Active Circulation of Corynebacterium ulcerans among Nonhuman Primates

Thomas, Arthur W.; Slifka, Ariel M; Hendrickson, Sara M; Amanna, Ian J.

doi:10.1128/spectrum.00894-22

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

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“…Generally, infection is associated with mild respiratory and cutaneous manifestations with more serious manifestations thought to be linked to immunocompromise or inadequate vaccination (Gower et al., 2020). C. ulcerans has been isolated from many domesticated and wild animals (Eisenberg et al., 2015; Seto et al., 2008; Sting et al., 2023; Tejedor et al., 2000; Terriere et al., 2022; Thomas et al., 2022); the earliest reports of human infection were associated with the drinking of unpasteurised bovine products (Hacker et al., 2016), though companion animals such as cats and dogs are more frequently implicated in recent reports (Abbott et al., 2020; Carfora et al., 2018; Museux et al., 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic transmission of diphtheria toxin‐producing Corynebacterium ulcerans

Hillan,

Gibbs,

Weaire‐Buchanan

et al. 2023

Zoonoses and Public Health

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BackgroundDiphtheria caused by toxin‐producing Corynebacterium ulcerans is a re‐emerging human disease that can cause local and systemic sequelae. In Australia, toxigenic diphtheria is a rare notifiable communicable disease, due to high‐vaccination coverage. The public health management of cutaneous cases of toxigenic C. ulcerans varies between jurisdictions, as opposed to the more uniform public health response to toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae presenting as respiratory or laryngeal diphtheria.AimTo report a case of zoonotically acquired C. ulcerans, review evidence on the zoonotic reservoir and reported transmission events, and examine public health guidelines for the management of human and animal contacts.Methods and ResultsIn this case report, we detail our case investigation, treatment and public health management, including contact tracing and an approach to animal testing. We successfully identified companion canines as probable sources for the human case, with WGS confirming the link. The zoonotic disease link of C. ulcerans to domestic and agricultural animals is established in the literature; however, the management of animal contacts in human cases is inconsistent with jurisdictional or national guidelines.ConclusionsWhile a rare disease, a consistent approach to public health management is warranted to systematically elucidate the disease source and improve understanding of transmission.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic transmission of diphtheria toxin‐producing Corynebacterium ulcerans

Hillan,

Gibbs,

Weaire‐Buchanan

et al. 2023

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Identification of Corynebacterium ulcerans and Erysipelothrix sp. in Malayan pangolins—a potential threat to public health?

Wang,

Cao

et al. 2024

mSphere

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The discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2-like and Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-like viruses in Malayan pangolins has raised concerns about their potential role in the spread of zoonotic diseases. Herein, we describe the isolation and whole-genome sequencing of potentially zoonotic two bacterial pathogens from diseased Malaysian pangolins ( Manis javanica )— Corynebacterium ulcerans and Erysipelothrix sp. The newly identified species were designated as C. ulcerans P69 and Erysipelothrix sp. P66. C. ulcerans P69 exhibited 99.2% whole-genome nucleotide identity to human bacterial isolate 4940, suggesting that it might have zoonotic potential. Notably, C. ulcerans P69 lacked the diphtheria toxin ( tox ) gene that is widely used in vaccines to protect humans from corynebacterial infection, which suggests that the current vaccine may be of limited efficacy against this pangolin strain. C. ulcerans P69 also contains other known virulence-associated genes such as pld and exhibits resistance to several antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin, penicillin G, gentamicin, tetracycline), which may affect its effective control. Erysipelothrix sp. P66 was closely related to Erysipelothrix sp. strain 2-related strains, exhibiting 98.8% whole-genome nucleotide identity. This bacterium is lethal in mice, and two commercial vaccines failed to protect its challenge, such that it could potentially pose a threat to the swine industry. Overall, this study highlights that, in addition to viruses, pangolins harbor bacteria that may pose a potential threat to humans and domestic animals, and which merit attention. IMPORTANCE This study firstly reports the presence of two potentially zoonotic bacteria, Corynebacterium ulcerans and Erysipelothrix sp., in diseased Malaysian pangolins collected in 2019. The pangolin C. ulcerans is lethal in mice and resists many antibiotics. It clustered with a lethal human strain but lacked the diphtheria toxin gene. Diphtheria toxin is widely used as a vaccine around the world to protect humans from the infection of corynebacteria. The lack of the tox gene suggests that the current vaccine may be of limited efficacy against this pangolin strain. The pangolin Erysipelothrix sp. is the sister clade of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae . It is lethal in mice, and two commercial vaccines failed to protect the mice against challenge with the pangolin Erysipelothrix sp., such that this strain could potentially pose a threat to the swine industry. These findings emphasize the potential threat of pangolin bacteria.

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Active Circulation of Corynebacterium ulcerans among Nonhuman Primates

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

Zoonotic transmission of diphtheria toxin‐producing Corynebacterium ulcerans

Zoonotic transmission of diphtheria toxin‐producing Corynebacterium ulcerans

Identification of Corynebacterium ulcerans and Erysipelothrix sp. in Malayan pangolins—a potential threat to public health?

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