Infection of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) with Ichthyophonus-like Organisms in Virginia

Ware, Joy L.; Viverette, Cathy; Kleopfer, John D.; Pletcher, Leeanna; Massey, Davis; Wright, A. S.

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-44.1.174

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Free mature schizonts were occasionally found in the gill chamber, suggesting that these stages or subsequent infective stages are released outside the host. This observation of organ- (Herman 1984, Green et al 1995, Raffel et al 2006, Ware et al 2008, Sherman et al 2009, Glenney et al 2010). In the USA, 2 presumptive ichthyophonid cases leading to the death of adult bullfrogs and wood frogs were reported in a review article by Green et al (2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…are mesomycetozoean ichthyophonid parasites of fish (Cavalier-Smith 1998, Mendoza et al 2002, Adl et al 2012, Glockling et al 2013) that have also been reported but not definitively identified and characterized in amphibians. In amphibians, ichthyophonid-like infections (Herman 1984, Ware et al 2008, Rowley et al 2013 are typically found in the skeletal muscle and connective tissue, where they can cause granulomatous myositis (Green et al 1995, Mikaelian et al 2000, with occasional debilitation and emaciation causing mortality and morbidity (Green et al 2002, Densmore & Green 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neurotropic mesomycetozoean-like infection in larvae of the southern toad Anaxyrus terrestris in Florida, USA

Kiryu

Landsberg²

2015

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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As part of a state-wide multispecies survey of amphibian diseases, sampling was conducted at Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida, USA, on 15 April 2011. Gross examination of southern toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) larvae was unremarkable, but infections by a mesomycetozoean-like organism were observed in longitudinally sectioned routine haematoxylin and eosin-stained histologic slides. In 100% of the sectioned specimens examined (n = 5), a high density of the organism, representing several developmental stages, was found in the central nervous system, mainly in the spinal cord, brain, retina and optic nerve. No host inflammatory responses were found to be associated with the parasitic infection. Free, mature schizonts were occasionally found in the gill chamber and, more commonly, in the dorsal roof area. No organisms were found in other organs examined histologically, i.e. liver, kidney, heart, alimentary tract, exocrine pancreas and skeletal muscles. Presumptive mesomycetozoean ichthyophonids in anurans are usually reported to be pathogenic, especially affecting skeletal muscle tissue and causing death. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a similar organism infecting primarily the central nervous system in an amphibian. KEY WORDS: Mesomycetozoean-like · Southern toad · Amphibian · Central nervous system · LarvaResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Dis Aquat Org 113: 157-162, 2015 and emaciation causing mortality and morbidity (Green et al. 2002, Densmore & Green 2007.Lacking molecular data for confirmation, we tentatively assigned the parasites infecting southern toads to the Mesomycetozoea, possibly in the Order Ich thyo phonida, based on comparable morphology of other infections by these organisms in amphibians and fish. Herein we report a case study of an ap parently unusual, nonpathogenic organotropism for these organisms using descriptive terms for piscine Ichthyo phonus stages as proposed by Kocan (2013), and attempt to classify the cell stage types based upon size and morphology. MATERIALS AND METHODS SamplingWhen sampling in ponds at the Archbold Biological Station (Venus, FL), we used 4.8 mm mesh (3/16 inch) dip nets (Model HDD-2, Memphis Net and Twine) to collect amphibian larvae (n = 5) for histopathology. At each pond, live larval specimens were immediately transferred into a Ziploc ® bag or a plastic bucket of pond water, sorted by species and processed onsite. Dip nets, buckets, boots and other field gear were sprayed with 3% chlorine bleach following recommended disinfection procedures (Phillott et al. 2010). Necropsy and histopathologyLive larvae were euthanized with 200 mg l −1 tricane methanesulfonate (Tricane S, Western Chemical) buffered with 400 mg l −1 sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 , Fisher Scientific) in pond water. Following anaesthesia, digital callipers were used to measure specimens (snout-to-vent length [SVL]) to the nearest 0.1 mm. Then, a midventral longitudinal incision was made to allow the fixative to penetrate i...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotropic mesomycetozoean-like infection in larvae of the southern toad Anaxyrus terrestris in Florida, USA

