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Morrell EL, Odriozola E, Dorsch MA, Fiorentino MA, Rivera ME, Poppenga R, Navarro MA, Uzal FA, Cantón G. A review of cardiac blackleg in cattle, and report of 2 cases without skeletal muscle involvement in Argentina. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022; 34:929-936. [PMID: 36039784 PMCID: PMC9597342 DOI: 10.1177/10406387221120816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Blackleg is an infectious disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei. Cardiac blackleg has been reported in ruminants as an uncommon presentation of the disease; its pathogenesis is not understood completely. We include here a literature review of cardiac blackleg and a description of 2 cases in 12-15-mo-old feedlot steers in Argentina. Fourteen of 1,190 steers died suddenly over a period of 10 d. Postmortem examinations were performed on 5 of these animals. Grossly, severe, diffuse, fibrinous pericarditis and pleuritis, multifocal necrohemorrhagic myocarditis, diffuse pulmonary congestion, mild splenomegaly, and moderate congestion of meningeal vessels were observed. No significant gross lesions were observed in the skeletal muscles of any animal. Histology was performed on 2 of the steers. The main microscopic features were necrotizing myocarditis with myriad intralesional gram-positive rods with subterminal spores plus fibrinosuppurative pericarditis and pleuritis. C. chauvoei was detected by immunohistochemistry and PCR in the myocardium of both animals. These findings confirm a diagnosis of cardiac blackleg in these 2 steers and presumptively in the other affected animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matías A. Dorsch
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,
National University of Mar del Plata, Balcarce, Argentina
- Animal Health Research Platform,
National Institute of Agricultural Research, La Estanzuela,
Colonia, Uruguay
| | - María A. Fiorentino
- National Institute of Agricultural
Technology, Balcarce, Argentina
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,
National University of Mar del Plata, Balcarce, Argentina
| | - María E. Rivera
- National Institute of Agricultural
Technology, Balcarce, Argentina
| | - Robert Poppenga
- Davis Laboratories, School of
Veterinary Medicine, University of California–Davis, CA,
USA
| | - Mauricio A. Navarro
- California Animal Health and Food
Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino, CA, USA
- Instituto de Patología Animal,
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile,
Valdivia, Chile
| | - Francisco A. Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food
Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino, CA, USA
| | - Germán Cantón
- National Institute of Agricultural
Technology, Balcarce, Argentina
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2
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Thomas P, Abdel-Glil MY, Subbaiyan A, Busch A, Eichhorn I, Wieler LH, Neubauer H, Pletz M, Seyboldt C. First Comparative Analysis of Clostridium septicum Genomes Provides Insights Into the Taxonomy, Species Genetic Diversity, and Virulence Related to Gas Gangrene. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:771945. [PMID: 34956133 PMCID: PMC8696124 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.771945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium septicum is a Gram-positive, toxin-producing, and spore-forming bacterium that is recognized, together with C. perfringens, as the most important etiologic agent of progressive gas gangrene. Clostridium septicum infections are almost always fatal in humans and animals. Despite its clinical and agricultural relevance, there is currently limited knowledge of the diversity and genome structure of C. septicum. This study presents the complete genome sequence of C. septicum DSM 7534T type strain as well as the first comparative analysis of five C. septicum genomes. The taxonomy of C. septicum, as revealed by 16S rRNA analysis as well as by genomic wide indices such as protein-based phylogeny, average nucleotide identity, and digital DNA–DNA hybridization indicates a stable clade. The composition and presence of prophages, CRISPR elements and accessory genetic material was variable in the investigated genomes. This is in contrast to the limited genetic variability described for the phylogenetically and phenotypically related species Clostridium chauvoei. The restriction-modification (RM) systems between two C. septicum genomes were heterogeneous for the RM types they encoded. C. septicum has an open pangenome with 2,311 genes representing the core genes and 1,429 accessory genes. The core genome SNP divergence between genome pairs varied up to 4,886 pairwise SNPs. A vast arsenal of potential virulence genes was detected in the genomes studied. Sequence analysis of these genes revealed that sialidase, hemolysin, and collagenase genes are conserved compared to the α-toxin and hyaluronidase genes. In addition, a conserved gene found in all C. septicum genomes was predicted to encode a leucocidin homolog (beta-channel forming cytolysin) similar (71.10% protein identity) to Clostridium chauvoei toxin A (CctA), which is a potent toxin. In conclusion, our results provide first, valuable insights into strain relatedness and genomic plasticity of C. septicum and contribute to our understanding of the virulence mechanisms of this important human and animal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Thomas
