Academic literature on the topic 'Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae – Diagnosis'

A PCR method for rapid screening of Erysipelothrix spp. in the slaughterhouse was carried out by using four species-specific sets of oligonucleotide primers after initial amplification with the primer set MO101-MO102, which amplifies the 16S rRNA sequences of all four Erysipelothrix species. The DNA sequences coding for the rRNA gene cluster, including 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, and the noncoding region downstream of 5S rRNA, were determined in order to design primers for the species-specific PCR detection system. The homology among the 4.5-kb DNA sequences of the rRNA genes ofErysipelothrix rhusiopathiae serovar 2 (DNA Data Bank of Japan accession no. AB019247), E. tonsillarum serovar 7 (accession no. AB019248), E. rhusiopathiae serovar 13 (accession no. AB019249), and E. rhusiopathiae serovar 18 (accession no. AB019250) ranged from 96.0 to 98.4%. The PCR amplifications were specific and were able to distinguish the DNAs from each of the four Erysipelothrix species. The results of PCR tests performed directly with tissue specimens from diseased animals were compared with the results of cultivation tests, and the PCR tests were completed within 5 h. The test with this species-specific system based on PCR amplification with the DNA sequences coding for the rRNA gene cluster was an accurate, easy-to-read screening method for rapid diagnosis of Erysipelothrix sp. infection in the slaughterhouse.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae transmission to human is often occupation-related, but in most cases, a detailed case history is missing. This case report is based on an interdisciplinary approach and includes a thorough medical record. A 58-year-old laboratory technician working on geese necropsy cut open her glove at a rib fragment of a goose and subsequently noticed a slowly progressive, reddish skin alteration in the particular region of the hand. Bacteriological investigations on the geese revealed septicaemia due to E. rhusiopathiae and therefore substantiated the diagnosis of the patient. The infectious agent could not be cultured from the patient; however, antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the goose isolate. An entire follow-up until full recovery of the patient was conducted. Zoonotic infections possibly have a significant impact on certain occupations. This case report analyses a rare but important zoonotic infection to create awareness of this in physicians caring for human patients.

This report describes the first documented case of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis in Latin America. The patient was a 51-years-old male, moderate alcoholic, with a previous history of aortic failure. He was used to fishing and cooking as a hobby and had his left hand wounded by a fish-bone. The disease began with erysipeloid form and developed to septicemia and endocarditis. He was treated with antibiotics and surgery for aortic valve replacement. There are only 46 cases of E. rhusiopathiae endocarditis reported to date. The authors wonder if several other cases might go unreported for lack of microbiological laboratorial diagnosis.

SummaryA 14-month-old, male German Shepherd dog was admitted with a six-week history of lameness and swelling of the right hindlimb. Clinical examination revealed polyarthritis, fever, petechiae and ecchymoses of the abdominal skin and prepuce. The haematology and blood chemistry were indicative of sepsis. Mediolateral radiographic views of both of the stifle joints revealed signs of bilateral articular capsule swelling. The radiographical, bacteriological and necropsy findings confirmed a diagnosis of septic polyarthritis due to infection with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

We have previously described the creation by Tn916mutagenesis of avirulent transposition mutants from a highly virulent strain of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the causative agent of swine erysipelas. In this study, we cloned a 2.2-kb DNA fragment which flanked the Tn916 insertion in an avirulent mutant (strain 33H6) and evaluated the possibility that this region could be used for the specific detection of E. rhusiopathiae. According to the sequences of this region, oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a 937-bp fragment of the E. rhusiopathiae chromosome by PCR. The specificity of the PCR was investigated by analyzing 64 strains of Erysipelothrixspecies and 27 strains of other genera different fromErysipelothrix. A 937-bp DNA fragment could be amplified from all E. rhusiopathiae strains tested, and no amplification was observed by using DNAs from the other species tested. To make a rapid and definite diagnosis of swine erysipelas in slaughterhouses, we developed an enrichment broth cultivation-PCR combination assay, which used a commercially available DNA extraction kit, to identify E. rhusiopathiae in the specimens from swine with arthritis. After samples were enriched in selective broth culture, detection of E. rhusiopathiae was tested by either conventional methods or the PCR. Of 102 samples tested, 15 samples were positive by conventional methods and 12 of the 15 samples were positive by the PCR. The detection limit of the PCR was 103 CFU per reaction mixture for the PCR-positive samples. These results indicate that this PCR technique could be used as a first-line screening technique for the specific detection of E. rhusiopathiae in specimens.

