Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a Gram-positive, catalase-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, nonacid-fast, nonmotile bacterium. Distributed worldwide, E. rhusiopathiae is primarily considered an animal pathogen, causing the disease known as erysipelas that may affect a wide range of animals. Pigs, turkeys and laying hens are most commonly affected, but cases have been reported in other mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles.[1] In pigs, the disease is known as "diamond skin disease". The bacterium can also cause zoonotic infections in humans, called erysipeloid. The human disease called erysipelas is not caused by E. rhusiopathiae, but by various members of the genus Streptococcus.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
Cellular and colonial morphology of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Bacteria
Phylum:
Firmicutes
Class:
Erysipelotrichia
Order:
Erysipelotrichales
Family:
Erysipelotrichaceae
Genus:
Erysipelothrix
Species:
E. rhusiopathiae
Binomial name
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
Migula, 1900

History

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was first isolated by Robert Koch in 1876. A few years later the bacterium was recognised as the cause of erysipelas in pigs and in 1884 the organism was first established as a human pathogen.[2][3] In 1909, the genus was named Erysipelothrix. In 1918 the name Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was introduced and in 1920 it was designated as the type species of the genus.[4]

Epidemiology

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae may be isolated from soil, food scraps, and water contaminated by infected animals. It can survive in soil for several weeks. In pig faeces, the survival period of this bacterium ranges from 1 to 5 months.[5] Erysipeloid is transmitted by several animals, particularly pigs, in which the disease (very common in the past) has several names (swine erysipelas in English, rouget du porc in French and mal rossino in Italian). Urticaria-like lesions, arthralgia, arthritis, endocarditis, and sepsis are the most characteristic features of swine erysipelas. Other animals that can transmit the infection are sheep, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, ducks, emus, scorpion fish, and lobsters. Erysipeloid is an occupational disease, mainly found in animal breeders, veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, furriers, butchers, fishermen, fishmongers, housewives, cooks, and grocers. One epidemic of erysipeloid was described in workers involved in manufacturing buttons from animal bone.[5] The disease is of economic importance to the pig industries of North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.[6]

Clinical disease

Humans

In humans, E. rhusiopathiae infections most commonly present in a mild cutaneous form known as erysipeloid.[1] Less commonly, it can result in sepsis; this scenario is often associated with endocarditis. Erysipeloid, also named in the past Rosenbach's disease, Baker–Rosenbach disease, and pseudoerysipelas, is a bacterial infection of the skin caused by traumatic penetration of E. rhusiopathiae.[5]

It occurs most commonly as an occupational disease. The disease is characterized clinically by an erythematous oedema, with well-defined and raised borders, usually localized to the back of one hand and/or fingers. The palms, forearms, arms, face, and legs are rarely involved.[5] Vesicular, bullous, and erosive lesions may also be present. The lesion may be asymptomatic or accompanied by mild pruritus, pain, and fever.

Animals

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae may infect a wide range of animals, with or without causing the clinical disease that in animals is termed erysipelas.

Pigs

In pigs, three forms of erysipelas may be seen; acute, subacute or chronic. The acute form is characterised by high fever, anorexia, depression and death of one or more animals. Also, diamond-shaped cutaneous lesions may be seen, these are pathognomonic for erysipelas in pigs. During subacute erysipelas, similar but milder signs than in the acute form are seen. The chronic form may follow from acute or subacute cases or subclinical infections. The chronic form is mostly characterised by arthritis but sudden deaths, due to valvular lesions in the heart, may occur.[7]

Poultry

The bacterium has been isolated from a wide range of avian species and differences in susceptibility depending on species have been suggested. Erysipelas outbreaks have been reported in almost all poultry species. Historically, erysipelas has been considered a disease of significant importance primarily in turkeys.[8] However, an increasing number of outbreaks in laying hen flocks have been reported in several countries.[9] Signs seen during an outbreak of erysipelas in a laying hen flock include sudden onset of high mortality and egg production losses.[10]

