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Araújo MRB, Ramos JN, de Oliveira Sant'Anna L, Bokermann S, Santos MBN, Mattos-Guaraldi AL, Azevedo V, Prates FD, Rodrigues DLN, Aburjaile FF, Sacchi CT, Campos KR, Alvim LB, Vieira VV, Camargo CH, Dos Santos LS. Phenotypic and molecular characterization and complete genome sequence of a Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain isolated from cutaneous infection in an immunized individual. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:1325-1334. [PMID: 37597133 PMCID: PMC10485220 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01086-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is an infectious disease potentially fatal that constitutes a threat to global health security, with possible local and systemic manifestations that result mainly from the production of diphtheria toxin (DT). In the present work, we report a case of infection by Corynebacterium diphtheriae in a cutaneous lesion of a fully immunized individual and provided an analysis of the complete genome of the isolate. The clinical isolate was first identified by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. The commercial strip system and mPCR performed phenotypic and genotypic characterization, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined by the disk diffusion method. Additionally, genomic DNA was sequenced and analyzed for species confirmation and sequence type (ST) determination. Detection of resistance and virulence genes was performed by comparisons against ResFinder and VFDB databases. The isolate was identified as a nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae biovar Gravis strain. Its genome presented a size of 2.46 Mbp and a G + C content of 53.5%. Ribosomal Multilocus Sequence Typing (rMLST) allowed the confirmation of species as C. diphtheriae with 100% identity. DDH in silico corroborated this identification. Moreover, MLST analyses revealed that the isolate belongs to ST-536. No resistance genes were predicted or mutations detected in antimicrobial-related genes. On the other hand, virulence genes, mostly involved in iron uptake and adherence, were found. Presently, we provided sufficient clinical data regarding the C. diphtheriae cutaneous infection in addition to the phenotypic and genomic data of the isolate. Our results indicate a possible circulation of ST-536 in Brazil, causing cutaneous infection. Considering that cases of C. diphtheriae infections, as well as diphtheria outbreaks, have still been reported in several regions of the world, studies focusing on taxonomic analyzes and predictions of resistance genes may help to improve the diagnosis and to monitor the propagation of resistant clones. In addition, they can contribute to understanding the association between variation in genetic factors and resistance to antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Roberto Batista Araújo
- Operational Technical Nucleus (Microbiology), Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Nunes Ramos
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lincoln de Oliveira Sant'Anna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Bokermann
- Center of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Luiza Mattos-Guaraldi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Diniz Prates
- Operational Technical Nucleus (Microbiology), Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Diego Lucas Neres Rodrigues
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luige Biciati Alvim
- Operational Technical Nucleus (Research and Development), Hermes Pardini Institute, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Verônica Viana Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Medical Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Louisy Sanches Dos Santos
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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2
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Xiaoli L, Peng Y, Williams MM, Lawrence M, Cassiday PK, Aneke JS, Pawloski LC, Shil SR, Rashid MO, Bhowmik P, Weil LM, Acosta AM, Shirin T, Habib ZH, Tondella ML, Weigand MR. Genomic characterization of cocirculating Corynebacterium diphtheriae and non-diphtheritic Corynebacterium species among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, 2017-2019. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001085. [PMID: 37712831 PMCID: PMC10569726 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory diphtheria is a serious infection caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and disease transmission mainly occurs through respiratory droplets. Between 2017 and 2019, a large diphtheria outbreak among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals densely settled in Bangladesh was investigated. Here we utilized whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize recovered isolates of C. diphtheriae and two co-circulating non-diphtheritic Corynebacterium (NDC) species - C. pseudodiphtheriticum and C. propinquum. C. diphtheriae isolates recovered from all 53 positive cases in this study were identified as toxigenic biovar mitis, exhibiting intermediate resistance to penicillin, and formed four phylogenetic clusters circulating among multiple refugee camps. Additional sequenced isolates collected from two patients showed co-colonization with non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae biovar gravis, one of which exhibited decreased susceptibility to the first-line antibiotics and harboured a novel 23-kb multidrug resistance plasmid. Results of phylogenetic reconstruction and virulence-related gene contents of the recovered NDC isolates indicated they were likely commensal organisms, though 80.4 %(45/56) were not susceptible to erythromycin, and most showed high minimum inhibition concentrations against azithromycin. These results demonstrate the high resolution with which WGS can aid molecular investigation of diphtheria outbreaks, through the quantification of bacterial genetic relatedness, as well as the detection of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance markers among case isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzi Xiaoli
- ASRT, Inc, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yanhui Peng
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Margaret M. Williams
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marlon Lawrence
- Laboratory Leadership Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Public Health Laboratory, Virgin Islands Department of Health, US Virgin Islands, USA
| | - Pamela K. Cassiday
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Janessa S. Aneke
- IHRC, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Université de Paris Cité, Learning Planet Institute, Paris, France
| | - Lucia C. Pawloski
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sadhona Rani Shil
