Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum isolated from clinical samples

Taxonogenomics description of Arcanobacterium urinimassiliense sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from urine sample

Strain Marseille-P3248т is a new species from the order Actinomycetales that was isolated from the urine sample of a girl aged 20 months with rotavirus gastroenteritis. It is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. Strain Marseille-P3248т exhibits 94.73% sequence similarity with Arcanobacterium pluranimalium strain M430/94/2, a phylogenetically related species with standing in nomenclature. Its genome size is 1 667 964 bp with 49.1% G + C content. Strain Marseille-P3248т (= CSURP3248) is the type strain of the new species Arcanobacterium urinimassiliense sp. nov.

Postvaccination wounds associated predominantly with Arcanobacterium phocae in mink (Neovison vison) at three mink farms

BACKGROUND

The emerging skin disease fur animal epidemic necrotic pyoderma (FENP) has been attributed to infection with Arcanobacterium phocae (ABP). The exact pathogenesis and risk factors of FENP have yet to be elucidated.

ANIMALS

Three mink from each of three different mink farms (A-C) with postvaccination skin wounds at the vaccination site and six mink from an unaffected mink farm (D) that had used the same vaccine batch and vaccination site (hind leg).

METHODS AND RESULTS

All mink from farms A-C had severe necrotizing to necropurulent dermatitis where they were vaccinated intramuscularly in the hind leg. ABP was the sole bacterium cultured from six of nine wounds. Using 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region and BOX-PCR, the ABP isolates from these wounds were indistinguishable from isolates originating from several cases of FENP.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

This is the first report of FENP-like lesions at the site of vaccination, in the days following the procedure, associated with ABP. At farms with FENP vaccination, procedures should be considered carefully.

Relationships between antimicrobial resistance, distribution of virulence factor genes and the origin of Trueperella pyogenes isolated from domestic animals and European bison (Bison bonasus)

Trueperella pyogenes is an opportunistic pathogen causing suppurative infections in livestock and wild animals. Although this bacterium is known for a long time, our knowledge about its pathogenicity is still insufficient. In this study the relationships between antimicrobial resistance profiles, distribution of virulence factor genes and the origin of T. pyogenes isolates were investigated. Isolates (n = 97) from various infections in domestic animals and European bison were studied. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of 12 antimicrobials were determined by a strip diffusion method, and PCR was used for detection of genes encoding seven putative virulence factors. All strains were susceptible to tested beta-lactams, and a statistically significant correlation between the resistance to enrofloxacin, tetracycline, macrolides, clindamycin, and a strain origin was found. The isolates from European bison were more susceptible than those from livestock, however the resistance to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones was observed. The plo and fimA genes were detected in all strains. There was no statistically significant association between the distribution of particular virulence factor genes and the type of infection, but the nanH, nanP and fimG genes were less frequently found in the isolates from European bison. The presence of three genes, nanP, nanH and cbpA, was found to be related to the resistance to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. In conclusion, the resistance patterns of T. pyogenes were correlated with an isolate origin, but our findings did not allow to indicate which of the putative virulence factors may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of particular types of T. pyogenes infection.

Bacteriological characteristics of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum isolated from seven patients with skin and soft-tissue infections

Bacteriological examinations were conducted for seven Arcanobacterium haemolyticum strains isolated from elderly patients with skin and soft-tissue infections, such as cellulitis and skin ulcers. Streptococcus dysgalactiae or Gram-positive cocci were isolated together with A. haemolyticum from all patients. The strains were identified as A. haemolyticum based on their being catalase negative, reverse Christie, Atkins and Munch-Petersen (CAMP) positive and phospholipase D gene positive in respective tests. Moreover, API Coryne and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed the identification of A. haemolyticum. All strains showed good susceptibility to minocycline, vancomycin and β-lactam antibiotics, but several strains were resistant to gentamicin and levofloxacin.

Septicaemia caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum smooth type in an immunocompetent patient

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a rarely reported human pathogen but can cause wound infections in elderly patients with immunodeficiency and pharyngotonsillitis in adolescents and young adults. A. haemolyticum septicaemia originating from a wound rarely occurs and mainly affects immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of A. haemolyticum septicaemia in an immunocompetent patient with no underlying diseases.