Cellulitis caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex associated with contaminated chlorhexidine 2% scrub in five domestic cats

Common superficial and deep cutaneous bacterial infections in domestic animals: A review

The skin covers the external surface of animals, and it is constantly exposed to and inhabited by different microorganisms, including bacteria. Alterations in the skin barrier allow commensal and/or pathogenic bacteria to proliferate and penetrate deep into the lower layers of the skin. Being the first barrier to the external environment, the skin is prone to injuries, allowing the penetration of microorganisms that may lead to severe deep infections. Companion animals, especially dogs, are prone to bacterial infections, often secondary to allergic dermatitis. When environmental conditions are unfavorable, horses, cattle, sheep, and goats can develop superficial infections, such as those caused by Dermatophilus congolensis. Deep inflammation is commonly caused by Mycobacterium spp., which results in granulomatous to pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis. Likewise, bacteria such as Nocardia spp. and Actinomyces spp. can cause deep pyogranulomatous inflammation. Bacteria that lead to deep necrotizing lesions (eg, necrotizing fasciitis/flesh-eating bacteria) can be severe and even result in death. This review includes an overview of the most common cutaneous bacterial infections of domestic animals, highlighting the main features and histologic morphology of the bacteria, cutaneous structures involved, and the type of inflammatory infiltrates.

Unique Presentations of Burkholderia gladioli Infections in Several Strains of Immunocompromised Mice

Four strains of experimentally naïve mice (NOD. Cg-Prkdc scid Il2rg tm1Wjl /SzJ [NSG], NOD. Cg- Rag1 tm1Mom Il2rg tm1Wjl /SzJ [NRG], B6.129S(Cg)-Stat1 tm1Dlv/J [STAT1 -/-], and B6.129S7- Ifngr1 tm1Agt/J[IFNγR -/-] housed in a barrier facility developed unusual and seemingly unrelated clinical signs. Young NSG/NRG mice (n = 49, mean age = 4 ± 0.4 mo) exhibited nonspecific clinical signs of moderate-to-severe lethargy, hunched posture, decreased body condition, and pallor. In contrast to the NSG/NRG mice, the STAT1-/- and IFNγ R-/- mice (n = 5) developed large subcutaneous abscesses on the head and neck. These mice were euthanized, and samples were collected for culture. NSG/NRG mice had moderate-markedly enlarged livers (20 of 49, 40%) and spleens (17 of 49, 35%). The livers contained multiple, variably-sized, tan regions throughout all lobes. Histology revealed necrotizing hepatitis (13 of 17, 77%), splenic and hepatic extramedullary hematopoiesis (17 of 17, 100%), glomerular histiocytosis (6 of 17, 35%), and metritis (6 of 11, 55%) with perivascular inflammation, suggesting hematogenous spread Differentials for these lesions included mouse hepatitis virus, ectromelia virus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., and Clostridium piliforme. Burkholderia gladioli was cultured from liver lesions and subcutaneous abscesses and confirmed with 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. After completing systematic testing of the environment, failure of the water autoclave cycle was suspected as the cause of the outbreak. To address the situation, individually ventilated racks were sanitized and new breeders were purchased; these actions dramatically reduced B. gladioli infections. The current literature contains few reports of B. gladioli infections in immunocompromised mice, and its typical presentation is torticollis and rolling. B. gladioli infection is a potential differential for subcutaneous abscesses, hepatitis, and splenomegaly in immunocompromised mice. Careful monitoring of sterilization techniques is essential to prevent such infections in a barrier facility.

A study on the occurrence of Burkholderia cepacia complex in ultrasound gels used in different veterinary clinical settings in India

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) organisms are emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens. They are opportunistic and cause severe diseases in humans that may result in fatal outcomes. They are mainly reported as nosocomial pathogens, and transmission often occurs through contaminated pharmaceutical products. From 1993 to 2019, 14 Bcc outbreaks caused by contaminated ultrasound gels (USGs) have been reported in several countries, including India. We screened a total of 63 samples of USGs from various veterinary and human clinical care centers across 17 states of India and isolated 32 Bcc strains of Burkholderia cenocepacia (46.8%), B. cepacia (31.3%), B. pseudomultivorans (18.8%) and B. contaminans (3.1%) species. Some isolates were co-existent in a single ultrasound gel sample. The isolation from unopened gel bottles revealed the intrinsic contamination from manufacturing sites. The MALDI-TOF analysis to identify the Bcc at the species level was supported by the partial sequencing of the recA gene for accurate species identification. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates shared clades with human clinical isolates, which is an important situation because of the possible infections of Bcc by USGs both in humans and animals. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing identified the genetic variation among the Bcc isolates present in the USGs. The findings indicated USGs as the potential source of Bcc species.