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mamun Or Rashid
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Proshanta Bhowmik
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lauren M. Weil
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anna M. Acosta
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Present address: Director of Medical and Clinical Affairs, GSK Vaccines, USA
| | - Tahmina Shirin
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zakir Hossain Habib
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research, National Influenza Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M. Lucia Tondella
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael R. Weigand
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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3
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Elsinga J, van Meijeren D, Reubsaet F. Surveillance of diphtheria in the Netherlands between 2000-2021: cutaneous diphtheria supersedes the respiratory form. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:420. [PMID: 37344769 PMCID: PMC10283224 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08388-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diphtheria is a severe respiratory or cutaneous infectious disease, caused by exotoxin producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. Diphtheria is once again prevalent due to breakdown of immunisation programmes, social disruption and unrest. AIM This study describes the notified diphtheria cases in the Netherlands between 2000-2021 and isolates that were sent to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). METHODS File investigation was performed including all notified cases and isolates of C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis that were tested for toxin production using a toxin-PCR and Elek test. An exploratory review was performed to understand transmission in populations with a high vaccination uptake. RESULTS Eighteen diphtheria notifications were made with confirmed toxigenic C. diphtheriae (n = 9) or ulcerans (n = 9) between 2000 and 2021. Seventeen (94.4%) presented with a cutaneous infection. All cases with a suspected source abroad (n = 8) concerned infection with C. diphtheriae. In contrast, 9/10 cases infected in the Netherlands were caused by C. ulcerans, a zoonosis. Secondary transmission was not reported. Isolates of C. ulcerans sent to the RIVM produced more often the diphtheria exotoxin (11/31; 35%) than C. diphtheriae (7/89; 7.9%). CONCLUSION Both human-to-human transmission of C. diphtheriae and animal-to-human transmission of C. ulcerans rarely occurs in the Netherlands. Cases mainly present with a cutaneous infection. Travel-related cases remain a risk for transmission to populations with low vaccination coverage, highlighting the importance of immunization and diphtheria control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelte Elsinga
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Dimphey van Meijeren
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Reubsaet
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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4
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Arcari G, Hennart M, Badell E, Brisse S. Multidrug-resistant toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae sublineage 453 with two novel resistance genomic islands. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen000923. [PMID: 36748453 PMCID: PMC9973851 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial therapy is important for case management of diphtheria, but knowledge on the emergence of multidrug-resistance in Corynebacterium diphtheriae is scarce. We report on the genomic features of two multidrug-resistant toxigenic isolates sampled from wounds in France 3 years apart. Both isolates were resistant to spiramycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, kanamycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Genes ermX, cmx, aph(3')-Ib, aph(6)-Id, aph(3')-Ic, aadA1, dfrA15, sul1, cmlA, cmlR and tet(33) were clustered in two genomic islands, one consisting of two transposons and one integron, the other being flanked by two IS6100 insertion sequences. One isolate additionally presented mutations in gyrA and rpoB and was resistant to ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. Both isolates belonged to sublineage 453 (SL453), together with 25 isolates from 11 other countries (https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/diphtheria/). SL453 is a cosmopolitan toxigenic sublineage of C. diphtheriae, a subset of which acquired multidrug resistance. Even though penicillin, amoxicillin and erythromycin, recommended as the first line in the treatment of diphtheria, remain active, surveillance of diphtheria should consider the risk of dissemination of multidrug-resistant strains and their genetic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Arcari
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Mélanie Hennart
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Collège doctoral, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Edgar Badell
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
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5
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Prygiel M, Polak M, Mosiej E, Wdowiak K, Formińska K, Zasada AA. New Corynebacterium Species with the Potential to Produce Diphtheria Toxin. Pathogens 2022; 11:1264. [PMID: 36365015 PMCID: PMC9693595 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Only three Corynebacterium species are known to produce a lethal exotoxin called diphtheria toxin. These are C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. The diphtheria toxin gene (tox) is carried in a family of closely related corynebacteriophages and therefore the toxin can be produced only through lysogenisation, in which the corynephage encoding tox is stably inserted into the chromosome. However, 'nontoxigenic tox gene-bearing' (NTTB) strains, which are genotypically tox-positive but do not express the protein, have been described. The emergence of NTTB strains was first observed during the 1990s diphtheria epidemic in Eastern Europe and nowadays such isolates have been detected in many countries in the world. Recently, novel species of Corynebacterium genus have been described which might have the potential of producing the diphtheria toxin due to the possession of the diphtheria toxin gene but it has not produced toxin in laboratory tests. The circulation of NTTB strains could be related to the increased risk for diphtheria disease arising from the risk of re-emerging toxin expression. The article presents the mechanism of diphtheria toxin expression and action, recently described novel species of NTTB corynebacteria as well as the taxonomic changes within the C. diphtheriae group.