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Mostafa Y. Abdel-Glil
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital – Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Mostafa Y. Abdel-Glil,
| | - Anbazhagan Subbaiyan
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Anne Busch
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Inga Eichhorn
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lothar H. Wieler
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heinrich Neubauer
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Mathias Pletz
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital – Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Seyboldt
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
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3
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Junior CAO, Silva ROS, Lobato FCF, Navarro MA, Uzal FA. Gas gangrene in mammals: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020; 32:175-183. [PMID: 32081096 DOI: 10.1177/1040638720905830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gas gangrene is a necrotizing infection of subcutaneous tissue and muscle that affects mainly ruminants and horses, but also other domestic and wild mammals. Clostridium chauvoei, C. septicum, C. novyi type A, C. perfringens type A, and C. sordellii are the etiologic agents of this disease, acting singly or in combination. Although a presumptive diagnosis of gas gangrene can be established based on clinical history, clinical signs, and gross and microscopic changes, identification of the clostridia involved is required for confirmatory diagnosis. Gross and microscopic lesions are, however, highly suggestive of the disease. Although the disease has a worldwide distribution and can cause significant economic losses, the literature is limited mostly to case reports. Thus, we have reviewed the current knowledge of gas gangrene in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Oliveira Junior
- Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Oliveira Junior, Silva, Lobato).,California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA (Navarro, Uzal)
| | - Rodrigo O S Silva
- Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Oliveira Junior, Silva, Lobato).,California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA (Navarro, Uzal)
| | - Francisco C F Lobato
- Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Oliveira Junior, Silva, Lobato).,California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA (Navarro, Uzal)
| | - Mauricio A Navarro
- Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Oliveira Junior, Silva, Lobato).,California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA (Navarro, Uzal)
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Oliveira Junior, Silva, Lobato).,California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA (Navarro, Uzal)
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4
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Vázquez-Iglesias L, Estefanell-Ucha B, Barcia-Castro L, Páez de la Cadena M, Álvarez-Chaver P, Ayude-Vázquez D, Rodríguez-Berrocal FJ. A simple electroelution method for rapid protein purification: isolation and antibody production of alpha toxin from Clostridium septicum. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3407. [PMID: 28652930 PMCID: PMC5483040 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium septicum produces a number of diseases in human and farm animals which, in most of the cases, are fatal without clinical intervention. Alpha toxin is an important agent and the unique lethal virulent factor produced by Clostridium septicum. This toxin is haemolytic, highly lethal and necrotizing activities but is being used as an antigen to develop animal vaccines. The aim of this study was to isolate the alpha toxin of Clostridium septicum and produce highly specific antibodies against it. In this work, we have developed a simple and efficient method for alpha toxin purification, based on electroelution that can be used as a time-saving method for purifying proteins. This technique avoids contamination by other proteins that could appear during other protein purification techniques such chromatography. The highly purified toxin was used to produce polyclonal antibodies. The specificity of the antibodies was tested by western blot and these antibodies can be applied to the quantitative determination of alpha toxin by slot blot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Vázquez-Iglesias
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Borja Estefanell-Ucha
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Leticia Barcia-Castro
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - María Páez de la Cadena
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Paula Álvarez-Chaver