Chemical susceptibility testing of non-tuberculous mycobacterium strains and other aquatic bacteria: Results of a study for the development of a more sensitive and simple method for the detection of NTM in environmental samples

The methods employed to detect non-tuberculous mycobacteria on environmental samples are essentially those classically used in clinical microbiology, which envisage a decontamination step to reduce the overgrowth of non-mycobacterial organisms before plating them on the culture medium. The aim of this study was to propose alternative culture techniques to improve non-tuberculous mycobacteria detection in environmental samples. We used artificially contaminated samples to compare the membrane filter washing procedure against direct plating of membrane filters on culture media in relation to M.chimaera and M.chelonae recovery efficiency. Moreover, we compared the efficacy of NTM Elite agar in inhibiting the growth of aquatic bacteria with that of cetylpyridinium chloride and N-acetyl-L-cysteine sodium hydroxide decontamination treatments. The washing procedure yielded a low release of both mycobacterium strains (6.6% for Mycobacterium chimaera and 7.5% for Mycobacterium chelonae) from the membrane filters; on the contrary, direct plating of membrane filters led to a 100% cell recovery. Water sample pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine sodium hydroxide (1%), despite achieving complete suppression of non-acid fast bacilli, caused a reduction in mycobacteria growth. Decontamination with cetylpyridinium chloride (0.005%) was found to be ineffective against Methylobacterium spp. and Burkholderia multivorans. NTM Elite agar was ineffective against B. multivorans, but it inhibited the growth of all other aquatic bacteria. Our results indicate that NTM Elite agar provides a valid alternative method of recovering non-tuberculous mycobacteria from environmental samples. It does not involve a decontamination step and provides greater recovery efficiency by skipping the washing step and directly plating the filters on the media.

Search for Promising Strains of Probiotic Microbiota Isolated from Different Biotopes of Healthy Cats for Use in the Control of Surgical Infections

Despite the introduction of modern methods of treatment, the creation of new generations of antibacterial agents, and the constant improvement of aseptic and antiseptic methods, the treatment of purulent–inflammatory processes remains one of the most complex and urgent problems in veterinary practice. The article presents the results of the isolation of indigenous microbiota from various biotopes of healthy cats, as well as the study of their biological marker properties for the selection of the most optimal strains in probiotic medicines for the control of surgical infections. It was demonstrated that isolated cultures of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which we isolated, revealed high sensitivity to antibiotics of the β-lactam group (excepting L. acidophilus No. 24, L. plantarum “Victoria” No. 22, L. rhamnosus No. 5, L. rhamnosus No. 20, and L. rhamnosus No. 26, which showed a significant variability in sensitivity to antibacterial drugs of this group, indicating the great potential of these microorganisms) and resistance to aminoglycosides, lincosamides, and fluoroquinolones (with the exception of gatifloxacin, which showed high efficiency in relation to all lactic acid microorganisms). The adhesive properties of the isolated lactobacteria and bifidobacteria were variable, even within the same species. It was found that the B. adolescentis No. 23 strain of the Bifidobacterium genus, as well as the L. plantarum No. 8, L. plantarum “Victoria” No. 22, L. rhamnosus No. 6, L. rhamnosus No. 26, L. acidophilus No. 12, and L. acidophilus No. 24 strains of the Lactobacillus genus had the highest adhesive activity. Thus, when conducting a detailed analysis of the biological marker properties of candidate cultures (determining their sensitivity to antimicrobial agents, studying the adhesive properties, and antagonistic activity in relation to causative agents of surgical infection in cats), it was found that the most promising are L. plantarum “Victoria” No. 22, L. rhamnosus No. 26, and L. acidophilus No. 24.

Unusual Penile Prolapse with an Infectious Background Caused by the Burkholderia cepacia Complex in a Stallion

Penile prolapse is a disease manifested by an inability to retract the penis into the preputial sheath. It is reported in a variety of animal species, especially in young and intact males. However, penile prolapse in horses is commonly caused by trauma, sexual activity, pseudohermaphroditism, or neurological deficits, and less often by an infectious background. The present case report aimed to determine the etiological factor of penis infection associated with penile prolapse in a stallion in Poland. Our report indicates that the infectious background of penile prolapse was related to the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Based on antibiotic susceptibility results, the stallion was administered effective streptomycin and enrofloxacin treatment and recovered without complications. The following options are likely to be the infection source: contamination of hay or animal hygiene products. Finally, given its ability to grow in antiseptic solutions, difficulties in culturing, and innate multidrug resistance, this microorganism is currently a challenge to both detection and treatment in veterinary medicine cases.

Clinical and histopathological features of Burkholderia cepacia complex dermatitis in dogs: a series of four cases

BACKGROUND

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is an emerging cause of opportunistic infections. Deep pyoderma associated with Bcc infection has been reported previously in dogs receiving ciclosporin.

OBJECTIVE

To report the clinical and histopathological features of four additional cases of Bcc dermatitis in dogs, one of which progressed to septicaemia.

ANIMALS

Four dogs with a skin culture yielding growth of Bcc and skin biopsies for histopathological investigation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Retrospective review of medical records and skin biopsies and PCR for Burkholderia on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded skin and liver to confirm Bcc sepsis.

RESULTS

Three different breeds and one mixed breed dog were represented. Two dogs were receiving ciclosporin and one was receiving oclacitinib. One dog had no evidence of immunosuppression. One dog was bathed two days prior to onset of skin lesions. Three dogs presented with dorsally orientated ulcers, crusts and draining tracts; one dog had infection localized to a surgical site. The main histological feature from skin biopsies was severe neutrophilic folliculitis and furunculosis with marked neutrophilic to pyogranulomatous dermatitis. Intracellular Gram-negative and Warthin-Starry positive rods were present in three of four cases. Three dogs were successfully treated with systemic fluoroquinolones or trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. The Bcc isolate in one dog was resistant to all tested systemic antimicrobials. This dog developed septicaemia and was euthanized.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Bcc skin infections can occur in immunocompetent and immunocompromised dogs. Bcc isolates may be extensively antimicrobial resistant, presenting a challenge for clinical management. Cutaneous infection may progress to life-threatening sepsis.