[On the virulence of the agent of erysipeloid].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is pathogenic for both animals and humans, causing erysipelas in swine and erysipeloid in humans. In swine, disease may be either acute or chronic, resulting in the development of arthritis and endocarditis. In Japan, erysipelas remains an animal hygiene problem causing great economic loss as infected swine are disused. Human infection closely resembles that seen in swine, with both acute and chronic forms also. The most common presentation is erysipeloid, a localized cutaneous infection. In Western Australia, an erysipeloid-like infection referred to as "crayfish poisoning" occurs in lobster fishermen and handlers. A second type of presentation is a generalized cutaneous form involving lesions that progress from the initial site of infection or appear in remote areas. The third and most serious form of disease is a septicemia that is almost always linked to endocarditis. The mortality rate in Erysipelothrix endocarditis is still high (38%) and can be explained by the use of vancomycin (to which Erysipelothrix spp. are inherently resistant) as empirical therapy. Therefore, it is critical to have an early diagnosis of E. rhusiopathiae infection.Unfortunately, several problems exist with the diagnosis of E. rhusiopathiae infections by conventional cultural procedures, and these infections are often incorrectly diagnosed. First, because of their very small colony size and slow growth rates, it is difficult to isolate E. rhusiopathiae from heavily contaminated specimens. Various selective media have been described to improve the isolation of E. rhusiopathiae from contaminated specimens; however, not all contaminants are inhibited. The development of two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods has created an opportunity to greatly improve the efficiency with which these organisms are detected and identified. Makino et al. designed a PCR method that amplifies a 407-bp DNA fragment derived from the 16S rRNA coding sequence. The primers in this method are specific for the genus Erysipelothrix and do not differentiate between the species. A second set of primers designed by Shimoji et al. amplifies a 937-bp DNA fragment which is derived from a sequence associated with virulence of E. rhusiopathiae. These primers are specific for E. rhusiopathiae only. Shimoji et al. also utilized a selective enrichment medium based on tryptic soy broth containing ethidium bromide and sodium azide.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan and poses a great risk to non-immune visitors to the area. The wide spectrum of clinical variants of this common disease is at times a diagnostic challenge. A total of 1709 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were recorded over a 1-year period. In 37 (2%) patients the lesions were very unusual, and therefore worth reporting. These included acute paronychial, chancriform, annular, palmoplantar, zosteriform and erysipeloid forms. The zosteriform and erysipeloid forms have rarely been reported previously, but to the best of our knowledge, acute paronychial, chancriform, annular and palmoplantar lesions are being reported for the first time. The morphologically unusual lesions may be attributed to an altered host response or involvement of an atypical strain of parasite in these lesions.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae has been recognised as a cause of infection in animals and man since the late 1880s. It is the aetiological agent of swine erysipelas, and also causes economically important diseases in turkeys, chickens, ducks and emus, and other farmed animals such as sheep. The organism has the ability to persist for long periods in the environment and survive in marine locations. Infection in man is occupationally related, occurring principally as a result of contact with animals, their products or wastes. Human infection can take one of three forms: a mild cutaneous infection known as erysipeloid, a diffuse cutaneous form and a serious although rare systemic complication with septicaemia and endocarditis. While it has been suggested that the incidence of human infection could be declining because of technological advances in animal industries, infection still occurs in specific environments. Furthermore, infection by the organism may be under-diagnosed because of the resemblance it bears to other infections and the problems that may be encountered in isolation and identification. Diagnosis of erysipeloid can be difficult if not recognised clinically, as culture is lengthy and the organism resides deep in the skin. There have been recent advances in molecular approaches to diagnosis and in understanding of Erysipelothrix taxonomy and pathogenesis. Two PCR assays have been described for the diagnosis of swine erysipelas, one of which has been applied successfully to human samples. Treatment by oral and intramuscular penicillin is effective. However, containment and control procedures are far more effective ways to reduce infection in both man and animals.
For many years, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae has been known to be the causative agent of the occupationally related infection erysipeloid. A survey of the distribution of Erysipelothrix spp. in 19 Australasian seafoods was conducted, and methodologies for the detection of Erysipelothrix spp. were evaluated. Twenty-one Erysipelothrix spp. were isolated from 52 seafood parts. Primary isolation of Erysipelothrix spp. was most efficiently achieved with brain heart infusion broth enrichment followed by subculture onto a selective brain heart infusion agar containing kanamycin, neomycin, and vancomycin after 48 h of incubation. Selective tryptic soy broth, with 48 h of incubation, was the best culture method for the detection of Erysipelothrix spp. with PCR. PCR detection was 50% more sensitive than culture. E. rhusiopathiae was isolated from a variety of different fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, including a Western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus). There was no significant correlation between the origin of the seafoods tested and the distribution of E. rhusiopathiae. An organism indistinguishable from Erysipelothrix tonsillarum was isolated for the first time from an Australian oyster and a silver bream. Overall, Erysipelothrix spp. were widely distributed in Australasian seafoods, illustrating the potential for erysipeloid-like infections in fishermen.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a nonsporulating, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium which was identified more than 100 years ago as the etiologic agent of swine erysipelas. Since then, it has been found to cause infection in several dozen species of mammals and other animals. Humans become infected through exposure to infected or contaminated animals or animal products. By far the most common type of human infection is a localized, self-limited cutaneous lesion, erysipeloid. Diffuse cutaneous and systemic infections occur rarely. Approximately 50 cases of endocarditis have been reported; all but one recent case have involved native valves. The organism may be isolated from biopsy or blood specimens on standard culture media. It is identified by morphology, lack of motility, and biochemical characteristics; identification may be confirmed by the mouse protection test. It is susceptible to penicillins, cephalosporins, erythromycin, and clindamycin, but it is often resistant to many other antibiotics, including vancomycin, a drug frequently used in empiric therapy for infections due to gram-positive bacteria.
