Isolation of Clostridium limosum from an outbreak of metritis in farmed mink

Abstract

BackgroundAn outbreak of sudden death of pregnant farmed mink in Finland occurred during the busiest whelping period in the spring of 2013. The affected farms were all located in western Finland in a rather narrow geographic area, Ostrobothnia. Dead mink from 22 farms were submitted for laboratory diagnostics to the Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira). The carcasses were necropsied and tissue specimens were prepared for histology. Samples of internal organs and peritoneal fluid were cultured bacteriologically.ResultsMajor pathological findings included hemorrhagic vaginal discharge, severely inflamed uteri with luminal hemorrhagic exudate and dead fetuses. Dead fetuses were present in the peritoneal cavity and associated severe peritonitis occurring as sequela of uterine rupture were found in most minks. Histological findings included hemorrhages, neutrophil infiltrations, degenerative inflammatory cells, edema, fibrin and rod-shaped bacteria on all layers of the uterine wall. In most samples abundant and pure anaerobic bacterial growth of Clostridium limosum was found.ConclusionsThis is the first report of C. limosum associated metritis in farmed mink. Disease was only observed in pregnant females and the uterus was the primary site of infection. The source of infection and the route of transmission remained unclear, but feed borne transmission was suspected.

Microbiota of Cow’s Milk with Udder Pathologies

“…In addition, it is known that members of this genus are responsible for causing gas gangrene. They are also found as a part of mixed infections, moreover they are associated with the development of metritis [30]. Thus, the data obtained may indicate that this bacterial genus has high pathogenicity and plays a significant role in the development of acute catarrhal mastitis in cattle.…”

A comprehensive comparison of fecal microbiota in three ecological bird groups of raptors, waders, and waterfowl

“…Node degree (or connectivity) is simply a measurement of the activity or importance it represents in a network ( Wasserman and Faust, 1994 ). Hathewaya limosa ( Clostridium limosum ), which is usually found in animals and birds, is a pathogen that causes inflammatory diseases ( Cato et al, 1970 ; Bistrom et al, 2016 ). In this study, there was a large degree of both positive and negative interaction networks in raptors ( Supplementary Tables 5 , 7 ).…”

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Due to Clostridium Limosum: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…Clostridium limosum belongs to the family of Clostridiaceae. It is an anaerobic gram positive rod found in soil and can cause infections in various animals (Cato et al, 1948;Bistrom et al, 2016;Shibuya et al, 1994;Gordon and Axelrod, 1985;Gorbach and Thadepalli, 1975). Virulence factors associated with this organism include collagenase, lecithinase and toxins which target monocytes and macrophages (Cato et al, 1948;Barth et al, 2015).…”

“…Clostridium limosum is an anaerobic gram positive rodshaped bacterium found in soil and can cause infections in various animals including humans, cattle, alligators, chickens, dogs and farmed minks (Cato et al, 1948;Bistrom et al, 2016;Shibuya et al, 1994;Gordon and Axelrod, 1985;Gorbach and Thadepalli, 1975). It has also been isolated from home-preserved meat and human clinical specimens including blood, peritoneal and pleural fluid, soft tissue and lung tissue (Cato et al, 1948;Gorbach and Thadepalli, 1975).…”