Work

Stability of Clostridioides difficile toxins in stool samples

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is mediated by the cytotoxins TcdA and/or TcdB. The reliable detection of these toxins using enzyme immunoassays (EIA) could be affected by toxin stability. We assessed the toxin stability in stool samples spiked with TcdA or TcdB and in stool samples from CDI patients under transport conditions. In the spiked samples, the concentration of TcdB decreased faster than TcdA within 72 h. In contrast, toxin levels in stool samples from CDI patients remained stable within 24 h, while viable C. difficile slightly increased. In conclusion, toxin instability did not affect C. difficile toxin detection in our study.

Source: International Journal of Medical Microbiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151691

Authors: Nicolas Heyer, Tobias Grebe, Andreas Schlattmann, Ahmed Mostafa Abdrabou, Jonel Trebicka, Frieder Schaumburg

Institutions: University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Mansoura University, Saarland University

Language: English

Topic: Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,410