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6
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Whole genome sequence of a non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain from a hospital in southeastern China. BMC Genom Data 2021; 22:42. [PMID: 34656079 PMCID: PMC8520229 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sporadic cases of infection with non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae) isolates have been reported in regions covered by the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis vaccine, but no information describing the whole genome of non-toxigenic strains collected in China is available. Therefore, in this work, the complete genome of a non-toxigenic strain of C. diphtheriae from a hospital located in southeastern China was performed. Results This non-toxigenic isolate belonged to the belfanti biotype and possessed a unique ST (assigned as ST799 in pubMLST). ErmX was present in the genome sequence and this isolate owned the resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin. Genes coding for virulence factors involved in adherence, iron-uptake and regulation of diphtheria toxin were also found. Two genes were involved in the interaction between pathogen and host. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that this newly isolated strain was similar to the strain NCTC10838, CMCNS703 and CHUV2995. Conclusion Non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae strain contained virulence factors, thus it is able to cause an infectious disease, aspect that could be clarified by performing the whole genome sequencing analysis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-021-00998-9.
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7
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Marosevic DV, Berger A, Kahlmeter G, Payer SK, Hörmansdorfer S, Sing A. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans in Germany 2011-17. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:2885-2893. [PMID: 32747952 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diphtheria is mainly caused by diphtheria-toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans. The recommended first-line antibiotic is penicillin or erythromycin, but reliable susceptibility data are scarce. OBJECTIVES To define WT MIC distributions of 12 antimicrobial agents and provide data for the determination of tentative epidemiological cut-off values (TECOFFs) for potentially toxigenic corynebacteria and to evaluate the potential usefulness of a gradient test (Etest) for susceptibility testing of penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin. METHODS For the 421 human or veterinary isolates from the period 2011-17, MICs of 12 antimicrobial agents were determined. Etest performance was evaluated for penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin. RESULTS MIC distributions were characterized and TECOFFs could be set for 11 out of 24 antibiotic/species combinations. The current EUCAST clinical breakpoints, predominantly determined for Corynebacterium species other than C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans, divide the WT MIC distributions of penicillin and clindamycin, thereby making reproducible susceptibility testing of C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans difficult. For erythromycin, 4% of C. diphtheriae and 2% of C. ulcerans had MICs higher than those for WT isolates. Phenotypically detectable resistance to other antibiotics was rare. Etest underestimated MICs of penicillin and lower concentrations needed to be included for erythromycin, while for clindamycin the Etest was not a good surrogate method. CONCLUSIONS MIC distributions based on reference broth microdilution for potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium spp. were developed. For five and six agents, TECOFFs were suggested for C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans, respectively, but for Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis the number of isolates was too low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durdica V Marosevic
- Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany.,European Programme for Public Health Microbiology Training (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anja Berger
- Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany.,Consultant Laboratory for Diphtheria, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Gunnar Kahlmeter
- Clinical Microbiology and the EUCAST Development Laboratory, Central Hospital, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Sarah Katharina Payer
- Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Hörmansdorfer
- Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Sing
- Public Health Microbiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany.,Consultant Laboratory for Diphtheria, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
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8
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Will RC, Ramamurthy T, Sharma NC, Veeraraghavan B, Sangal L, Haldar P, Pragasam AK, Vasudevan K, Kumar D, Das B, Heinz E, Melnikov V, Baker S, Sangal V, Dougan G, Mutreja A. Spatiotemporal persistence of multiple, diverse clades and toxins of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1500. [PMID: 33686077 PMCID: PMC7940655 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21870-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is a respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Although the development of a toxin-based vaccine in the 1930s has allowed a high level of control over the disease, cases have increased in recent years. Here, we describe the genomic variation of 502 C. diphtheriae isolates across 16 countries and territories over 122 years. We generate a core gene phylogeny and determine the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and variation within the tox gene of 291 tox+ isolates. Numerous, highly diverse clusters of C. diphtheriae are observed across the phylogeny, each containing isolates from multiple countries, regions and time of isolation. The number of antimicrobial resistance genes, as well as the breadth of antibiotic resistance, is substantially greater in the last decade than ever before. We identified and analysed 18 tox gene variants, with mutations estimated to be of medium to high structural impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Will
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Balaji Veeraraghavan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Pradeep Haldar
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Agila Kumari Pragasam
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Karthick Vasudevan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dhirendra Kumar
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
- Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Bhabatosh Das
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
| | - Eva Heinz
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vyacheslav Melnikov
- Gabrichevsky Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Stephen Baker
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Vartul Sangal
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ankur Mutreja
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India.
