Conclusions molecular characterization and epidemiological analysis revealed that the zoonotic risk for c. difficile associated with dogs and cats within the community is low but cannot be excluded. conclusion there is accumulating evidence of a persistent community reservoir of c. difficile. this involves spore contamination of soil, water, food, households, shoes, lawns and public spaces. the mechanism of this reservoir leading to disease in susceptible hosts requires further exploration. clostridium difficile genome analysis and differing demographic patterns between cacdi and hacdi suggest a zoonotic origin in australian cacdi, particularly porcine-derived rt014/020. this may be driven by antibiotic use in the agricultural industry. the importance of one health initiatives, antibiotic stewardship and source control in human and veterinarian medicine as well as the agricultural industry is emphasized.