Erysipelothrix, Corynebacterium, Rhodococcus

Question 1

Genus Erysipelothrix

Answer 1

Produces erysipeloid disease thats zoonotic and occupational
Humans acquire after direct contact

Question 2

Important species under Erysipelothrix

Answer 2

E. rhusiopathiae **
E. tonsillarum (clinical disease)
E. inopinata

Question 3

E. rhusiopathiae

Answer 3

Gram +, filamentous, urease and catalase -, non spore forming, H2S production
Anaerobe that grows with glucose in 5-10% CO2

Question 4

What is E. rhusiopathiae survival

Answer 4

Resistant to drying, withstands salting, pickling and smoking
Survives 6 months in swine feces, fish slime at cool temps

Question 5

E. rhusiopathiae distribution

Answer 5

Sewage, surface slime of fresh and saltwater fish and soil

Question 6

___________ most prominent reservoir for E. rhusiopathiae

Answer 6

SWINE

Question 7

Transmission of E. rhusiopathiae

Answer 7

Ingestion of contaminated material and arthropod bites (open wound for bacteria to invade)
In people that handle meat (butcher, farmer, etc)

Question 8

E. rhusiopathiae septicemic infection in swine

Answer 8

Acute form
Causes vomiting, stiff gait, palpable skin, high mortality if untreated
Smooth colonies

Question 9

E. rhusiopathiae skin form in swine

Answer 9

Mild red to purle rohboidals “Diamond skin lesion” with mild fever

Question 10

E. rhusiopathiae chronic form in swine

Answer 10

Localization
Endocarditis, polyarthritis, stiffness, enlargement of joints, abortion
Forms rough colonies

Question 11

E. rhusiopathiae in birds

Answer 11

Septicemic from in turkeys, cyanotic skin , droopy and death

Question 12

E. rhusiopathiae in sheep

Answer 12

Polyarthritis in common

Question 13

E. rhusiopathiae in dogs

Answer 13

Arthritis and endocarditis

Question 14

E. rhusiopathiae in humans

Answer 14

Erysepeloid infection of the skin and subcutis

Question 15

How are E. rhusiopathiae organisms grouped

Answer 15

A (acute) or B & N (chronic)
Based on agglutination detection of somatic Ag

Question 16

What treats E. rhusiopathiae?

Answer 16

Penicillin in swine and turkeys
Vx
Hyper-immune equine serum for therapy if outbreak occurs

Question 17

What antibiotics is E. rhusiopathiae resistant to?

Answer 17

Sulfonamides, aminoglycosides and vancomycin

Question 18

Genus Corynebacterium

Answer 18

Catalase and Gram +, pleomorphic, non-spore forming, nonmotile and branching
Occurs in paralel or “Chinese letters” called diphtheroid

Question 19

Prominent Corynebacterium pathogens

Answer 19

C. pseudotuberculosis and C. renale (C. pilosum and cystitidis)

Question 20

C. pseudotuberculosis

Answer 20

Worldwide and found in equids, sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo, camelids
Direct contact and aerosol transmission
Soil dwelling
Portal of entry is wounds

Question 21

Ulcerative lymphangitis and ventral abscess (Pigeon Fever in Horses)

Answer 21

3 forms:
1. Ulcerative lymphangitis/ limb infection
2. External abscesses
3. Internal infection

Question 22

C. (ovis) pseudotuberculosis

Answer 22

In sheep and goat an agent of caseous lymphadenitis with chronic abscess of peripheral LN
Metastitic lesions with thin ewe syndrome

Question 23

What does C. pseudotuberculosis cause in bovine?

Answer 23

Abscess and mastitis

Question 24

Treatment of C. pseudotuberculosis

Answer 24

Lancing and draining, surgical excision, formalin injection of lesions, systemic and intralesional antibiotics
Culling/ segregation
Equine abscess= surgery + penicillin

Question 25

What diseases does the C. renale group cause?

Answer 25

Contagious bovine pyelonephritis Urethritis and pyelonephritis Ulcerative posthitis in bulls and adult wethers Vulvitis in ewes

Question 26

Genus Rhodococcus

Answer 26

Pleomorphic, Gram + bacilli, non spore forming, intracellular anaerobic, catalase +

Question 27

R. equi agar appearance

Answer 27

Produces mucoid colony on blood agar = Milk- drop appearance

Question 28

R. equi's ___________ produces synergic hemolysis with _________ and _________

Answer 28

1. cholesterol oxidase 2. S. Aureus 3. C.pseudotuberculosis

Question 29

R. equi morphology

Answer 29

Encapsulated and weakly acid fast (mycolic acid)

Question 30

Where is R. equi present?

Answer 30

Large numbers in feces of healthy foals and older horses

Question 31

Infection by R. equi

Answer 31

Acquired via inhalation of dust Foals (<6 months) get bronchopneumonia Abscess in cats, caprine, ovine, canine, crocs, seals

Question 32

R. equi in horses

Answer 32

Ulcerative lymphadenitis

Question 33

R. equi in bovine and pigs

Answer 33

B: Ulcerative lymphangitis P: Cervical lymphadentitis

Question 34

R. equi in humans

Answer 34

Pyogranulomatous pneumonia in patients with AIDS

Question 35

Diagnosis of R. equi

Answer 35

Culture of tracheal aspirates, broncho-alveolar lavage and pus PCR Thoracic radiographs (lung)

Question 36

Treatment for R. equi

Answer 36

Hyperimmune era @ 2-3 weeks Clarithromycin and rifampin (penetrate macros)