Erysipelothrix

Question 1

Principal Characteristics of Erysipelothrix

Answer 1

Small

Gram Positive rods

Question 2

Reproduction and Motility of Erysipelothrix

Answer 2

Non-sporeforming

Non-motile

Question 3

Enzyme test reaction and respiratory requirement of Erysipelothrix

Answer 3

Oxidase negative
Coagulase positive

Facultative anaerobic and fermentative

Question 4

Habitat and Ecology of Erysipelothrix

Answer 4

Mucous membranes of normal swine and some other animals
(Survie in the intestinal tracts of nonporcine animals and immune pigs
Isolated from the tonsils of apparently healthy pigs)

Can live in soil for 20 days or longer
(Alkaline soil with high content of organic matter favor survival for long periods
Recovered from sewage effluent)

Carrier pigs are the primary reservoirs

Question 5

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (insidiosa)

Answer 5

Lambs, calves - Polyarthritis

Pigs, turkeys, marine mammals, dogs/cats - Erysipelas (Diamond skin ds)

Human - Erysipeloid

Question 6

Public Health Significance of Erysipelothrix

Answer 6

Occupational disease of veterinarians, packing house workers, butchers, and fish handlers

Organisms enter the skin (intact or broken)

Localized infection involving the hand or fingers

Question 7

Pathogenicity of Erysipelothrix

Answer 7

Facultative intracellular parasite

can survive inside macrophages

can penetrate intact skin

Question 8

Four forms of Erysipelothrix in swine

Answer 8

Acute septicemic form
Skin/Urticarial form - Diamond skin ds
Non suppurative arthritic form - pannus formation
Chronic cardiac form - valvular endocarditis

Question 9

Virulence Factor of Erysipelothrix

Answer 9

Nueraminidase cleaves neuraminic/sialic acid present on host cell surface, leading to vascular damage and hyaline thrombus formation (main mechanism)

Hyaluronidase hydrolyses hyaluronic acid