Septicemic invasive <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> infection in a cynomolgus monkey (<i>Macaca fascicularis</i>) with severe diffused suppurative meningoencephalitis

Abstract

A 2-year-old male cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) showed neurological symptoms during quarantine for importation into Japan, and was euthanized due to poor prognosis. Gross anatomical examination revealed a hemorrhagic lesion around the lateral ventricle in the cerebrum. Histologically, severe diffused suppurative meningitis and ventriculitis were detected with numerous Gram-negative bacilli in the cerebrum. Immunohistochemically, the bacilli were positively stained with an antibody against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The bacterium was isolated from the liver, and it was confirmed to be K. pneumoniae by 16S rDNA sequencing. The isolate displayed a hypermucoviscosity phenotype, was positive for the rmpA and k2A genes, and demonstrated multidrug resistance. These results suggest that invasive K. pneumoniae can cause septicemic infection, characterized by severe diffused suppurative meningoencephalitis in monkeys.

Ventriculitis Associated with Invasive <italic>Klebsiella Pneumoniae</italic> Syndrome: A Case Report

“…Hypervirulent strains causing IKPS are known to have specific genes, rmpA (a regulator of the mucoid phenotype) and magA (mucoviscosity-associated gene A) which are exclusive for capsule serotype K1 and K2 4,6) . These genes are responsible for hypermucoviscosity of the capsule, making it resistant to phagocytosis 3) .…”

“…These genes are responsible for hypermucoviscosity of the capsule, making it resistant to phagocytosis 3) . Determination of hypermucoviscosity is based on a positive string test in which a bacterial colony on an agar plate can be stretched into viscous string of over 5mm in length with an inoculation needle 4) .…”

Fatal suppurative meningoencephalitis caused by <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in two calves

“…It is usually present in the upper respiratory tract of cattle and is isolated from the nasal cavity [ 5 ] or tracheobronchial lavage samples [ 11 ]. Moreover, K. pneumoniae may cause systemic infections, such as septicemia in humans [ 18 , 23 ] and pigs [ 3 ] and meningoencephalitis in humans [ 29 , 30 ] and cynomolgus monkey [ 14 ]. Although Histophilus somni [ 21 ] and Listeria monocytogenes [ 22 ] conventionally cause infectious meningoencephalitis in cattle, neonatal bacterial suppurative meningitis (NBSM) is sporadically caused by Streptococcus bovis [ 28 ], Mannheimia spp.…”

“…1 calf suffered from sepsis. K. pneumoniae conventionally causes mastitis in cattle [ 6 , 24 ], however, it sometimes causes septic infection in neonatal and elderly humans [ 23 , 29 , 30 ], pigs [ 3 ], and cynomolgus monkeys [ 14 ]. Although it has been reported that K. oxytoca causes meningitis in a calf [ 26 ], to the best of our knowledge, septic infections of K. pneumoniae , including meningoencephalitis, have not been reported in cattle, meaning that our study is the first to report an association between K. pneumoniae and meningoencephalitis.…”

Klebsiella pneumoniae infection secondary to bovine viral diarrhea in two prematurely born calves

“…Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae is a gram-negative, aerobic, nonmotile bacillus of the family Enterobacteriaceae [4]. The bacterium exists widely in surface water, sewage, soil, plants, and the mucosal surfaces of mammals.…”