtype over time.

Abbreviation: ARL, Anaerobe Reference Laboratory.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Martin, B. Willey, D. E. Low, H. R. Staempfli, A. McGeer, P. Boerlin, M. Mulvey, and J. S. Weese Characterization of Clostridium difficile Strains Isolated from Patients in Ontario, Canada, from 2004 to 2006 J. Clin. Microbiol., September 1, 2008; 46(9): 2999 - 3004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Sadeghifard, V. Gurtler, M. Beer, and R. J. Seviour The Mosaic Nature of Intergenic 16S-23S rRNA Spacer Regions Suggests rRNA Operon Copy Number Variation in Clostridium difficile Strains Appl. Envir. Microbiol., November 1, 2006; 72(11): 7311 - 7323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. MacCannell, T. J. Louie, D. B. Gregson, M. Laverdiere, A.-C. Labbe, F. Laing, and S. Henwick Molecular Analysis of Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 027 Isolates from Eastern and Western Canada. J. Clin. Microbiol., June 1, 2006; 44(6): 2147 - 2152. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Akerlund, B. Svenungsson, A. Lagergren, and L. G. Burman Correlation of Disease Severity with Fecal Toxin Levels in Patients with Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea and Distribution of PCR Ribotypes and Toxin Yields In Vitro of Corresponding Isolates J. Clin. Microbiol., February 1, 2006; 44(2): 353 - 358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]