Identification and molecular characterization of Corynebacterium xerosis isolated from a sheep cutaneous abscess: first case report in Mexico

Abstract

BackgroundCorynebacterium xerosis is a commensal organism found in skin and mucous membranes of humans. It is considered an unusual pathogen, and it is rarely found in human and animal clinical samples. Here we describe the isolation of C. xerosis from a 4-months-old Pelifolk lamb located in Tesistán, central western Mexico. This microorganism should be considered for differential diagnosis in cutaneous abscessed lesions in sheep, as it represents a zoonotic risk factor for human infection in sheep farms.Case presentationThe animal exhibited a hard-consistency, 5 cm diameter abscess, without drainage, in the neck. The presumptive clinical diagnosis was caseous lymphadenitis, caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Samples were obtained by puncture and cultured in 8 % sheep blood agar under microaerophilic conditions. Colonies were non-haemolytic, brown-yellowish and showed microscopic and biochemical features similar to C. pseudotuberculosis, except for the urea test. A multiplex-PCR for the amplification of partial sequences of the pld, rpoB and intergenic fragment from 16S to 23S genes suggested that isolate could be C. xerosis, which was later confirmed by sequencing analysis of the rpoB gene.ConclusionsThis study shows for the first time isolation and molecular characterization of C. xerosis from a clinical sample of an ovine cutaneous abscess in Mexico. This finding highlights the need for differential diagnosis of this pathogen in ovine skin abscesses, as well as epidemiological and control studies of this pathogen in sheep farms.

Prevalence of Corynebacterium species among Slaughtered Ruminants in Makurdi, Nigeria: A Preliminary Study

“…In human, Corynebacterium amycolatum and Corynebacterium striatum which were identified in this study, have been implicated in bacteraemia, endocarditis and in acute/chronic complicated skin and soft tissue infections [2], [10], ear infection [8] and corneal ulcer [9]. Also, Corynebacterium xerosis isolated in this present study is among the most frequently reported coryneform bacteria causing infections in human [6], [20].…”

“…Reference [5] was the first to report the isolation and identification of Corynebacterium xerosis from animal clinical specimens in Spain. Similarly, Reference [6] reported for the first time the isolation and molecular characterization of Corynebacterium xerosis from a clinical sample of an ovine cutaneous abscess in Mexico. Strains of Corynebacterium bovis and Corynebacterium amycolatum were respectively isolated from milk samples from clinical bovine mastitis and sub-clinically infected bovine quarters [7].…”

Insight into the intestinal microbiome of farrowing sows following the administration of garlic (Allium sativum) extract and probiotic bacteria cultures under farming conditions

“…hanseni (absent from group B) – microorganisms that could be isolated from wounds and pus respectively [ 72 , 73 ]. It is also noticeable that Corynobacterium xerosis , described as isolated mostly from subcutaneous lesions in swine, occurred in our study most frequently in sows fed with garlic extract [ 74 ]. In turn, in association with probiotics we noted a higher prevalence of Corynebacterium puruviciproducens , bacteria which exhibits immunomodulatory properties and can stimulate hosts humoral immune response to pathogenic microorganisms by adjusting the function of macrophage [ 75 ] .…”

Effect of Solid Fermentation on Physicochemical and Microbial Compositions of Poultry Droppings for Biofertilizer

“…It is negative to casein and starch hydrolysis, citrate, mannitol salt agar and methyl red. This organism has been isolated from poultry animals [8,9].…”