Ecological and phylogenomic insights into infectious diseases in animals

这个项目旨在解决我们在了解艰难梭菌方面的主要知识差距，艰难梭菌是动物严重胃肠道疾病的主要原因。该项目预计将确定艰难梭菌感染澳大利亚马的流行病学，表征导致马病的艰难梭菌菌株的遗传和表型特征，并开发一种新的工具，以加强对艰难梭菌在动物中的基因组追踪。这些成果将支持兽医部门改进动物艰难梭菌感染的检测、预防和控制的战略，从而减少与澳大利亚马和牲畜艰难梭菌感染相关的发病率和死亡率，从而带来长期的社会经济效益。

This project aims to address major knowledge gaps in our understanding of Clostridium difficile, a leading cause of severe gastrointestinal disease in animals. The project is expected to define the epidemiology of C. difficile infection in Australian horses, characterise the genetic and phenotypic traits of C. difficile strains causing equine disease and develop a new tool for enhanced genomic tracking of C. difficile in animals. These outcomes will support strategies by the veterinary sector to improve the detection, prevention and control of C. difficile infections in animals, providing long-term socio-economic benefits arising from reduced incidence and mortality associated with C. difficile infections in Australian horses and livestock.