Kiryu

Landsberg²

2015

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…Therefore, lack of granulomatous inflammation in our case appears not to be completely de pendent on the influence of mycolactone and esxA and esxB genes. (Migaki & Frye 1975, Ware et al 2008, Martel et al 2012. A case of novel Chlamydiaceae disease in salamanders re vealed severe hepatitis characterized by abundant me lanomacrophages and marked infiltration of granulo cytes (Martel et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(e.g. Godwin & Rosenthal 2014), but several case reports of salamanders have also demonstrated normal in flammatory res ponse in association with bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections (Migaki & Frye 1975, Ware et al 2008, Martel et al 2012. A case of novel Chlamydiaceae disease in salamanders re vealed severe hepatitis characterized by abundant me lanomacrophages and marked infiltration of granulo cytes (Martel et al 2012).…”

Section: Non-granulomatous Mycobacteriosis In 14 Hongmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a case of tiger salamanders Amby stoma tigrinum affected by an un identified brownpigmented fungus, granulomatous myositis was ob served (Mi gaki & Frye 1975). Furthermore, a case involving spotted salamanders A. maculatum also demonstrated granulomatous inflammation elicited by an Ichthyophonus-like orga nism (Ware et al 2008). These studies demonstrate that various in flamma tory responses in cluding gra nulo ma tous inflammation occur in salaman ders.…”

Section: Non-granulomatous Mycobacteriosis In 14 Hongmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mycolactone-producing Mycobacterium marinum infection in captive Hong Kong warty newts and pathological evidence of impaired host immune function

Chang²,

Pang³

et al. 2017

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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A mass mortality event of captive Hong Kong warty newts Paramesotriton hongkongensis with non-granulomatous necrotic lesions occurred in Taipei Zoo, Taiwan, in 2014. Clinically, the sick newts were lethargic and often covered with water mold Saprolegnia sp. on the skin of the body trunk or extremities. Predominant pathological findings were multifocal nongranulomatous necrotic lesions in the liver, spleen, and kidneys and severe skin infection with Sapro legnia sp., with deep invasion and involvement of underlying muscles. The possibility of ranavirus infection was ruled out by negative PCR results. Unexpectedly, abundant intralesional acid-fast positive bacilli were found in the necrotic lesions of the liver, spleen, and kidney in all 14 sick newts. PCR targeting the hsp65, ITS region, and partial 16S rRNA genes was performed, and the sequence identity from amplified amplicons of hsp65 and partial 16S rRNA genes was 100% identical to that of the corresponding gene fragment of Mycobacterium marinum. Further molecular investigations demonstrated that the current M. marinum was a mycolactone-producing myco bacterium with the presence of esxA/esxB genes. Mycolactone is a plasmid-encoded, immunosuppressive, and cytotoxic toxin. The possible immunosuppression phenomenon characterized by systemic non-granulomatous necrotic lesions caused by M. marinum and the unusual deep invasive infection caused by water mold might be associated with the immunosuppressive effect of mycolactone. Therefore, it should be noted that non-granulomatous necrotic lesions in amphibians can be caused not only by ranavirus infection but also by mycobacteriosis.KEY WORDS: Hong Kong warty newt · Mycobacterium marinum · Mycolactone · Saprolegnia sp. Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 123: [239][240][241][242][243][244][245][246][247][248][249] 2017 al. 2011). At least 72 amphibian species in 14 families are known to have been infected by ranaviruses, and host susceptibility varies among species and developmental stages (Miller et al. 2011). The histopathological lesions caused by ranaviruses are multifocal hemorrhagic and necrotic foci in multiple internal organs, and the renal tubular epithelium is also considered as one of the primary targets (Robert et al. 2005, Gray et al. 2009, Miller et al. 2011. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is the cau sative agent of chytridiomycosis, a potentially fatal epidermal infection in amphibians (Van Rooij et al. 2015). Recently, a new species of Batrachochytrium sp., named B. salamandrivorans, was discovered (Martel et al. 2014). This species, which most likely originated in Asia, is highly pathogenic to salamanders (Martel et al. 2014).Infectious diseases in amphibians such as mycobacteriosis, do not only affect ectothermic vertebrates, but can also cause disease in mammals, including humans (Densmore & Green 2007). Therefore, the zoonotic potential of some infectious diseases in amphibians and in exotic companion animals should not be overl...

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Health Monitoring for Laboratory Salamanders

Crim

Hart

2022

Methods in Molecular Biology

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Infection of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) with Ichthyophonus-like Organisms in Virginia

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Neurotropic mesomycetozoean-like infection in larvae of the southern toad Anaxyrus terrestris in Florida, USA

Neurotropic mesomycetozoean-like infection in larvae of the southern toad Anaxyrus terrestris in Florida, USA

Mycolactone-producing Mycobacterium marinum infection in captive Hong Kong warty newts and pathological evidence of impaired host immune function

Health Monitoring for Laboratory Salamanders

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