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Zou J, Chorlton SD, Romney MG, Payne M, Lawson T, Wong A, Champagne S, Ritchie G, Lowe CF. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlates of Penicillin Susceptibility in Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, British Columbia, Canada, 2015-2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:97-103. [PMID: 31855139 PMCID: PMC6924910 DOI: 10.3201/eid2601.191241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2015, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) updated its breakpoints for penicillin susceptibility in Corynebacterium species from <1 mg/L to <0.12 mg/L. We assessed the effect of this change on C. diphtheriae susceptibility reported at an inner city, tertiary care center in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, during 2015–2018 and performed whole-genome sequencing to investigate phenotypic and genotypic resistance to penicillin. We identified 44/45 isolates that were intermediately susceptible to penicillin by the 2015 breakpoint, despite meeting previous CLSI criteria for susceptibility. Sequencing did not reveal β-lactam resistance genes. Multilocus sequence typing revealed a notable predominance of sequence type 76. Overall, we saw no evidence of penicillin nonsusceptibility at the phenotypic or genotypic level in C. diphtheriae isolates from our institution. The 2015 CLSI breakpoint change could cause misclassification of penicillin susceptibility in C. diphtheriae isolates, potentially leading to suboptimal antimicrobial treatment selection.
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10
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Assessing the Genetic Diversity of Austrian Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates, 2011 to 2019. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 59:JCM.02529-20. [PMID: 33268541 PMCID: PMC8106727 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02529-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease with a high potential for reemergence. One of its causative agents is Corynebacterium diphtheriae, with some strains producing diphtheria toxin. From 2011 to 2019, 57 clinical C. diphtheriae strains were isolated in Austria, either from the respiratory tract or from skin infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of these C. diphtheriae isolates using whole-genome sequencing. Isolates were characterized by genome-wide comparisons using single nucleotide polymorphism analysis or core genome multilocus sequence typing and by searching sequence data for antimicrobial resistance genes and genes involved in diphtheria toxin production. The genetic diversity among the isolates was high, with no clear distribution over time or place. Corynebacterium belfantii isolates were separated from other strains and were strongly associated with respiratory infections (odds ratio [OR] = 57). Two clusters, limited in time and space, were identified. Almost 40% of strains carried resistance genes against tetracycline or sulfonamides, mostly from skin infections. Microbiological tests showed that 55% of isolates were resistant to penicillin but did not carry genes conferring β-lactam resistance. A diphtheria toxin gene with no nonsynonymous mutation was found in three isolates only. This study showed that sequencing can provide valuable information complementing routine microbiological and epidemiological investigations. It allowed us to identify unknown clusters, evaluate antimicrobial resistance more broadly, and support toxigenicity results obtained by PCR. For these reasons, C. diphtheriae surveillance could strongly benefit from the routine implementation of whole-genome sequencing.
