Genes Encoding Toxin of Clostridium difficile in Children with and without Diarrhea

Abstract

The presence of gene 16S rRNA and genes encoding toxin A ( tcdA ), toxin B ( tcdB ), and binary toxin ( cdtA/cdtB ) of Clostridium difficile in stool samples from children with (110) and without (150) diarrhea was determined by using a TaqMan system. Fifty-seven (21.9%) out of 260 stool samples harbored the 16S rRNA gene. The genetic profile of tcdA+/tcdB− and cdtA+/cdtB+ was verified in one C. difficile -positive diarrhea sample and of tcdA+/tcdB+ in three C. difficile -positive nondiarrhea samples. The presence of tcdA+/tcdB+ in stools obtained from children without diarrhea, suggests that they were asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic strains.