Chlorella Infection in a Sheep in Mexico and Minireview of Published Reports from Humans and Domestic Animals

Abstract

Algal infections are rare in humans and domestic animals. Prototheca spp. and Chlorella spp. are among the most commonly reported. Herein, we present a brief review on Chlorella spp. infections and related pathologies and discuss this information including a natural case in a sheep in Mexico with a disseminated form of the disease.

Establishment of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry database for rapid identification of infectious achlorophyllous green micro-algae of the genus Prototheca

“…Hence, the main objective of this study was to establish and evaluate a library of mass spectral fingerprints for reference and type strains of the genus Prototheca . It was of further interest to include some of the Chlorella species in this study, as they belong to the same Chlorellaceae family and are associated with infection [23,24].…”

First case of Chlorella wound infection in a human in Australia

“…Chlorellosis has been reported in limited numbers in sheep and cattle, and single cases in a human, gazelle, dog, beaver, camel and fish . Animals appear to be infected by exposure to contaminated water and disease ranges from localized cutaneous and lymph node infection to multi‐organ dissemination .…”

“…Chlorellosis has been reported in limited numbers in sheep and cattle, and single cases in a human, gazelle, dog, beaver, camel and fish . Animals appear to be infected by exposure to contaminated water and disease ranges from localized cutaneous and lymph node infection to multi‐organ dissemination . The only previously reported human case was a 30‐year‐old female who underwent removal of a traumatic neuroma on the right foot and subsequent tenolysis, and then presented with persistent infection in the surgical wound 1 month after canoeing in a river in Nebraska.…”

Infecção disseminada por Chlorella sp. em um ovino

“…A coloração esverdeada dos órgãos afetados, associada à presença de algas intralesionais, contendo grânulos citoplasmáticos PAS positivos, são aspectos importantes para diferenciar Chlorella de outras algas que possuem características morfológicas semelhantes, como Prototheca (RAMIREZ- ROMERO et al, 2010). Considerando que Chlorella sp.…”

“…A localização das lesões sugere que a via de infecção tenha sido o trato digestivo e a presença de algas na luz de vasos sanguíneos e linfáticos indica a posterior disseminação para outros órgãos. Em ovinos, a infecção disseminada geralmente ocorre via trato digestivo, quando os animais ingerem água contaminada e/ou se alimentam de pastagens irrigadas com águas contaminadas por esgotos (RAMIREZ-ROMERO et al, 2010). No presente estudo, acredita-se que a principal fonte de infecção foi a água estagnada e esverdeada de poços e bebedouros.…”