Corrigendum to " beyond stools: dog nasal discharge as a possible new vector of bacterial transmission" [Heliyon 5 (5) (May 2019) e01629].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Seasonality of Clostridium difficile in the natural environment.

Clostridium difficile is considered the leading cause of antibiotic-associated disease worldwide. In the past decade, a large number of studies have focused on identifying the main sources of contamination in order to elucidate the complete life cycle of the infection. Hospitals, animals and retail foods have been considered as potential vectors.

beyond stools: dog nasal discharge as a possible new vector of bacterial transmission.

Zoonotic transmission of has been largely hypothesised to occur after direct or indirect contact with contaminated animal faeces. Recent studies have reported the presence of the bacterium in the natural environment, including in soils and rivers. If spores are scattered in the environment, they can easily enter the respiratory tract of dogs, and therefore, dog nasal discharge could be a direct route of transmission not previously investigated.