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Rosana Y, Prilandari LI, Ajisman R, Hartono TS, Yasmon A. Detection of toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae from throat swabs of diphtheria patients using duplex real-time PCR. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY 2020; 12:508-515. [PMID: 33613904 PMCID: PMC7884264 DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v12i6.5024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives Diphtheria is a potentially fatal disease caused by toxigenic bacterial infection, particularly from Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae). Isolation of C. diphtheriae is technically lacking in sensitivity, and Elek's test to detect toxin production has several difficulties associated with its application. Duplex real-time PCR to throat swab of suspected diphtheria patients can detect both bacteria and toxin-encoding genes simultaneously, faster, with higher sensitivity and specificity. Materials and Methods A total of 89 consecutive throat swabs from suspected diphtheria patients were collected from Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital, Jakarta, during 2018 to 2019. Two pairs of primers and probes, targeting the rpoB gene of C. diphtheriae and the A-subunit of the diphtheria toxin gene, were used in this study. Parameters including annealing temperature, concentration of primers and probes, inhibitors, cross-reaction and detection limit were all optimized. Elek's toxigenicity test and clinical data were analyzed for comparison. Results The optimum annealing temperature was 55°C. The concentrations of Cd primer, Tox primer, Cd probe and Tox probe were 0.4, 0.6, 0.5 and 0.625 µM, respectively. DNA elution and template volumes were 50 µL and 5 µL. The detection limit was 2 CFU/mL. No cross-reaction with other microorganisms was observed. Of the 89 samples, duplex real-time PCR gave better results than the standard test, with 19 (21.3%) and 10 (11.2%) patients diagnosed with diphtheria, respectively. Conclusion Duplex real-time PCR increases the rate of laboratory diagnosis of diphtheria, compared to the standard method to detect potentially toxigenic C. diphtheriae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeva Rosana
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Luh Inta Prilandari
- Department of Microbiology, Clinical Microbiologist Program, School of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ruhsyahadati Ajisman
- Department of Microbiology, Clinical Microbiologist Program, School of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Teguh Sarry Hartono
- Department of Microbiology, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Andi Yasmon
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
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12
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Hennart M, Panunzi LG, Rodrigues C, Gaday Q, Baines SL, Barros-Pinkelnig M, Carmi-Leroy A, Dazas M, Wehenkel AM, Didelot X, Toubiana J, Badell E, Brisse S. Population genomics and antimicrobial resistance in Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Genome Med 2020; 12:107. [PMID: 33246485 PMCID: PMC7694903 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-020-00805-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the agent of diphtheria, is a genetically diverse bacterial species. Although antimicrobial resistance has emerged against several drugs including first-line penicillin, the genomic determinants and population dynamics of resistance are largely unknown for this neglected human pathogen. Methods Here, we analyzed the associations of antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes, diphtheria toxin production, and genomic features in C. diphtheriae. We used 247 strains collected over several decades in multiple world regions, including the 163 clinical isolates collected prospectively from 2008 to 2017 in France mainland and overseas territories. Results Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple deep-branching sublineages, grouped into a Mitis lineage strongly associated with diphtheria toxin production and a largely toxin gene-negative Gravis lineage with few toxin-producing isolates including the 1990s ex-Soviet Union outbreak strain. The distribution of susceptibility phenotypes allowed proposing ecological cutoffs for most of the 19 agents tested, thereby defining acquired antimicrobial resistance. Penicillin resistance was found in 17.2% of prospective isolates. Seventeen (10.4%) prospective isolates were multidrug-resistant (≥ 3 antimicrobial categories), including four isolates resistant to penicillin and macrolides. Homologous recombination was frequent (r/m = 5), and horizontal gene transfer contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in multiple sublineages. Genome-wide association mapping uncovered genetic factors of resistance, including an accessory penicillin-binding protein (PBP2m) located in diverse genomic contexts. Gene pbp2m is widespread in other Corynebacterium species, and its expression in C. glutamicum demonstrated its effect against several beta-lactams. A novel 73-kb C. diphtheriae multiresistance plasmid was discovered. Conclusions This work uncovers the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in C. diphtheriae in the context of phylogenetic structure, biovar, and diphtheria toxin production and provides a blueprint to analyze re-emerging diphtheria. Supplementary information Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s13073-020-00805-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Hennart
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Collège doctoral, Sorbonne Université, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Leonardo G Panunzi
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Français de Bioinformatique, CNRS UMS 3601, Evry, France
| | - Carla Rodrigues
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | - Quentin Gaday
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université de Paris, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Sarah L Baines
- Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Annick Carmi-Leroy
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Melody Dazas
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Anne Marie Wehenkel
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université de Paris, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Didelot
- School of Life Sciences and Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Julie Toubiana
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France.,Department of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Edgar Badell
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France. .,Institut Pasteur, National Reference Center for Corynebacteria of the Diphtheriae Complex, Paris, France.