- Unidad de Proteómica, Servicio de Determinación Estructural, Proteómica y Genómica, CACTI, Universidad de Vigo, Spain
| | - Daniel Ayude-Vázquez
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
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5
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Abreu CC, Edwards EE, Edwards JF, Gibbons PM, Leal de Araújo J, Rech RR, Uzal FA. Blackleg in cattle: A case report of fetal infection and a literature review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2017; 29:612-621. [PMID: 28599620 DOI: 10.1177/1040638717713796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium chauvoei causes blackleg in cattle. The disease has been reported worldwide, and although it can be prevented by vaccination, sporadic cases and occasional outbreaks still occur. We describe a case of blackleg in a 2-y-old, pregnant Gyr cow with in utero transmission to the fetus. The cow had characteristic gross and microscopic lesions of blackleg including widespread necrohemorrhagic and emphysematous skeletal and myocardial myositis, and fibrinous pericarditis. Her uterus contained a near-term, markedly emphysematous fetus with skeletal muscle and myocardial lesions similar to those seen in the dam. Histopathology of dam and fetal tissues revealed numerous gram-positive bacilli, many of them with sub-terminal spores, in multiple tissues. These bacilli were identified as C. chauvoei by immunohistochemistry. Anaerobic culture and fluorescent antibody tests performed on skeletal muscle from both the dam and fetus were positive for C. chauvoei, confirming a diagnosis of blackleg. Blackleg is a so-called endogenous infection, and the currently accepted pathogenesis involves ingestion of spores that are transported to muscle tissues where they lie dormant until anaerobiosis prompts germination. Germinating bacteria are histotoxic, producing severe, local necrosis and ultimately lethal toxemia. This model, however, has not been confirmed experimentally and also fails to explain some cases of the disease. A presumptive diagnosis of blackleg is based on clinical, gross, and histologic findings. Diagnostic confirmation necessitates the detection of C. chauvoei by culture, PCR, or immunodetection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila C Abreu
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
| | - Erin E Edwards
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
| | - John F Edwards
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
| | - Philippa M Gibbons
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
| | - Jeann Leal de Araújo
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
| | - Raquel R Rech
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Abreu).,Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TX (Edwards, Edwards, Gibbons, Leal de Araújo, Rech).,California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA (Abreu, Uzal)
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Vlková E, Salmonová H, Bunešová V, Geigerová M, Rada V, Musilová Š. A new medium containing mupirocin, acetic acid, and norfloxacin for the selective cultivation of bifidobacteria. Anaerobe 2015; 34:27-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Development of a recombinant flagellin based ELISA for the detection of Clostridium chauvoei. Anaerobe 2015; 33:48-54. [PMID: 25660203 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2015.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 12/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Blackleg, an economically important and highly fatal disease of ruminants, is caused by anaerobic bacillus, Clostridium chauvoei. Identification and differentiation of the causative agent is crucial for implementation of therapeutic and control measures in real time. Most of the diagnostic tests available for blackleg are PCR based, and only a couple of serological tests have been reported. In this study, we targeted flagellin, an important immunogenic protein of C. chauvoei, to develop a sandwich ELISA for detection of C. chauvoei. Sequence analysis of flagellin gene of related Clostridium species showed that central region of flagellin gene is unique to C. chauvoei. Hence, we cloned and expressed central region of flagellin in a prokaryotic expression system. Antiserum against recombinant flagellin was generated in rabbits and chickens. A sandwich ELISA was developed, in which rabbit anti-flagellin antibodies were used as capture antibodies and chicken anti-flagellin antibodies as detecting antibodies. The test was specific and sensitive in detection of up to 10(4) CFU/ml of C. chauvoei. This study shows that assay developed can be used for detection of C. chauvoei in suspected samples.
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Dangi SK, Singh AP, Dangi SS, Thomas P, Gupta SK, Agarwal RK, Viswas KN. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and cloning of immunogenic protein NAD-dependent beta hydroxybutyryl CoA dehydrogenase gene of Clostridium chauvoei. Vet World 2014. [DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2014.848-851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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