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Staton GJ, Crosby-Durrani H, Roberts G, Duncan JS, Seechurn N, Blowey R, Evans NJ. Novel ulcerative leg lesions in yearling lambs: Clinical features, microbiology and histopathology. Vet Microbiol 2020; 247:108790. [PMID: 32768234 PMCID: PMC7429982 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108790] [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] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak of an infectious dermatological disorder of unknown aetiology in a flock of yearling lambs was investigated. Lesions occurred on the distal limb between the coronary band and carpel joint as a circular ulcerative dermatitis. Treponema spp., Dichelobacter nodosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Dermatophilus congolensis and poxvirus screens were negative. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus dysgalactiae were detected in the majority of lesions examined. An aetiology involving bacterial infection with F. necrophorum and S. dysgalactiae was implicated.
Here we report an outbreak of an atypical, ulcerative dermatitis in North Country mule lambs, located in South Gloucestershire, UK. The lesions, which appeared to be contagious, occured between the coronary band and the carpal joint as a focal, well demarcated, circular, ulcerative dermatitis. Histopathological examination of the lesion biopsies revealed areas of ulceration, epidermal hyperplasia, suppurative dermatitis and granulation tissue. Clumped keratohyalin granules and intracellular keratinocyte oedema (ballooning degeneration) were evident within lesion biopsies, consistent with an underlying viral aetiology. A PCR-based microbiological investigation failed to detect bovine digital dermatitis-associated treponeme phylogroups, Dichelobacter nodosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Dermatophilus congolensis or Chordopoxvirinae virus DNA. However, 3 of the 10 (30 %) and 6 of 10 (60 %) lesion samples were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus dysgalactiae DNA, respectively. Contralateral limb swabs were negative by all standard PCR assays. To better define the involvement of F. necrophorum in the aetiology of these lesions, a qPCR targeting the rpoB gene was employed and confirmed the presence of F. necrophorum DNA in both the control and lesions swab samples, although the mean F. necrophorum genome copy number detected in the lesion swab samples was ∼19-fold higher than detected in the contralateral control swab samples (245 versus 4752 genome copies/μl, respectively; P < 0.001). Although we have not been able to conclusively define an aetiological agent, the presence of both F. necrophorum and S. dysgalactiae in the majority of lesions assayed supports their role in the aetiopathogenesis of these lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J Staton
- Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom.
| | - H Crosby-Durrani
- Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - G Roberts
- George Farm Vets, High Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9AU, United Kingdom
| | - J S Duncan
- Department of Livestock & One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - N Seechurn
- School of Veterinary Science, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - R Blowey
- Minsterworth, Gloucester, GL2 8JG, United Kingdom
| | - N J Evans
- Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
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Kontturi M, Junni R, Simojoki H, Malinen E, Seuna E, Klitgaard K, Kujala-Wirth M, Soveri T, Pelkonen S. Bacterial species associated with interdigital phlegmon outbreaks in Finnish dairy herds. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:44. [PMID: 30696445 PMCID: PMC6352363 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-1788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Severe outbreaks of bovine interdigital phlegmon (IP) have occurred recently in several free stall dairy herds in Finland. We studied the aetiology of IP in such herds, and the association of bacterial species with the various stages of IP and herds of various morbidity of IP. Nineteen free stall dairy herds with IP outbreaks and three control herds were visited and bacteriological samples collected from cows suffering from IP (n = 106), other hoof diseases (n = 58), and control cows (n = 64). The herds were divided into high morbidity (morbidity ≥50%) and moderate morbidity groups (9–33%) based on morbidity during the first two months of the outbreak. Results F. necrophorum subspecies necrophorum was clearly associated with IP in general, and T. pyogenes was associated with the healing stage of IP. Six other major hoof pathogens were detected; Dichelobacter nodosus, Porphyromonas levii, Prevotella melaninogenica, Treponema spp. and Trueperella pyogenes. Most of the samples of acute IP (66.7%) harboured both F. necrophorum and D. nodosus. We found differences between moderate morbidity and high morbidity herds. D. nodosus was more common in IP lesion in high than in moderate morbidity herds. Conclusions Our result confirms that F. necrophorum subspecies necrophorum is the main pathogen in IP, but also T. pyogenes is associated with the healing stage of IP. Our results suggest that D. nodosus may play a role in the severity of the outbreak of IP, but further research is needed to establish other bacteriological factors behind these severe outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miia Kontturi
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland.
