Work

Occurrence of Clostridium perfringens in Shellfish

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Clostridium perfringens is an infectious agent of concern in wild/farmed shellfish. Hence, this study assessed shellfish-borne Clostridium perfringens (ShbCp) prevalence. Methods: A total of 1469 ShbCp from 2336 shellfish were modelled using hierarchical generalized linear and 1000-permutation-based-mixed-effects, meta-regression models. Results: The overall ShbCp prevalence was 54.12% (19.73–84.99) with a 32.02% (14.52–56.64) toxigenic rate and a higher estimate in 2020–2025 (41.01%, 17.00–70.23) versus 1970–2019 (20.01%, 4.49–57.08). Culture media significantly affect ShbCp recovery, with cooked meat medium and thioglycollate medium registering higher estimates (77% and 25.15%, respectively) than selective agars (<7%). The molluscans had a higher ShbCp rate (60.68%) than crustaceans (1.57%) and cephalopods (0.14%); oysters (85.97%) than mussels (71.81%), clams (50.38%), slug/snails (48.23%), scallops (16.24%), crabs (11.91%), shrimps (1.05%), and squids (0.42%); and Crassostrea gigas (89.27%) versus Ruditapes philippinarum (45.92%) versus Mytilus galloprovincialis (30.14%). ShbCp differed significantly by nations but not by continent with Spain (87.79%) having the highest rate, then China (47.01%), Japan (43.91%), the USA (10.44%), and Greece (0.00%); South America (51.36%), then Asia (44.77%), Europe (21.97%), and North America (10.44%). Sample size, growth medium, nation, and shellfish class significantly explained 27.58%, 72.30%, 67.52%, and 28.51% (R2) variance in ShbCp prevalence, respectively. Conclusions: The present study estimated a high ShbCp prevalence, suggesting a significant public health risk. It recommends that C. perfringens should be incorporated as a supplemental indicator into shellfish safety/shellfish water quality monitoring alongside traditional indicators. Also, geographical data gaps from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Oceania underline the need for national and global monitoring attention and priority on C. perfringens in shellfish/shellfish beds.

Source: Veterinary Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/vetsci13010051

Authors: Temitope C. Ekundayo, Frederick T. Tabit

Institution: University of South Africa

Language: English

Topic: Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534