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13
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Husada D, Soegianto SDP, Kurniawati IS, Hendrata AP, Irawan E, Kartina L, Puspitasari D, Basuki PS, Ismoedijanto. First-line antibiotic susceptibility pattern of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Indonesia. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:1049. [PMID: 31829153 PMCID: PMC6907133 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4675-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diphtheria has been reported as an outbreak in some regions in Indonesia, most especially in East Java Province. Resistance to penicillin, erythromycin, and other antibiotics, single or multiple, has been reported in several studies. This study aims to evaluate the first-line antibiotic susceptibility pattern of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates. METHODS This descriptive observational study was performed from August to November 2018. C. diphtheriae isolates were collected from diphtheria patients and carriers in East Java from 2012 to 2017 and kept at the Balai Besar Laboratorium Kesehatan Daerah Surabaya or the Public Health Laboratory of Surabaya. Sample selection was done by random cluster sampling. The sensitivity test by E-test®of the five antibiotics (penicillin, oxacillin, erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin) was done to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M45A (2015) Corynebacterium spp. for penicillin and erythromycin was used as standard. RESULTS From 114 targeted isolates, 108 were viable and toxigenic. The E-test was performed on the viable isolates. The majority of the hosts were male (58.3%), with median (range) age of 6.5 (1-14) years. Half of the samples were from the 1 to 5-year-old age group. The isolates were acquired much more from patients (78.7%) than carriers (21.3%) and from pharyngeal swab (74.1%). Most of these isolates were from Madura Island (47.2%) and the northern and eastern parts of the province (horseshoe area). Mitis isolates were the major variant (76.9%). The susceptibility pattern of C. diphtheriae to erythromycin was better than that to penicillin. The E-test result for penicillin was 68.52% susceptible, 31.48% intermediate, and 0% resistant (MIC range, < 0.016 to 2 μg/L) and for erythromycin (MIC range, < 0.016 to > 256 μg/L) was 85.2% susceptible, 12% intermediate, and 2.8% resistant The MIC range for oxacillin was 1 to 96 μg/L, while for both azithromycin and clarithromycin were < 0.016 to > 256 μg/L. CONCLUSION The susceptibility rate of C. diphtheriae to erythromycin is higher than that to penicillin. The regular update of antibiotic selection to the national guidelines is recommended. The MIC reference standard to azithromycin and clarithromycin is also needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominicus Husada
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga/Dr. Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Sugi Deny Pranoto Soegianto
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga/Dr. Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Eveline Irawan
- Balai Besar Laboratorium Kesehatan Daerah (BBLK), Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Leny Kartina
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga/Dr. Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Dwiyanti Puspitasari
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga/Dr. Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Parwati Setiono Basuki
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga/Dr. Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Ismoedijanto
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga/Dr. Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
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Sharma NC, Efstratiou A, Mokrousov I, Mutreja A, Das B, Ramamurthy T. Diphtheria. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2019; 5:81. [PMID: 31804499 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-019-0131-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Diphtheria is a potentially fatal infection mostly caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains and occasionally by toxigenic C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis strains. Diphtheria is generally an acute respiratory infection, characterized by the formation of a pseudomembrane in the throat, but cutaneous infections are possible. Systemic effects, such as myocarditis and neuropathy, which are associated with increased fatality risk, are due to diphtheria toxin, an exotoxin produced by the pathogen that inhibits protein synthesis and causes cell death. Clinical diagnosis is confirmed by the isolation and identification of the causative Corynebacterium spp., usually by bacterial culture followed by enzymatic and toxin detection tests. Diphtheria can be treated with the timely administration of diphtheria antitoxin and antimicrobial therapy. Although effective vaccines are available, this disease has the potential to re-emerge in countries where the recommended vaccination programmes are not sustained, and increasing proportions of adults are becoming susceptible to diphtheria. Thousands of diphtheria cases are still reported annually from several countries in Asia and Africa, along with many outbreaks. Changes in the epidemiology of diphtheria have been reported worldwide. The prevalence of toxigenic Corynebacterium spp. highlights the need for proper clinical and epidemiological investigations to quickly identify and treat affected individuals, along with public health measures to prevent and contain the spread of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Chand Sharma
- Laboratory Department, Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Androulla Efstratiou
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Diphtheria and Streptococcal Infections, Reference Microbiology Division, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Igor Mokrousov
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics, St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ankur Mutreja
- Global Health-Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bhabatosh Das
- Infection and Immunology Division, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India
| | - Thandavarayan Ramamurthy
- Infection and Immunology Division, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, India.
