Corynebacterium diphtheriae in a free-roaming red fox: case report and historical review on diphtheria in animals

Sing, Andreas; Konrad, Regina; Meinel, Dominik M.; Mauder, Norman; Schwabe, Ingo; Sting, Reinhard

doi:10.1007/s15010-015-0846-y

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In contrast to the classical diphtheria agent C. diphtheriae which is basically a human pathogen and has only extremely rarely been reported to be isolated from animals [32], the emerging pathogen C. ulcerans is a zoonotic pathogen with an increasing spectrum of affected animals. While originally only reported from livestock (cattle, pigs) and pet (dog, cat) animals, C. ulcerans has been meanwhile detected in a wide variety of species living in captivity as zoo (killer whales, lion, water rats), shelter (dogs), herd (dromedary, goat, cow) or research (macaques, ground squirrels) animals with contact to humans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tox -positive Corynebacterium ulcerans in hedgehogs, Germany

Berger¹,

Dangel²,

Peters

et al. 2019

Emerging Microbes & Infections

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans may cause both respiratory and cutaneous diphtheria in humans. As a zoonotic emerging pathogen it has been isolated from a wide variety of animals living in captivity, such as livestock, pet, zoo and research animals and additionally in a large number of different wild animals. Here we report the isolation of tox -positive C. ulcerans in four hedgehogs with cutaneous diphtheria and pneumonia, respectively.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tox -positive Corynebacterium ulcerans in hedgehogs, Germany

Berger¹,

Dangel²,

Peters

et al. 2019

Emerging Microbes & Infections

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Austria, these two antibiotic families are mostly used in animal medicine (42). If other Corynebacterium species are considered zoonotic, very few cases of C. diphtheriae carriage or infection in animal have been described (43,44). The interface between animal and human Corynebacterium strains could be an explanation for the high prevalence of tetracycline and sulphonamides ARGs in skin isolates, but it would require further studies.…”

Section: Downloaded Frommentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Genetic Diversity of Austrian Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates, 2011 to 2019

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease with a high potential for re-emergence. One of its causative agent is Corynebacterium diphtheriae, some strains producing the diphtheria toxin. From 2011 to 2019, 57 clinical C. diphtheriae strains were isolated in Austria, either from the respiratory track or from skin infections. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic diversity of these C. diphtheriae isolates using whole genome sequencing. Methods: Isolates were characterized by genome wide comparison using single nucleotide polymorphism or core genome multilocus sequence typing, and by searching sequence data for antimicrobial resistance genes and genes involved in diphtheria toxin production. Results: Genetic diversity between the isolates was high, with no clear distribution over time or place. C. belfantii isolates were separated from other strains, and were strongly associated with respiratory infections (OR = 57). Two clusters, limited in time and space, were identified. Almost 40% of strains carried resistance genes against tetracycline or sulfonamides, mostly from skin infections. Microbiological tests showed that 55% of isolates were resistant to penicillin, but did not carry genes conferring β-lactam resistance. Diphtheria toxin gene with no non-synonymous mutation was found in three isolates only. Conclusion: This study showed that sequencing can provide valuable information complementing routine microbiological and epidemiological investigations. It allowed us to identify unknown clusters, evaluate antimicrobial resistances more broadly and support toxigenicity results obtained by PCR. For these reasons, C. diphtheriae surveillance could strongly benefit from the routine implementation of whole genome sequencing.

show abstract

“…Increasing numbers of toxigenic C. ulcerans infections have been reported (65, 66) e.g., in the UK (67), but these pathogens remain rare in the clinic. Host jumps from domesticated and wild animals to humans have been postulated (63, 68, 69). If either C. ulcerans or C. pseudotuberculosis is diagnosed, the isolate should be tested for the presence of the toxin and reported in surveillance programs.…”

Section: Microbiology and Pathogenicity Of C Diphtheriaementioning

confidence: 99%

Whole Genome Sequencing for Surveillance of Diphtheria in Low Incidence Settings

Seth-Smith

Egli

2019

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Corynebacterium diphtheriae ( C. diphtheriae ) is a relatively rare pathogen in most Western countries. While toxin producing strains can cause pharyngeal diphtheria with potentially fatal outcomes, the more common presentation is wound infections. The diphtheria toxin is encoded on a prophage and can also be carried by Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis . Currently, across Europe, infections are mainly diagnosed in travelers and refugees from regions where diphtheria is more endemic, patients from urban areas with poor hygiene, and intravenous drug users. About half of the cases are non-toxin producing isolates. Rapid identification of the bacterial pathogen and toxin production is a critical element of patient and outbreak management. Beside the immediate clinical management of the patient, public health agencies should be informed of toxigenic C. diphtheriae diagnoses as soon as possible. The collection of case-related epidemiological data from the patient is often challenging due to language barriers and social circumstances. However, information on patient contacts, vaccine status and travel/refugee route, where appropriate, is critical, and should be documented. In addition, isolates should be characterized using high resolution typing, in order to identify transmissions and outbreaks. In recent years, whole genome sequencing (WGS) has become the gold standard of high-resolution typing methods, allowing detailed investigations of pathogen transmissions. De-centralized sequencing strategies with redundancy in sequencing capacities, followed by data exchange may be a valuable future option, especially since WGS becomes more available and portable. In this context, the sharing of sequence data, using public available platforms, is essential. A close interaction between microbiology laboratories, treating physicians, refugee centers, social workers, and public health officials is a key element in successful management of suspected outbreaks. Analyzing bacterial isolates at reference centers may further help to provide more specialized microbiological techniques and to standardize information, but this is also more time consuming during an outbreak. Centralized communication strategies between public health agencies and laboratories helps considerably in establishing and coordinating effective surveillance and infection control. We review the current literature on high-resolution typing of C. diphtheriae and share our own experience with the coordination of a Swiss-German outbreak.

show abstract

Corynebacterium diphtheriae in a free-roaming red fox: case report and historical review on diphtheria in animals

Cited by 16 publications

References 35 publications

Tox -positive Corynebacterium ulcerans in hedgehogs, Germany

Tox -positive Corynebacterium ulcerans in hedgehogs, Germany

Assessing the Genetic Diversity of Austrian Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates, 2011 to 2019

Whole Genome Sequencing for Surveillance of Diphtheria in Low Incidence Settings

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About