| | - Reijo Junni
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Heli Simojoki
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Erja Malinen
- Veterinary Bacteriology and Pathology unit, Finnish Food Authority, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eija Seuna
- Veterinary Bacteriology and Pathology unit, Finnish Food Authority, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirstine Klitgaard
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Minna Kujala-Wirth
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Timo Soveri
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Sinikka Pelkonen
- Veterinary Bacteriology and Pathology unit, Finnish Food Authority, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
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Holm K, Collin M, Hagelskjær-Kristensen L, Jensen A, Rasmussen M. Three variants of the leukotoxin gene in human isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum subspecies funduliforme. Anaerobe 2017; 45:129-132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Fusobacterium necrophorum in North American Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) Pneumonia. J Wildl Dis 2016; 52:616-20. [DOI: 10.7589/2015-02-039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Brooks JW, Kumar A, Narayanan S, Myers S, Brown K, Nagaraja TG, Jayarao BM. Characterization of Fusobacterium isolates from the respiratory tract of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). J Vet Diagn Invest 2014; 26:213-20. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638714523613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 23 clinical isolates of Fusobacterium spp. were recovered at necropsy over a 2-year period from the respiratory tract of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus). Isolates were identified as Fusobacterium varium (18/23), Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. funduliforme (3/23), and Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum (2/23). Using polymerase chain reaction–based detection of virulence genes, all F. necrophorum isolates were positive for the promoter region of the leukotoxin operon and the hemagglutinin-related protein gene, while all F. varium isolates were negative. The presence of the leukotoxin gene in F. necrophorum isolates and the absence of this gene in F. varium isolates were confirmed by Southern hybridization using 2 separate probes. Toxicity to bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes was observed with all F. necrophorum isolates, but was not observed in any F. varium isolates. Susceptibility to antimicrobials was markedly different for F. varium as compared to F. necrophorum. In summary, no evidence of leukotoxin production was detected in any of the 23 F. varium isolates used in the current study. The data suggests that F. varium, the most common species isolated, may be a significant pathogen in deer with a different virulence mechanism than F. necrophorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason W. Brooks
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
| | - Sanjeev Narayanan
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
| | - Suzanne Myers
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
| | - Kayla Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
| | - T. G. Nagaraja
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
| | - Bhushan M. Jayarao
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (Brooks, Myers, Brown, Jayarao)
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (Kumar, Narayanan, Nagaraja)
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Kumar A, Anderson D, Amachawadi RG, Nagaraja TG, Narayanan SK. Characterization of Fusobacterium necrophorum isolated from llama and alpaca. J Vet Diagn Invest 2013; 25:502-7. [PMID: 23780933 DOI: 10.1177/1040638713491407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusobacterium necrophorum, a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium, is an opportunistic animal and human pathogen that causes a variety of infections termed necrobacillosis. There are 2 subspecies of F. necrophorum (subsp. necrophorum and subsp. funduliforme) that differ morphologically and biochemically and in virulence. Leukotoxin, a secreted protein, is considered to be the major virulence factor. In camelids, F. necrophorum causes a variety of infections, generally involving the lips, tongue, pharynx, interdigital spaces, foot pad, larynx, mandible, or maxillary bones. The objective of the current study was to characterize the presumptive Fusobacterium isolates from a variety of necrotic infections in llama (Lama glama) and alpaca (Vicugna pacos) and determine whether the strains possess leukotoxin activities. A total of 7 isolates from alpaca and 2 isolates from llama were characterized. Based on growth characteristics in broth culture, and biochemical and polymerase chain reaction analyses, all 9 isolates belonged to subsp. necrophorum and possessed the putative hemagglutinin gene. Western blot analysis with antileukotoxin antibodies raised in rabbit showed the presence of leukotoxin protein in the culture supernatant of all isolates. Furthermore, flow cytometry of the culture supernatants demonstrated cytotoxicity to bovine and alpaca polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The extent of cytotoxicity to either alpaca or bovine PMNs differed among camelid strains. The cytotoxicity of many of the camelid strains was higher (P < 0.05) toward alpaca PMNs compared to bovine PMNs. Fusobacterium necrophorum isolates from llama and alpaca are similar to bovine isolates, and leukotoxin may be a major virulence factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Departments of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