Muskox

Due to unregulated hunting of muskox the species was almost wiped out in the late 19th century. However, by 1917 regulations were in place and the herds began to recover to such an extent that regulated hunting was permitted in the 1980s. By the 1990s hunters were permitted to take 10,000 muskox on Banks Island alone and in 2001 it was estimated that there were more than 68,000 muskox on the island making it the largest population in the world. However, since then the numbers have dropped by 70% due to erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.[11][12] [13]

Virulence factors

Various virulence factors have been suggested as being involved in the pathogenicity of E. rhusiopathiae. The presence of a hyaluronidase and neuraminidase has been recognized, and neuraminidase was shown to play a significant role in bacterial attachment and subsequent invasion into host cells. The role of hyaluronidase in the disease process is controversial. The presence of a heat-labile capsule has been reported as important in virulence.[6]

Diagnosis
Blood agar plate culture of E. rhusiopathiae

Isolation

Traditionally, culture methods for the isolation of E. rhusiopathiae involve the use of selective and enrichment media. Commercially available blood culture media are satisfactory for primary isolation from blood, since E. rhusiopathiae is not particularly fastidious. A number of selective media for the isolation of Erysipelothrix have been described, also. A commonly used medium is Erysipelothrix selective broth (ESB), a nutrient broth containing serum, tryptose, kanamycin, neomycin, and vancomycin. Modified blood azide medium (MBA) is a selective agar containing sodium azide and horse blood or serum. Packer's medium is a selective medium for grossly contaminated specimens, which contains sodium azide and crystal violet. Bohm's medium uses sodium azide, kanamycin, phenol, and water blue. Shimoji's selective enrichment broth contains tryptic soy broth, Tween 80, tris-aminomethane, crystal violet, and sodium azide.[6]

Species identification

Conventional species identification is based on colony morphology, Gram-staining and biochemical tests. Colonies are small with a narrow zone of alpha hemolysis on blood agar plates. Laboratory smears show Gram-positive rods (though Gram stain has low sensitivity for this microbe). It is nonmotile, catalase-negative, microaerophilic, capnophilic, and non-spore-forming. It can also produce H2S (gas), which is a unique characteristic for a Gram-positive bacillus. Acid is produced from glucose, fructose, galactose, and lactose, but not from maltose, xylose, and mannitol. Sucrose is fermented by most strains of E. tonsillarum, but not by E. rhusiopathiae. Hydrogen sulfide H2S is produced by 95% of strains of Erysipelothrix species as demonstrated on triple sugar iron (TSI) agar. E. rhusiopathiae can be differentiated from other Gram-positive bacilli, in particular, from Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) pyogenes and Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) haemolyticum, which are hemolytic on blood agar and do not produce hydrogen sulfide in TSI agar slants, and from Listeria monocytogenes, which is catalase positive, motile, and sensitive to neomycin. Rapid identification of E. rhusiopathiae can be achieved with the API Coryne System. It is a commercial strip system based on a number of biochemical reactions for the identification of coryneform bacteria and related genera, including E. rhusiopathiae. The system permits reliable and rapid identification of bacteria and has been considered to be a good alternative to traditional biochemical methods.[6]

Other assays

Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods have also been developed for detection of E. rhusiopathiae.[6] Laboratory investigations of humans may reveal leucocytosis, slightly increased serum c-globulins, and an increase in inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and a-1 acid glycoprotein).[5]

Treatment

Humans

Penicillin is the treatment of choice for both disease states in humans. E. rhusiopathiae is sensitive in vitro and in vivo mainly to penicillins, but also to cephalosporins (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone), tetracyclines (chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline), quinolones (ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin), clindamycin, erythromycin, imipenem, and piperacillin. It is resistant to vancomycin, chloramphenicol, daptomycin, gentamicin, netilmicin, polymyxin B, streptomycin, teicoplanin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Penicillins and cephalosporins are the first-line choice for treatment. A 7-day course is appropriate, and clinical improvement is usually observed 2–3 days after the beginning of the treatment.[5]

Poultry

Only a few poultry isolates have been investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility.[14] Penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment of poultry,[15] however the disease may reoccur. Therefore, antibiotic treatment may be combined with vaccination.