A whale (Globicephalus melas), stranded on the north coast of Finistere, was the origin of a minor epidemic of Baker-Rosenbach erysipeloid. The clinical picture was that usually seen after contamination by marine animals (spiny fish, crabs, molluscs). To our knowledge, this is the first time that a marine mammal has been found to be infected by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.
In all three stages, Lyme borreliosis offers a wide range of possible differential diagnoses: even the "typical" erythema chronicum migrans may present as erysipelas, erysipeloid, erythema annulare centrifugum or a drug-induced exanthema. In the advanced stages II and III, neuroborreliosis in particular may be mimicked by various other conditions of both infectious and noninfectious etiology. Major examples are CEE (Central European Encephalitis), ehrlichiosis, chlamydial infections and multiple sclerosis. Currently, the biggest diagnostic problem is the non-standardized laboratory diagnostic work-up. For this reason, even in the presence of a positive or borderline IgG antibody result, unclear symptoms should prompt a differential diagnostic investigation.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is widely distributed in nature (animal, soil). It is commonly known as the causative agent of cutaneous lesions called "erysipeloid of Rosenbach". Only 31 cases of bacterial endocarditis have been reported in the literature. The etiologic diagnosis of Esysipelothrix infection was established by the presence of bacteria in blood cultures or heart-valve cultures. Immunological study is unusual owing to the rapid course of the infection. The histologic observation of heart lesions corroborates the diagnosis. The patient's receptivity depends on his occupation, general health (importance of rheumatic heart disease), sex (male), age (from 40 to 60 years old), but also on the season (from July to October) and climate (temperate). With the exception of the few cases where it is possible to recognize a portal of entry of infection or the appearance of typical cutaneous manifestations, bacterial endocarditis due to Erysipelothrix presents a clinical picture similar to that of most other bacterial endocarditis. The antibiotic treatment is an association of penicillin-streptomycin, administered in large doses over a period of at least four weeks. In spite of intensive therapy, many patients died.
A severe form of a carpal-tunnel-syndrome with motoric and sensoric deficits and trophic disturbances of the fingers II and III is presented, which reminds also of syringomyelia, erysipeloid or a chronic erysipelas.
This article discusses common bacterial skin infections, including impetigo, cellulitis and erysipelas folliculitis, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, blistering distal dactylitis, furuncles and carbuncles, and pseudomonal infections such as external otitis and malignant external otitis, ecthyma gangrenosum, pseudomonal folliculitis, toe web infection, and erysipeloid.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of erysipelas in animals and erysipeloid in humans. In the absence of specific antibodies, the organism evades phagocytosis by phagocytic cells, but even if phagocytized, it is able to replicate intracellulary in these cells. In this review, recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenicity of E. rhusiopathiae and its protective immunity are described.
Familial Mediterranean Fever is one of the most frequent recessive disease in non-Ashkenazi Jews. The gene responsible for the disease (MEFV) has very recently been identified. The M694V ('MED') mutation was found in about 80% of the FMF Jewish (Iraqi and North African) chromosomes. To see if the presence of this mutation could be correlated with particular traits of the disease, we examined a number of clinical features in a panel of 109 Jewish FMF patients with 0, 1 or 2 MED mutations. We showed that homozygosity for this mutation was significantly associated with a more severe form of the disease. In homozygous patients, the disease started earlier (mean age 6.4 +/- 5 vs 13.6 +/- 8.9) and both arthritis and pleuritis were twice as frequent as in patients with one or no M694V mutation. Moreover, 3/3 patients with amyloidosis displayed two MED mutations. No association was found with fever, peritonitis, response to colchicine and erysipeloid eruption. The present result strongly suggests the potential prognostic value of the presence of this mutation.