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15
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Barrado L, Beristain X, Martín-Salas C, Ezpeleta-Baquedano C. Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotipo belfanti no toxigénico en una paciente diabética con infección del tracto respiratorio superior. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2019; 37:680-681. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of outbreak-associated Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Thailand, 2012. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 75:104007. [PMID: 31472364 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.104007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae remain endemic in many countries. Since the implementation of the DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis) vaccination program in 1977, only sporadic diphtheria cases have been reported in Thailand. In 2012, a diphtheria outbreak occurred in rural Thailand and 38 cases were reported, with the majority being adults (mean 22.1 years, range 5-72 years). The current study determined the genetic diversity of C. diphtheriae isolated from 83 individuals associated with either sporadic (n = 34) from 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2012, and 2018, or 2012 outbreak (n = 49) diphtheria occurrences in Thailand. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 41/83 isolates using broth microdilution. All sporadic (n = 27) and epidemic (n = 14) C. diphtheriae isolates (41/41; 100%) were susceptible to erythromycin (≤0.5 μg/ml), clindamycin (≤0.5 μg/ml), gentamicin (≤ 4 μg/ml), ciprofloxacin (≤1 μg/ml), and vancomycin (2 μg/ml), except tetracycline with a resistance rate of 34.1% (14/41 isolates). All isolates were intermediately resistant to penicillin (MIC range, 0.25-2 μg/ml). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed 17 sequence types (STs) among 83C. diphtheriae isolates. For the 2012 outbreak isolates, the predominant ST was ST243 (n = 34/49; 69.4%), followed by ST245 (n = 5/49; 10.2%) and ST244 (n = 4/49; 8.1%), whereas the main STs among the sporadic isolates were ST248 (n = 15/34; 44.1%), followed by ST209 (n = 7/34; 20.6%) and ST258 (n = 3/34; 8.8%). The ST243 outbreak strain was a single-locus variant of sporadic ST258. Phylogenetic analysis using concatenated sequences of 7 MLST genes from 17 STs revealed that ST243, ST248, and ST258 were located in the same cluster and ST243 appeared to have evolved from ST258, an endemic strain. This study highlights the importance of epidemiological surveillance together with characterization of C. diphtheriae strains to help inform the future control and prevention of diphtheria.
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17
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Dangel A, Berger A, Konrad R, Bischoff H, Sing A. Geographically Diverse Clusters of Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infection, Germany, 2016-2017. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:1239-1245. [PMID: 29912709 PMCID: PMC6038752 DOI: 10.3201/eid2407.172026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
From 2016 through the middle of 2017, the German Consiliary Laboratory on Diphtheria noted an increase in nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates submitted from cities in northern Germany. Many patients for whom epidemiologic data were available were homeless, alcohol or drug abusers, or both. After performing routine diagnostics and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), we analyzed isolates of sequence type (ST) 8 and previously submitted isolates by whole-genome sequencing. Results were analyzed for phylogenetic relationship by core genome MLST (cg-MLST) and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism profiles. Next-generation sequencing–based cg-MLST revealed several outbreak clusters caused by ST8; the geographic focus was in the metropolitan areas of Hamburg and Berlin. To achieve enhanced analytical depth, we used additional cg-MLST target genes and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified patient characteristics and detected transmission events, providing evidence that nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae infection is a potential public health threat in industrialized countries.
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18
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Mohd Khalid MKN, Ahmad N, Hii SYF, Abd Wahab MA, Hashim R, Liow YL. Molecular characterization of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates in Malaysia between 1981 and 2016. J Med Microbiol 2019; 68:105-110. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Khairul Nizam Mohd Khalid
- 1Molecular Diagnostics and Protein Unit, Specialised Diagnostics Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Norazah Ahmad
- 2Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shirley Yi Fen Hii
- 2Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Adib Abd Wahab
- 2Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rohaidah Hashim
- 2Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yii Ling Liow
- 2Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Benamrouche N, Tali Maamar H, Chemli S, Senouci H, Rahal K. Immune responses to vaccine-preventable diseases among toddlers and preschool children after primary immunization and first booster in Northwestern Algiers, Algeria. Heliyon 2018; 4:e00664. [PMID: 29998194 PMCID: PMC6039293 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine immune responses to selected vaccine-preventable communicable diseases: pertussis, diphtheria and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in Algerian toddlers and preschool children after primary vaccination and first booster, recruited from three local healthcare facilities in Northwestern Algiers. METHODS The information of demographic characteristics and vaccination status were collected for each subject by questionnaire. Specific antibody levels and Hib antibody avidity were determined using commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS A total of eighty-one subjects aged between 19 and 55 months were studied. Almost all subjects were fully protected against diphtheria (76/81; 93.83%; 95% CI: 86.35-97.33) and invasive Hib disease (29/30; 96.67%; 95% CI: 83.33-99.41), while only 20/78 (25.64%; 95% CI: 17.26-36.31) had anti-PT (pertussis toxin) antibody levels above 25 IU/ml. A significant decrease of anti-PT antibody levels was observed until the age of 36 months (p = 0.02). GMTs (geometric mean titers) of anti-PT antibodies were low, but remain significantly higher in children ≤36 months of age (p = 0.02). Both GMT and rates of ≥0.15 μg/ml, ≥1 μg/ml, and ≥5 μg/ml titers were significantly higher in Hib-vaccinated subjects (p < 0.01). Relative Hib-avidity index (≥50%) and GMAI (geometric mean avidity index) were high in both Hib-vaccinated and -unvaccinated groups. CONCLUSIONS As shown in the present study, young children were fully protected against diphtheria and Hib, but showed low immunity to pertussis. Further sero-epidemiological studies including a large number of subjects with a wider range of age are needed to explore the immunity level in older children, adolescents and adults.
