Isolation of Helicobacter cinaedi from the Colon, Liver, and Mesenteric Lymph Node of a Rhesus Monkey with Chronic Colitis and Hepatitis

Abstract

On the basis of biochemical, phenotypic, and 16S rRNA analyses, Helicobacter cinaedi was isolated from the colon, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes of a 2-year-old rhesus monkey with chronic diarrhea. Histologically, the liver had mild to moderate biliary hyperplasia and hypertrophy with periportal inflammation and fibrosis. Colonic and cecal lesions consisted of diffuse chronic inflammation and glandular hyperplasia extending the length of the crypts. This is the first observation of H. cinaedi associated with active hepatitis and colitis in a nonhuman primate.A campylobacter-like organism classified as Campylobacter cinaedi (CLO-1A) was first isolated from the lower bowels of homosexuals with proctitis and colitis (25). Along with Helicobacter fennelliae, it was reclassified as a helicobacter due to its sheathed flagella and 16S rRNA analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization results (12). It has also been isolated from the blood of homosexual patients with human immunodeficiency virus as well as of children and adult females (3,14,15,16,19,20,23,24,26). A Helicobacter cinaedi-associated syndrome, consisting of bacteremia and fever accompanied by leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia, is also present. Recurrent cellulitis and/or arthritis has been noted in a high percentage of infected immunocompromised patients (1, 13). H. cinaedi is primarily recovered from immunocompromised individuals but also has been isolated from chronic alcoholics, immunocompetent males and females, and children (16,26).Since H. cinaedi has been isolated from the normal intestinal flora of hamsters, it has been suggested that pet hamsters serve as a reservoir for transmission to humans (11,16). Dogs have also been purported to be reservoir hosts in cases where H. cinaedi (based on fatty acid analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization) was isolated from feces (18). Although H. cinaedi has been shown experimentally to produce diarrhea and bacteremia in infant pigtail macaques, H. cinaedi has not been isolated from either diarrheic or normal Old World primates. The purpose of this study was to characterize by biochemistry and 16S rRNA analysis H. cinaedi from inflamed colon, mesenteric lymph nodes, and diseased liver of a juvenile macaque with chronic diarrhea.A 2-year-old, domestically raised female rhesus monkey of Indian origin with chronic diarrhea and weight loss was euthanatized and submitted for necropsy. The entire length of the colon was noticeably distended with liquid contents. The mucosa was reddened, with punctate multifocal erosions being noted. The mesenteric lymph nodes draining the lower bowel were enlarged to two to three times the normal size. Full-thickness colonic biopsy samples were collected at necropsy from anterior, transverse, and descending portions of the large intestine; the cecum; the liver; and the mesenteric lymph nodes. Representative samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for routine histopathologic analysis. The remainder of the samples were placed in 20% glycerol with brucella broth and frozen at Ϫ70°C b...

Helicobacter typhlonius sp. nov., a Novel Murine Urease-Negative Helicobacter Species

“…Interestingly, all of have been isolated from the feces of diarrheic humans, supporting the premise that urease is not critical to the pathogenesis of enteric disease. Also, H. pullorum, H. cinaedi, and H. canis have been isolated from inflamed livers (11,41). The only other known rodent helicobacters that lack urease are an un- .…”

“…Several other species of Helicobacter also lack urease activity. These include H. pullorum, H. canis, H. fennelliae, H. cinaedi, and H. canadensis (8,11,41,44). Interestingly, all of have been isolated from the feces of diarrheic humans, supporting the premise that urease is not critical to the pathogenesis of enteric disease.…”

Molecular Epidemiologic Analysis and Antimicrobial Resistance of Helicobacter cinaedi Isolated from Seven Hospitals in Japan

“…All isolates were subcultured on brucella agar (Becton, Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ), with 5% horse blood, under microaerobic conditions with hydrogen obtained by the gas replacement method using an anaerobic gas mixture (H 2 , 10%; CO 2 , 10%; and N 2 , 80%) (5,6). H. cinaedi isolates were identified by morphological analysis and by DNA sequencing of both the 16S rRNA and the 23S rRNA genes.…”

“…Since H. cinaedi has been detected in the feces of normal animals, including hamsters and monkeys, these animals may be natural reservoirs for H. cinaedi (5,7). However, as the growth of H. cinaedi is slower than that of other bacteria present in the colon, the presence of H. cinaedi in feces may be undetected in some cases.…”

Captive Rhesus Monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) Are Commonly Infected with Helicobacter cinaedi

“…Fox and colleagues recently described two novel Helicobacter biotypes isolated from colonic tissue of rhesus monkeys with and without evidence of colitis (8). In a separate report, Fox et al described a single case of H. cinaedi isolation from the colon, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes of a rhesus monkey with chronic colitis and hepatitis (7). Experimental inoculation of 10 8 to 10 9 H. cinaedi organisms into infant pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) produces diarrhea with bacteremia (6), suggesting that H. cinaedi may be pathogenic when a large inoculum is given to a relatively immunocompromised host.…”