We purified the protein antigen (P64), which contains 66 and 64 kDa proteins, from the alkaline extract (AE) of whole cells of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strain Agata (serovar 5) to determine the protective activity of the antigen against E. rhusiopathiae infection in pigs. The serum titre of antibody against P64 rapidly increased in pigs immunized with 500 and 100 micrograms of P64 and reached maximum values at 3 weeks after the first immunization (1 week after the second immunization). However, the serum antibody titres were not increased in pigs immunized with 20 micrograms of P64 and in nonimmunized pigs. In the pigs immunized with live cell vaccine (acriflavin-fast attenuated strain Koganei 65-0.15), the serum titres of antibody against P64 also increased at 1-2 weeks after immunization. In a pig challenge test performed on immunized and nonimmunized pigs, all nonimmunized pigs showed typical clinical signs of swine erysipelas (fever, erysipeloid, arthritis), while all pigs immunized with 500 and 100 micrograms of P64 and live cell vaccine showed no clinical signs of this disease. In Western blot analysis, sera from pigs immunized with P64 and live cell vaccine strongly reacted with the 64 kDa protein. In contrast, the serum from nonimmunized pigs did not react with any proteins. From these results, it was suggested that a specific antibody against the 64 kDa protein could be increased in pigs immunized with P64 or live cell vaccine and that this anti-P64 antibody has a strong protective effect against E. rhusiopathiae infection in pigs.
Following erysipeloid a 46-year-old man fell ill with septicaemia and endocarditis. Treatment with high doses of antibiotics could not prevent his death. Infection with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in man occurs through a skin lesion and only rarely leads to spreading of the agent in the body presenting as arthritis, meningitis, or endocarditis. Erysipelothrix endocarditis is a severe disease leading to widespread destruction of the involved cardiac valves. The aortic valve is most commonly involved. 16 out of 28 patients with erysipelothrix endocarditis reported in the literature died, eleven of them despite treatment with antibiotics.
AIM: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae causes the occupationally-related infection erysipeloid in humans, and may be responsible for infections in lobster fishermen in Western Australia. There are little recent data pertaining to antimicrobial susceptibility, or susceptibility to disinfectants that might be used in the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of E. rhusiopathiae from human, animal and environmental sources to various antimicrobial agents and disinfectants. METHODS: The susceptibility of 60 E rhusiopathiae isolates was determined using a recommended agar dilution procedure. Susceptibility to disinfectants was achieved using a broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Penicillin and ceftriaxone, with low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) (MIC90 0.03 mg/l and 0.125 mg/l, respectively), remained active against E. rhusiopathiae and should continue to be recommended for treatment. Ciprofloxacin MICs were particularly low (MIC90 0.06 mg/l), offering an alternative agent for the penicillin allergic patient. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is still resistant to vancomycin (MIC90 64 mg/l), highlighting the importance of early diagnosis of E. rhusiopathiae infection in cases of endocarditis. In addition, 31 E. rhusiopathiae isolates were tested against several commercially available home disinfectants. Most were effective in killing E. rhusiopathiae with minimum bactericidal concentrations of 0.001% for Pine O Cleen, and 0.03% for Domestos, Linely and the Wheelie Bin Phenyl Cleanser. CONCLUSIONS: There appeared to be no new emergence of antibiotic resistance in E. rhusiopathiae. Various disinfectants could be used following mechanical cleaning of work environments, such as fishing boats, and equipment, to reduce the risk of infection with E. rhusiopathiae.
Ninety percent of the 49 reported cases of serious Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection have been episodes of presumed or proved endocarditis. E. rhusiopathiae endocarditis correlates highly with occupation (farming, animal exposure), affects more males than females, exhibits a peculiar aortic valve tropism, displays a characteristic erysipeloid cutaneous lesion (in 40% of cases), and is associated with significant mortality (overall rate, 38%). Comparison with other unusual gram-positive rods causing endocarditis shows that E. rhusiopathiae resembles Listeria monocytogenes and Lactobacillus species in its propensity to involve structurally damaged but native left-sided valves. Unlike diphtheroid endocarditis, E. rhusiopathiae endocarditis has not involved prosthetic valves and is not associated with intravenous drug abuse, as is Bacillus species endocarditis. E. rhusiopathiae is exquisitely susceptible to penicillin but resistant to vancomycin. Since vancomycin is often employed in empiric therapy for presumed endocarditis, prompt microbiologic differentiation of E. rhusiopathiae from other gram-positive organisms is necessary to avoid delays in the initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the cause of swine erysipelas and human erysipeloid, produces a haemolysin. A recombinant plasmid, pHLY, conferring haemolytic activity on Escherichia coli was isolated from a genomic library of Ery. rhusiopathiae strain Tama-96. This plasmid was stable in RecA- E. coli, but unstable in a RecA+ strain. A spontaneous deletion plasmid, pMini-HLY, also conferring haemolytic activity was derived from pHLY. Two ORFs were detected in pHLY. Analysis of pMini-HLY and other deletion clones established that ORF2 was associated with haemolytic activity. The sequence of ORF1 was highly homologous to those of transposases in the IS30 family. The deletion which generated pMini-HLY was between two short direct repeat (DR) sequences flanking the ORF1 sequence, and there were inverted repeat sequences inside the two DR sequences, suggesting an insertion element. No sequence homology to the deduced amino acid sequence of ORF2 was detected in the databases, but its sequence was characteristic of a surface lipoprotein. Western blot analysis, using antiserum against the 16 kDa protein produced from ORF2, found the protein to be commonly distributed in all Erysipelothrix species.