Presence of Clostridioides difficile on spinach, carrots, cheese and milk in Turkey.

Introduction: The presence of Clostridioides difficile in water, soil, fertilizers, and animal feces suggests the potential existence of C. difficile in foods that come into contact with these sources or become contaminated through indirect means.

Material & Method: A total of 431 samples, consisting of spinach and carrots and raw milk and cheese obtained from cows, goats, buffalo, and sheep, were examined for the presence of C. difficile. Isolates were identified by real-time PCR, ribotyped, and their toxin profiles were determined. Antibiotic susceptibility to vancomycin, clindamycin, and metronidazole was evaluated using the E-test.

Results: C. difficile was detected in 3.27 % (4/122) of spinach, 1.85 % (2/108) of carrots, and 2.19 % (2/91) of milk samples. No C. difficile was detected in the cheeses (n = 110). All isolates were obtained from different fields/farms. Only one isolate (from spinach) carried the tcdA and tcdB toxin genes. Six different PCR ribotypes were detected, with two (001, 060) being identified. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, clindamycin, and metronidazole.

Conclusion: The prevalence of C. difficile in spinach, carrot, and milk samples from selected regions was low, and nontoxigenic strains were prevalent. Despite the low prevalence, the detection of C. difficile in these foods highlights the potential risk of foodborne transmission of this pathogen and underscores the need for monitoring and control strategies to ensure food safety.