References
  1. C. Josephine Brooke; Thomas V. Riley (1999). "Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae: bacteriology, epidemiology and clinical manifestations of an occupational pathogen". Journal of Medical Microbiology. 48 (9): 789–799. doi:10.1099/00222615-48-9-789. PMID 10482289.
  2. Stackebrandt e., Ed.: Stanley Falkow; et al. (2006). Bacteria : Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer. pp. 492–510. ISBN 0387254943.
  3. Rosenbach, F.J. (1909). "Experimentelle, morphologische und klinische Studie über die krankheitserregenden Mikrooganismen des Schweinerotlaufs, des Erysipeloids und der Mäusesepsis". Zeitschrift für Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten. 63: 343–371. doi:10.1007/BF02227897.
  4. Winslow, CE; Broadhurst, J; Buchanan, RE; Krumwiede, C; Rogers, LA; Smith, GH (May 1920). "The Families and Genera of the Bacteria: Final Report of the Committee of the Society of American Bacteriologists on Characterization and Classification of Bacterial Types". Journal of Bacteriology. 5 (3): 191–229. PMC 378870. PMID 16558872.
  5. S. Veraldi; V. Girgenti; F. Dassoni; R. Gianotti (2009). "Erysipeloid: a review". Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 34 (8): 859–862. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.2009.03444.x. PMID 19663854.
  6. Q. Wang; B.J. Chang; Th.V. Riley (2010). "Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae". Journal of Veterinary Microbiology. 140 (3–4): 405–417. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.08.012. PMID 19733019.
  7. Opriessnig T & Wood RL, edited by Jeffrey J Zimmerman ... [et (2012). Diseases of swine (10th ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 750–59. ISBN 978-0-813-82267-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. Bricker JM & Saif YM, editor-in-chief, David E. Swayne ; associate editors, John R. Glisson ... [et (2013). Diseases of poultry (13th ed.). Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 986–994. ISBN 978-0-470-95899-5.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  9. Eriksson, Helena; Bagge, Elisabeth; Båverud, Viveca; Fellström, Claes; Jansson, Désirée S. (22 April 2014). "contamination in the poultry house environment during erysipelas outbreaks in organic laying hen flocks". Avian Pathology. 43 (3): 231–237. doi:10.1080/03079457.2014.907485. PMID 24661145.
  10. Eriksson, Helena; Brännström, Sara; Skarin, Hanna; Chirico, Jan (10 December 2010). "Characterization of isolates from laying hens and poultry red mites ( ) from an outbreak of erysipelas". Avian Pathology. 39 (6): 505–509. doi:10.1080/03079457.2010.518313. PMID 21154061.
  11. Gunn, A.; Forchhammer, M. (2008). "Ovibos moschatus (errata version published in 2016)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T29684A86066477. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  12. "Banks Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary No. 2". Parks Canada. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  13. Kutz, S., Bollinger, T., Branigan, M., Checkley, S., Davison, T., Dumond, M., Elkin, B., Forde, T., Hutchins, W., Niptanatiak, A., et al. (2015). Cross-Canada Disease Report Rapport des maladies diagnostiquées au Canada. Can. Vet. J. 56,.
  14. Eriksson, Helena; Jansson, Désirée S.; Johansson, Karl-Erik; Båverud, Viveca; Chirico, Jan; Aspán, Anna (May 2009). "Characterization of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolates from poultry, pigs, emus, the poultry red mite and other animals". Veterinary Microbiology. 137 (1–2): 98–104. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.12.016.
  15. Hofacre C.L., Fricke J.A., Inglis T., editors, Steeve Giguère, John F. Prescott, Patricia M. Dowling (2013). Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine (5th ed.). Hoboken: Wiley. pp. 569–587. ISBN 9781118675106.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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