Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolates Recovered From Nonhuman Primates

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Klebsiella pneumoniae is a zoonotic, Gram-negative member of the family Enterobacteriaceae and is the causative agent of nosocomial septicemic, pneumonic, and urinary tract infections. Recently, pathogenic strains of K. pneumoniae sharing a hypermucoviscosity (HMV) phenotype have been attributed to multisystemic abscessation in both human and nonhuman primates. Although K. pneumoniae is a well-recognized zoonotic agent, there is a lack of general information including adequate diagnostic methods or treatments for nonhuman primates.In an effort to increase the body of knowledge of this enigmatic pathogen, K. pneumoniae isolates from African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) on the island of St. Kitts, West Indies were genotypically and phenotypically characterized. Genetic fingerprints generated by PCRmediated genomic fingerprinting, phenotypic characterization, and antimicrobial susceptibility all identified a high degree of similarity between the HMV and non-HMV K. pneumoniae isolates. The results obtained from this work will help establish a baseline for the development of efficacious diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for both human and nonhuman primates.

First case report of non‐human primates (Alouatta clamitans) with the hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype K1 strain ST 23: A possible emerging wildlife pathogen

“…The hypermucovisity phenotype of K . pneumoniae has not been reported as the natural cause of diseases in NHPs but is characterized by a subclinical infection associated with virulence factors and evasion mechanisms used by the pathogen, and the innate immune system . This is exemplified by the ability of these bacteria to evade and survive.…”

“…However, to date, K. pneumoniae serotype K1 strain ST23 has not yet been reported as a pathogen in wild and captive NHP in Brazil. Complete genotyping and phenotyping characterization of the microorganism is essential to establish adequate diagnostic methods …”

Resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to the innate immune system of African green monkeys

“…Bacterial strains and culture conditions K. pneumoniae strains isolated from septicemic AGM with single or multifocal abscesses were isolated at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory from 2010 to 2012. Identification of the isolates was made according to standard clinical microbiologic and molecular methods (Soto et al, 2012;Hartman et al, 2009). All isolates were suspended in brain-heart infusion broth (BHI) (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) with a final concentration of 20% glycerol and stored at À80 8C before use.…”

“…While African green monkeys (AGM), commonly used in biomedical research worldwide, have been reported with fatal multisystemic abscesses caused by HMV serotypes of K. pneumoniae (Twenhafel et al, 2008;Hartman et al, 2009;Soto et al, 2012) very little is known about the pathogenesis of HMV K. pneumoniae infection in this host. To gain a better understanding about the pathogenesis of this important emergent disease in primates, we compared specific components of the AGM innate immune response to HMV and non-HMV K. pneumoniae isolates previously recovered from clinically affected AGM.…”

Klebsiella: a long way to go towards understanding this enigmatic jet-setter

“…As in humans, infections of the respiratory tract, urinary tract, sepsis, and abscesses are the most common infection types [38,39]. K. pneumoniae is also of particular concern in dairy farms as it causes mastitis and leads to loss of milk production and death of affected livestock [40–42].…”