CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE, AN UBIQUITOUS AND OPPORTUNIST ZOONOSIS AGENT

Clostridium difficile is a Gram positive, ubiquitous, toxinogen, sporu led and hydrotelluric bacillus. Isolated for the first time in 1935, i t has been studied in depth only since 1970. Indeed,it is fairly diffi cult to isolate, cultivate and identify. Its role in intestinal pathol ogies, due to toxins, is often underestimated. Yet it is responsible f or most cases of pseudomembranous colitis and of diarrhoeas and coliti s associatedwith antibiotics. New research is necessary to better unde rstand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of these infections transmiss ible to humans. Thus, their treatment will be easier and more effectiv e.