Abstract ER is a facultative, non-spore-forming, non-acid-fast, gram-positive bacillus. It is a ubiquitous commensal in wild and domestic animals, birds, and fish and has an enormous economic impact on animal husbandry and marine industry, causing animal erysipelas. Human infections are extremely rare, occupationally acquired zoonosis. Human infections are acquired through wounds, contact with sick animals, and carriers and commonly includes localized or generalized self-limited cutaneous erysipelas. Seldom, systemic infection and septicemia occur. We present here, a case of a 50-year-old immunocompetent retired shipyard welder who enjoyed fishing in his spare time and presented to the emergency room with fever, chest pain, significant weight loss, and dry cough lasting 2 to 3 months. He did not report any bites or injuries, intravenous drug abuse, or travel history. An echocardiogram showed mobile vegetation on aortic valve with severe regurgitation. Blood and tissue cultures grew E rhusiopathiae, identified by MALDI-TOF method. He was treated with empiric vancomycin followed by penicillin and aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve. Cases of E rhusiopathiae–induced native valve endocarditis and septicemia are extremely infrequent in immunocompetent individuals, especially when occupation-related exposure is not noted. Even after surgery, it may entail fatality rates as high as 40%, higher than endocarditis caused by other bacteria. While some current reports suggest incidences of human infections are declining due to technological advances in animal industry, infection still occurs in specific environments. Additionally, it may be underdiagnosed due to its resemblance to other infections and problems encountered in isolation and identification. The natural resistance of E rhusiopathiae to glycopeptides underlines the importance of a prompt microbiological diagnosis of such an uncommon human infection, especially when presented in an unusual clinical presentation. Clinicians and microbiologists working with exposed population should be aware of this microbe and its manifestations.

Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae is a Gram-positive bacillus that is ubiquitous in nature. The bacterium is a zoonotic pathogen known to infect wild and domestic animals. Human infections, however, are uncommon and typically present with localised or generalised cutaneous lesions. Systemic infection in the form of bacteraemia with seeding to various organs is the least common form of the disease. Infections in humans tend to be associated with occupational exposure and close contact with animals. Clinical data of a 61-year-old male patient with Gram-positive bacilli bacteraemia and E.Rhusiopathiae-induced endocarditis are presented here. The patient presented with refractory congestive heart failure secondary to severe acute aortic regurgitation mandating surgical valve replacement. The described case has special clinical merit given the lack of fever and leukocytosis, absence of erysipeloid cutaneous manifestations and refractoriness to medical management. E. Rhusiopathiae should be considered in the differential diagnosis for Gram-positive bacilli bacteraemia and endocarditis. In the proper clinical setting, occupational exposure and animal contacts are helpful clues to raise suspicion for this bacillus. The high mortality associated with the pathogen should urge for early identification and initiation of antimicrobial treatment.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a Gram-positive bacillus, has long been an important pathogen in veterinary medicine as well as a cause of serious disease in humans. Infections caused by this organism have economic impact on animal industries, causing erysipelas in swine and morbidities in other farmed animals. Human infections are commonly erysipeloid (skin cellulitis) and occasionally septicaemia or endocarditis. Little is known of the diagnosis, epidemiology and pathogenesis of such infections in Western Australia. The aims of this thesis were to establish new diagnostic techniques for the detection and recovery of E. rhusiopathiae, to describe the epidemiology of Erysipelothrix infection in Western Australia in humans and animals, and to characterize virulence-associated characteristics, especially focusing on the neuraminidase produced by the organism. A protocol using 48 h Brain Heart Infusion enrichment followed by subculture to selective agar containing antibiotics achieved the highest recovery rate of 37% in a seafood survey. Twentyone isolates of Erysipelothrix spp., of which 19 were identified as E. rhusiopathiae, were obtained. Two published PCR assays for differentiating E. rhusiopathiae and other Erysipelothrix species were evaluated and the best PCR detection rate achieved was 67% following selective enrichment. The PCR method was 50% more sensitive than the culture method. Epidemiological surveys using the above methods showed that E. rhusiopathiae infection is present in farmed animals in Western Australia. The PCR positive frequencies (3.3-3.7%) and isolate recovery rate (2.8-3.3%) in samples from pig and sheep abattoirs and carcass washings indicate a potential threat to the economy of the farmed animal industry as well as a public health concern with the occurrence of E. rhusiopathiae in meat for consumption. Positive PCR results (1.1%) from human skin swabs of patients with cellulitis and wounds may suggest the existence of Erysipelothrix colonization in the general population. Genetic relatedness of 92 isolates of Erysipelothrix species from various sources was analyzed and a total of 64 distinct PFGE patterns identified. Isolates were further classified into 20 clonal groups based on pattern similarities, and most E. rhusiopathiae were clustered into six groups. A few patterns of other Erysipelothrix species were clustered into separate groups from E. rhusiopathiae but shared greater than 70% similarity with E. rhusiopathiae. The genetic relatedness of colonial variants was well demonstrated using this method. PFGE typing promises to be a useful tool for epidemiological and taxonomic studies of Erysipelothrix. Several virulence-associated factors were characterized in 86 isolates of Erysipelothrix spp. A rapid and sensitive peanut lectin hemagglutination assay for neuraminidase was developed and the influence of media, incubation conditions and pH on the production of the enzyme was investigated. All 61 isolates of E. rhusiopathiae produced neuraminidase in cooked meat broth with titres between 1:10 and 1:320, with no significant difference in titre among isolates from different sources. The enzyme activity was not detected in non-pathogenic Erysipelothrix spp. Capsule was produced by 78.7% of isolates of E. rhusiopathiae but not by other species, while both hyaluronidase and haemolysin were produced by non-pathogenic Erysipelothrix spp. It was concluded that neuraminidase and capsule are most likely to be virulence factors of E. rhusiopathiae. The gene encoding neuraminidase was cloned from the type strain E. rhusiopathiae ATCC 19414. The cloned fragment was a functional partial nanH gene with a mol% G+C of 39.7. The predicted amino acid sequence displayed homology with many microbial neuraminidases and contained conserved sequences found in most bacterial neuraminidases. Southern hybridization experiments demonstrated that the gene was present as a single copy on the bacterial genomic DNA. A neuraminidasenegative mutant vector was constructed by insertional inactivation using a tetM cassette. This has provided starting material for developing a neuraminidase-deficient E. rhusiopathiae mutant, which will permit the study of the role of neuraminidase in pathogenesis. Based on the cloned sequence, a sensitive neuraminidase-specific nested PCR technique was designed and optimized. The specificity was tested in 61 isolates of E. rhusiopathiae, 25 Erysipelothrix species, and 62 other species of neuraminidaseproducing and non-producing bacteria. All isolates of E. rhusiopathiae were PCR positive and all other bacteria were negative; thus this PCR is a highly specific method suitable for application in clinical investigations of Erysipelothrix infection. In conclusion, the present study has contributed new knowledge of the biology of Erysipelothrix spp. and current occurrence of Erysipelothrix infections in Western Australia, as well as to the understanding of pathogenesis of E. rhusiopathiae. Development of several new cultural and molecular approaches in combination with other established techniques will facilitate future studies of the epidemiology, taxonomy and pathogenesis of this bacterial species.