Isolation of Streptococcus agalactiae in a female llama (Lama glama) in South Tyrol (Italy)

Abstract

BackgroundStreptococcus agalactiae is pathogenic for both animals and humans. In dairy cattle it commonly causes mastitis, with great economic losses, and there is scientific evidence of mastitis, caseous lymphadenitis, contagious skin necrosis and purulent infections associated with S. agalactiae in camels (Camelus dromedarius) as well. In humans, it is a common component of the respiratory and gastrointestinal microflora, but it can also act as a pathogen, especially in elderly people and immunocompromised patients, as well as in pregrant women and newborns.Case presentationA 10-year old non-pregnant female llama (Lama glama) was conferred to the Institute for Animal Health Control, in Bolzano for necropsy after sudden death. The animal had not shown unusual behaviour and had a low to normal nutritional condition (body condition score 2/5). The breeder had reported a chronic suppurative subcutaneous infection in the intermandibular area, resistant to therapy (therapy unknown). After necropsy, several samples were processed for histological, bacteriological and parasitological examinations.ConclusionsThis report describes, to the best of our knowledge, the first isolation of S. agalactiae in llamas (Lama glama). The animal came from a herd that counts approximately 200 South American camelids (llamas, alpacas) along with several horses, chicken, rabbits, cats and dogs; this farm offers services, such as trekking and pet therapy activities.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1676-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gangrenous mastitis in dromedary camels in UAE caused by Streptococcus agalactiae

“…The correlation between mastitis and Streptococcus agalactiae is well-documented. It has been reported that Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated from a healthy or sub-clinically infected camels as well in the pre-milking cows heifers [5,12,14,20,21], isolated from lactating camels (Camelus dromedarius) with mastitis [22], and isolated from a female llama (Lama glama) with chronic suppurative subcutaneous infection [23].…”

Streptococcus vicugnae sp. nov., isolated from faeces of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and cattle (Bos taurus), Streptococcus zalophi sp. nov., and Streptococcus pacificus sp. nov., isolated from respiratory tract of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus)

“…Some Streptococcus species have been also reported in South American camelids (alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and llamas (Lama glama)), e.g. S. pluranimalium [18], S. agalactiae [19], S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus [4,5], and S. bovis biotype I [7], the latter species has been reclassified in 2003 as Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp.…”

“…To our best knowledge Streptococcus spp. of alpacas and California sea lions have not yet been well investigated and only a few reports have been published [4,5,7,[16][17][18][19]. In this study, we report the discovering of three novel Streptococcus species, which were isolated from faeces of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and cattle (Bos taurus), and from respiratory tract of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, including sequence analysis of the ribosomal rRNA genes, multiple proteincoding housekeeping genes, genome sequence analysis and phylogeny, and description of their phenotypic features.…”

GBS-SBG - GBS Serotyping by Genome Sequencing

“…Recently, GBS has been shown to cause foodborne infection associated with the consumption of raw fish in otherwise healthy adults in Singapore (and likely throughout Southeast Asia) (12)(13)(14). Accordingly, GBS is also well known to colonize and infect (often resulting in severe invasive disease) multiple other species, including fish (where it has a large impact on aquaculture) as well as other mammals, amphibians, and reptiles (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). As an important pathogen of humans, cows, and fish, GBS is therefore of concern for public health, economic, and zoonotic reasons.…”