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20
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du Plessis M, Wolter N, Allam M, de Gouveia L, Moosa F, Ntshoe G, Blumberg L, Cohen C, Smith M, Mutevedzi P, Thomas J, Horne V, Moodley P, Archary M, Mahabeer Y, Mahomed S, Kuhn W, Mlisana K, McCarthy K, von Gottberg A. Molecular Characterization of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Outbreak Isolates, South Africa, March-June 2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:1308-1315. [PMID: 28726616 PMCID: PMC5547784 DOI: 10.3201/eid2308.162039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2015, a cluster of respiratory diphtheria cases was reported from KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. By using whole-genome analysis, we characterized 21 Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates collected from 20 patients and contacts during the outbreak (1 patient was infected with 2 variants of C. diphtheriae). In addition, we included 1 cutaneous isolate, 2 endocarditis isolates, and 2 archived clinical isolates (ca. 1980) for comparison. Two novel lineages were identified, namely, toxigenic sequence type (ST) ST-378 (n = 17) and nontoxigenic ST-395 (n = 3). One archived isolate and the cutaneous isolate were ST-395, suggesting ongoing circulation of this lineage for >30 years. The absence of preexisting molecular sequence data limits drawing conclusions pertaining to the origin of these strains; however, these findings provide baseline genotypic data for future cases and outbreaks. Neither ST has been reported in any other country; this ST appears to be endemic only in South Africa.
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21
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Czajka U, Wiatrzyk A, Mosiej E, Formińska K, Zasada AA. Changes in MLST profiles and biotypes of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates from the diphtheria outbreak period to the period of invasive infections caused by nontoxigenic strains in Poland (1950-2016). BMC Infect Dis 2018. [PMID: 29523087 PMCID: PMC5845185 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-3020-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a re-emerging pathogen in Europe causing invasive infections in vaccinated persons and classical diphtheria in unvaccinated persons. In the presented study we analysed genetic changes in C. diphtheriae isolates collected in Poland from the period before the introduction of the mass anti-diphtheria vaccination to the present time when over 98% of the population is vaccinated. Methods A total of 62 C. diphtheriae isolates collected in the 1950s–1960s, 1990s and 2000–2016 in Poland were investigated. Examined properties of the isolates included toxigenic status, presence of tox gene, biotype, MLST type (ST) and type of infection. Results A total of 12 sequence types (STs) were identified among the analysed C. diphtheriae isolates. The highest variability of STs was observed among isolates from diphtheria and asymptomatic carriers collected in the XX century. Over 95% of isolates collected from invasive and wound infections in 2004–2016 belonged to ST8. Isolates from the XX century represented all four biotypes: mitis, gravis, intermedius and belfanti, but the belfanti biotype appeared only after the epidemic in the 1990s. All except three isolates from the XXI century represented the biotype gravis. Conclusions During a diphtheria epidemic period, non-epidemic clones of C. diphtheriae might also disseminate and persist in a particular area after the epidemic. An increase of the anti-diphtheria antibody level in the population causes not only the elimination of toxigenic strains from the population but may also influence the reduction of diversity of C. diphtheriae isolates. MLST types do not reflect the virulence of isolates. Each ST can be represented by various virulent variants representing various pathogenic capacities, for example toxigenic non-invasive, nontoxigenic invasive and nontoxigenic non-invasive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Czajka
- Department of Vaccines and Sera Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aldona Wiatrzyk
- Department of Vaccines and Sera Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Mosiej
- Department of Vaccines and Sera Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamila Formińska
- Department of Vaccines and Sera Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra A Zasada
- Department of Vaccines and Sera Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791, Warsaw, Poland.
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Rajamani Sekar S, Veeraraghavan B, Anandan S, Devanga Ragupathi N, Sangal L, Joshi S. Strengthening the laboratory diagnosis of pathogenicCorynebacteriumspecies in the Vaccine era. Lett Appl Microbiol 2017; 65:354-365. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.12781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S.K. Rajamani Sekar
- Department of Clinical Microbiology; Christian Medical College; Vellore India
| | - B. Veeraraghavan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology; Christian Medical College; Vellore India
| | - S. Anandan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology; Christian Medical College; Vellore India
| | | | - L. Sangal
- World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office; New Delhi India
| | - S. Joshi
- World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office; New Delhi India
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