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Antiabong JF, Boardman W, Smith I, Brown MH, Ball AS, Goodman AE. A molecular survey of a captive wallaby population for periodontopathogens and the co-incidence of Fusobacterium necrophorum subspecies necrophorum with periodontal diseases. Vet Microbiol 2013; 163:335-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2012] [Revised: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Identification of a 43-kDa outer membrane protein of Fusobacterium necrophorum that exhibits similarity with pore-forming proteins of other Fusobacterium species. Res Vet Sci 2013; 95:27-33. [PMID: 23433684 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A pair of primers was designed in an attempt to amplify outer membrane protein (OMP) gene of Fusobacterium necrophorum based on nucleotide sequence of the OMP of Fusobacterium nucleatum. Further analysis was performed to characterize its molecular properties and phylogeny in the genus Fusobacterium. We identified a predicated 43kDa outer membrane protein (43K OMP) in F. necrophorum, which showed the same properties as other pore-forming proteins of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria according to analysis of signal peptide, AT-rich, membrane-spanning region and conserved motifs. The predicated 43K OMP exhibited 70.22%, 62.04%, 56.75%, 58.72%, 51.59%, 31.49% and 50.26% amino acid identity with the OMPs of F. nucleatum, Fusobacterium varium, Fusobacterium ucerans, Fusobacterium periodonticum, Fusobacterium mortiferum, Fusobacterium gonidiaformans and F. necrophorum (hypothetical protein), respectively. 11 common conserved domains and 10 common variable domains were found among the 45 aligned OMPs of Fusobacterium species. Distributions of the conserved and variable domains were highly associated with predicted membrane-spanning regions, cell surface exposed regions and B-cell epitope regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the predicated 43K OMP of F. necrophorum was closely related with the OMPs from F. nucleatum and F. periodonticum. These data will increase understanding of pathogenesis and genetic evolution of F. necrophorum.
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Antiabong JF, Boardman W, Smith I, Brown MH, Ball AS, Goodman AE. “Cycliplex PCR” confirmation of Fusobacterium necrophorum isolates from captive wallabies: A rapid and accurate approach. Anaerobe 2013; 19:44-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2012] [Revised: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Activation of the contact system at the surface of Fusobacterium necrophorum represents a possible virulence mechanism in Lemièrre's syndrome. Infect Immun 2011; 79:3284-90. [PMID: 21646449 DOI: 10.1128/iai.05264-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusobacterium necrophorum causes Lemièrre's syndrome, a serious disease with septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, pulmonary involvement, and systemic inflammation. The contact system is a link between inflammation and coagulation, and contact activation by the bacteria could therefore contribute to the abnormal coagulation and inflammation seen in patients with Lemièrre's syndrome. In this study, F. necrophorum was found to bind radiolabeled high-molecular-weight kininogen (HK), a central component of the contact system. Binding was inhibited by the addition of unlabeled HK and domain D5 of HK but not other components of the contact system, indicating a specific interaction mediated through the D5 region. Binding of HK was significantly reduced after pretreatment of the bacteria with trypsin, suggesting that surface proteins are involved in HK binding. Incubation of the bacteria with human plasma resulted in an HK breakdown pattern suggestive of bradykinin release, and bradykinin was also detected in the supernatant. In addition, we show that factor XI (FXI), another component of the contact system, binds to F. necrophorum and that the bound FXI reconstitutes the activated partial thromboplastin time of FXI-deficient plasma. Thrombin activity was detected at the surface of the bacteria following incubation with plasma, indicating that the intrinsic pathway of coagulation is activated at the surface. This activity was completely blocked by inhibitors of the contact system. The combined results show that the contact system is activated at the surface of F. necrophorum, suggesting a pathogenic role for this system in Lemièrre's syndrome.
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Bennett G, Zhou H, Hickford JGH. Undetected lktA genes within Fusobacterium necrophorum? J Med Microbiol 2010; 59:499-500. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.016709-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Grant Bennett
- Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agricultureand Life Sciences, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Huitong Zhou
- Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agricultureand Life Sciences, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Jon G. H. Hickford
- Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agricultureand Life Sciences, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
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Ludlam HA, Brazier JS, Davies IH, Curran MD. Authors' reply to ‘Undetected lktA genes within Fusobacterium necrophorum?’: presence or absence of an amplicon –the cornerstone of molecular diagnostics. J Med Microbiol 2010. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.018531-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo A. Ludlam
- Health Protection Agency (East of England),Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jon S. Brazier
- Anaerobe Reference Laboratory, University Hospitalof Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Martin D. Curran
- Health Protection Agency (East of England),Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
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