Isolation and characterization of two hemolytic phenotypes of Vibrio damsela associated with a fatal wound infection

Abstract

Two hemolytic phenotypes of Vibrio damsela, isolated from the tissue of a patient with a fatal wound infection, were characterized. The patient had underlying disease, and the wound was associated with an injury inflicted during the handling of a catfish. The phenotypes were morphologically and biochemically similar except for their lecithinase, lipase, and hemolytic activities. When grown on rabbit blood agar, one phenotype (LZ) produced a large zone of hemolysis (10 mm) around the colony, whereas the other type (SZ) produced only a small zone (1 to 2 mm). On sheep blood agar, the differences in hemolytic activity were more subtle. By a modified CAMP test in which V. damsela was streaked perpendicularly to Staphylococcus aureus, it was determined that a factor elaborated by the LZ phenotype (but not the SZ phenotype) protected sheep erythrocytes from the hemolysis normally caused by S. aureus toxins. Cell-free filtrates of broth cultures of each phenotype had the same effects on erythrocytes as did the organisms themselves.

Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, an emerging pathogen in Danish rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), mariculture

“…In addition to its fish pathogenic properties, P. damselae subsp. damselae is known to be potentially pathogenic to marine mammals, such as not only dolphins but also to humans who contact the bacterium by bathing and swimming (Clarridge & Zighelboim‐Daum 1985; Takahashi, Miya, Kimura, Yamane, Arakawa & Fujii 2008). Therefore , P. damselae subsp .…”

“…damselae (Trüper & De’Clari 1997). It has mainly been described as a cause of mortality in turbot and a number of other fish species in the Mediterranean (Fouz, Larsen, Nielsen, Barja & Toranzo 1992; Labella, Vida, Alonso, Infante, Cardenas, Lopez‐Romalde, Manchado & Borrego 2006) and it may also be pathogenic to mammals, including humans (Clarridge & Zighelboim‐Daum 1985). Apart from two reports (Pedersen, Dalsgaard & Larsen 1997a; Pedersen et al.…”

Antibiotic resistance and molecular typing ofPhotobacterium damselaesubsp.damselae, isolated from seafood

“…P. damselae subsp. damselae has been reported to cause wound infections and fatal necrotizing fasciitis in humans (Clarridge and Zighelboim-Daum 1985;Tang and Wong 1999;Barber and Swygert 2000;Yamane et al 2004;Aigbivhalu and Maraqa 2009). The pathogenicity of this organism is due to the production of toxins.…”

Granulomatous lesions in a wild mullet population from the eastern Ligurian Sea (Italy): mycobacteriosis vs. pseudotuberculosis

“…piscicida, the causative agent of pseudotuberculosis or fish pasteurellosis, has been described as a cause of mortality in turbot and a number of other fish species in the Mediterranean (Fouz et al 1992;Labella et al 2006), with the subsp. damselae thought to be pathogenic in mammals, including humans (Clarridge & Zighelboim-Daum 1985). To date, Mycobacterium spp.…”