When Zoonotic Organisms Cross Over—Trueperella pyogenes Endocarditis Presenting as a Septic Embolic Stroke

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with numerous pathogens as culprits. We present a case of IE that evolved to a septic embolic stroke caused by an extremely rare bacteria Trueperella (T.) pyogenes that primarily infects non-humans. In contrast to most cases occurring outside the United States (US), this is the second case of T. pyogenes-associated endocarditis and the first to present as a stroke in the US. T. pyogenes has undergone numerous taxonomic revisions over the years since first being reported and characterized as Bacillus pyogenes in the 1800s. T. pyogenes is a zoonotic infection, and despite advancements in chemotaxonomic detection methods, Trueperella is often misidentified and under-diagnosed. Although epidemiological data is scarce, T. pyogenes infections have the propensity to cause endocarditis, and we aim to summarize all isolated reports of T. pyogenes infections that have been reported in the literature thus far.

Identification of the novel potential pathogen Trueperella pecoris with interspecies significance by LAMP diagnostics

“…In addition, the presence of T. pecoris in the bovine mammary gland suggests that human infection through consumption of contaminated milk should also be considered, as the human pathogenic properties of Trueperella spp. are frequently described in the literature 14 , 15 However, the available data do not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn as to whether T. pecoris actually occurs as a disease-causing agent. In this study, a detection system was developed that enables specific diagnostics in clinical specimens and thus helps to generate epidemiological data and to clarify the pathogenic significance of the bacterium.…”

The Genetic Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance of Pyogenic Pathogens Isolated from Porcine Lymph Nodes

“…Pathogens isolated from lymph nodes in pigs may be zoonotic, including S. aureus [ 30 ], S. dysgalactiae [ 31 , 32 ], S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus [ 11 ], R. equi [ 33 , 34 ] and T. pyogenes [ 35 ]. Not only pork consumers but also abattoir workers, veterinarians and other industry workers who come into direct contact with infected tissues are particularly vulnerable to infection from these microorganisms.…”

Molecular Basis for Luteolin as a Natural TatD DNase Inhibitor in Trueperella pyogenes

“…pyogenes -induced infections can decrease the production of meat and milk yield, followed by generating substantial economic losses [ 4 , 5 ]. Infections caused by T. pyogenes are considered zoonotic diseases and often occur in immunosuppressed individuals [ 6 , 7 ]. Recently, a report showed that T. pyogenes could form biofilm and the infection expansion could even spread from animal to human [ 8 ].…”