A dangerous hobby? Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia most probably acquired from freshwater aquarium fish handling

A Review of the Industrial Importance, Common Bacterial Diseases, and Zoonotic Risks of Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Background: The ever-increasing popularity of home aquariums, most often involving freshwater varieties, has exploded in recent years partially due to the Coronavirus pandemic and related to stay-at-home public health precautions for social distancing. With this ever-increasing popularity of aquariums as a hobby, and whether this involves freshwater or marine fish species, a number of important economic, ecological, and public health issues arise for both fish and hobbyists alike. Materials and Methods: This review highlights the history and genesis of aquariums as both a hobby and an important economic factor (industrial, commercial) for many countries on a global basis. Types of aquarium fish are described, and culture conditions leading to homeostasis in aquatic environments are detailed. When these conditions are not met and aquatic systems are out of balance, the disease can result due to stressed fish. Results: Major bacterial diseases associated with freshwater aquarium fish are reviewed, as are potential human infections related to the care and maintenance of home aquaria. Conclusion: Besides, scientific information was also combined with the false facts of hobbyists who tried to identify and treat diseases during an outbreak in the aquarium. Finally, unresolved issues and important misconceptions regarding the field are discussed.

An update on novel taxa and revised taxonomic status of bacteria isolated from non-domestic animals described in 2022

Numbers of new and revised microbial taxa are continuously expanding, and the rapid accumulation of novel bacterial species is challenging to keep up with in the best of circumstances. With that in mind, following the template of reports on prokaryotic species isolated from humans, this is now the second publication summarizing new and revised taxa in non-domestic animal species in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. The majority of new taxa were obtained as part of programs to identify bacteria from mucosal surfaces and the gastrointestinal tract from healthy wildlife. A few notable bacteria included new Erysipelothrix spp. from mammalian and aquatic sources and a novel Bartonella spp. isolated from a rodent, both of which could be considered members of emerging and re-emerging genera with pathogenic potential in humans and animals.

[Sacroiliitis with Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae revealing tricuspid endocarditis, the first case reported on the Guiana Shield: clinical case and review of the literature]

We report here an atypical case of acute sacroiliitis caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae revealing tricuspid endocarditis in a 53-year-old woman without medical history. She was admitted to Cayenne hospital because of intense right hip and thigh pain, associated with fever. A right sacroiliitis was visible on the computed tomography (CT) scan, confirmed on MRI. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large mobile tricuspid vegetation. Blood cultures were positive for E. rhusiopathiae. CT scan showed pulmonary alveolar opacities, consistent with septic emboli. Clinical improvement was obtained under ceftriaxone followed by ciprofloxacin for 6 weeks of treatment. We present a review of bone and joint infections caused by E. rhusiopathiae. So far, not a single case has been reported in Latin America.

Clinical manifestations, associated diseases, diagnosis, and treatment of human infections caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a bacillus that can cause cutaneous and systemic diseases in humans. Studies on the infection caused by this bacterium have been mostly done as case reports. This study aimed to systematically review E. rhusiopathiae infection cases published over the last 20 years.

METHODS

Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched using appropriate keywords to find relevant studies. After assessment of the studies, 57 case reports which surveyed 62 patients were included and their data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The majority of cases were adult men living in high-income countries with an animal-related job and/or a history of animal contacts. The number of cases has increased in recent years. The main underlying diseases that were associated with E. rhusiopathiae infections include hypertension, diabetes, and alcoholism. The most frequent presentations were fever, pain, local skin lesions, and heart failure/endocarditis. Two patients died, while 60 patients were recovered following antibiotic therapy, mainly with penicillin and ceftriaxone.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, the results indicated that E. rhusiopathiae usually infects people who come into contact with animals and causes mild to severe local or systemic infections, especially in those who have underlying diseases. Therefore, accurate and early diagnosis of E. rhusiopathiae infections by setting up appropriate laboratory tests is required.

Updates on Selected Emerging Infectious Diseases of Ornamental Fish

Emerging infectious diseases of ornamental fish are discussed with special focus on clinical relevance, detection, and treatment, where applicable. Important emerging infectious diseases of fish include goldfish herpesvirus, koi herpesvirus, carp edema virus, Erysipelothrix, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Edwardseilla piscicida, and Francisella. Some diseases are more species or genus specific, but many emerging diseases do not seem to have a species preference and affect a variety of species worldwide. Proper husbandry and biosecurity with a disease detection plan for ornamental fish is essential to monitor and prevent future outbreaks.

Fate of sulfonamide resistance genes during sludge anaerobic fermentation: Roles of sludge components and fermentation pHs

This study assessed potential effects of two neglected factors (sludge components and pH values) on the fate of sulfonamide (sul) resistance genes during sludge anaerobic fermentation. It was found that sludge with different contents of protein, carbohydrate and humic acid caused no significant changes in the abundances of sul genes. Nevertheless, sul genes were sensitive to pHs (4-10), and the maximum attenuations (0.8-1.1 log unit) were obtained at pH 10. Mechanism exploration indicated that pHs drove the community evolution of sulfonamide resistant bacteria (SRB), most of which were affiliated to the pH-enriched phyla but not the pH-enriched dominant genera. In addition, the relative abundances of SRB were decreased under both acidic and alkaline conditions. Furthermore, the abundances of intI 1 as well as the sul-carrying abilities of plasmid and extracellular DNA were all reduced at test pHs, indicating that the potential of horizontal gene transfer among bacteria was restricted.

Approach to Aquatic Skin Infections

Aquatic-based infections can present a treatment challenge for primary care physicians because of the likely polymicrobial nature of the infection and the possibility of uncommon pathogenic organisms. Although Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species that colonize the skin are the most common etiologic agents associated with saltwater and freshwater skin and soft tissue infections, other significant pathogens can include Vibrio, Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, Erysipelothrix, and Mycobacterium. Early detection and appropriate management of aquatic infections can significantly decrease morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the pathophysiology, presentation, and management for the most common water-borne pathogens causing skin and soft tissue infections.