Search

In this study, we investigated the change in microbiome composition of wild Sichuan takin ( Budorcas tibetanus ) during winter and spring and analyzed the physiological implications for such changes. Diversity analyses of the microbiome (average 15,091 high-quality reads per sample) in 24 fecal samples (15 from winter, 9 from spring) revealed that spring samples had higher species diversity and were compositionally different from winter samples (P < 0.05). Taxonomic composition analysis showed that the relative abundance increased in spring for Patescibacteria (2.7% vs. 0.9% in winter, P < 0.001) and Tenericutes (1.9% vs. 1% in winter, P < 0.05). Substantial increases in relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Micrococcaceae were identified in spring and winter, respectively. Mann-Whitney U and ANCOM identified seven differentially abundant genera: Enterococcus, Acetitomaculum , Blautia , Coprococcus 1, Lachnospiraceae UCG 008, Ruminococcus 2 and Ralstonia . All seven genera were significantly more abundant in spring (average 0.016-1.2%) than winter (average 0-0.16%), with the largest difference found in Ruminococcus (1.21% in spring vs. 0.16% in winter). The other six genera were undetectable in winter. Functional prediction and pathway analysis revealed that biosynthesis of cofactors (ko01240) had the highest gene count ratios in the winter, followed by the two-component system (ko02020). Seasonal variation affects the gut microbiomes in wild Sichuan takins, with winter associated with lower species diversity and spring with enrichment of cellulose-degrading genera and phytopathogens. Such changes were crucial in their adaptation to the environment, particularly the difference in food abundance., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Pet bite-related infections are commonly caused by the pet's oral flora transmitted to the animal handlers through the bite wounds. In this study, we isolated a streptococcus, HKU75 T , in pure culture from the purulent discharge collected from a guinea pig bite wound in a previously healthy young patient. HKU75 T was alpha-hemolytic on sheep blood agar and agglutinated with Lancefield group D and group G antisera. API 20 STREP showed that the most likely identity for HKU75 T was S. suis I with 85.4% confidence while Vitek 2 showed that HKU75 T was unidentifiable. MALDI-TOF MS identified HKU75 T as Streptococcus suis (score of 1.86 only). 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that HKU75 T was most closely related to S. parasuis (98.3% nucleotide identity), whereas partial groEL and rpoB gene sequencing showed that it was most closely related to S. suis (81.8% and 89.8% nucleotide identity respectively). Whole genome sequencing and intergenomic distance determined by ANI revealed that there was <85% identity between the genome of HKU75 T and those of all other known Streptococcus species. Genome classification using concatenated sequences of 92 bacterial core genes showed that HKU75 T belonged to the Suis group. groEL gene sequences identical to that of HKU75 T could be directly amplified from the oral cavities of the two guinea pigs owned by the patient. HKU75 T is a novel Streptococcus species, which we propose to be named S. oriscaviae . The oral cavity of guinea pigs is presumably a reservoir of S. oriscaviae . Some of the reported S. suis strains isolated from clinical specimens may be S. oriscaviae . IMPORTANCE We reported the discovery of a novel Streptococcus species, propose to be named Streptococcus oriscaviae, from the pus collected from a guinea pig bite wound in a healthy young patient. The bacterium was initially misidentified as S. suis/ S. parasuis by biochemical tests, mass spectrometry. and housekeeping genes sequencing. Its novelty was confirmed by whole genome sequencing. Comparative genomic studies showed that S. oriscaviae belongs to the Suis group. S. oriscaviae sequences were detected in the oral cavities of the two guinea pigs owned by the patient, suggesting that the oral cavity of guinea pigs could be a reservoir of S. oriscaviae . Some of the reported S. suis strains may be S. oriscaviae . Further studies are warranted to refine our knowledge on this novel Streptococcus species.

Since the emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012, there have been a surge in the discovery and evolutionary studies of viruses in dromedaries. Here, we investigated a herd of nine dromedary calves from Umm Al Quwain, the United Arab Emirates that developed respiratory signs. Viral culture of the nasal swabs from the nine calves on Vero cells showed two different types of cytopathic effects (CPEs), suggesting the presence of two different viruses. Three samples showed typical CPEs of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Vero cells, which was confirmed by partial RdRp gene sequencing. Complete genome sequencing of the three MERS-CoV strains showed that they belonged to clade B3, most closely related to another dromedary MERS-CoV isolate previously detected in Dubai. They also showed evidence of recombination between lineages B4 and B5 in ORF1ab. Another three samples showed non-typical CPEs of MERS-CoV with cell rounding, progressive degeneration, and detachment. Electron microscopy revealed spherical viral particles with peplomers and diameter of about 170nm. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis showed that the genome organization (3'-N-P-M-F-HN-L-5') was typical of paramyxovirus. They possessed typical genome features similar to other viruses of the genus Respirovirus , including a conserved motif 323 FAPGNYALSYAM 336 in the N protein, RNA editing sites 5'- 717 AAAAAAGGG 725 -3', and 5'- 1038 AGAAGAAAGAAAGG 1051 -3' (mRNA sense) in the P gene with multiple polypeptides coding capacity, a nuclear localization signal sequence 245 KVGRMYSVEYCKQKIEK 261 in the M protein, a conserved sialic acid binding motif 252 NRKSCS 257 in the HN protein, conserved lengths of the leader (55nt) and trailer (51nt) sequences, total coding percentages (92.6-93.4%), gene-start (AGGANNAAAG), gene-end (NANNANNAAAAA), and trinucleotide intergenic sequences (CTT, mRNA sense). Phylogenetic analysis of their complete genomes showed that they were most closely related to bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) genotype C strains. In the phylogenetic tree constructed using the complete L protein, the branch length between dromedary camel PIV3 (DcPIV3) and the nearest node is 0.04, which is >0.03, the definition used for species demarcation in the family Paramyxoviridae . Therefore, we show that DcPIV3 is a novel species of the genus Respirovirus that co-circulated with MERS-CoV in a dromedary herd in the Middle East., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Teng, Wernery, Lee, Fung, Joseph, Li, Elizabeth, Fong, Chan, Chen, Lau and Woo.)

In this study, we reported the prevalence and mechanism associated with the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive phenotype in Laribacter hongkongensis isolated from patients and fish. Using the inhibition zone enhancement test, 20 (95.2%) of the 21 patient strains and 8 (57.1%) of the 14 fish strains were tested ESBL-positive. However, ESBL genes, including SHV, TEM, CTX-M, GES, and PER, were not detected in all of these 28 L. hongkongensis isolates. No ESBL gene could be detected in either the complete genome of L. hongkongensis HLHK9 or the draft genome of PW3643. PCR and DNA sequencing revealed that all the 35 L. hongkongensis isolates (showing both ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative phenotypes) were positive for the ampC gene. When the AmpC deletion mutant, HLHK9 ΔampC , was subject to the zone enhancement test, the difference of zone size between ceftazidime/clavulanate and ceftazidime was less than 5 mm. When boronic acid was added to the antibiotic disks, none of the 28 "ESBL-positive" isolates showed a ≥ 5 mm enhancement of inhibition zone size diameter between ceftazidime/clavulanate and ceftazidime and between cefotaxime/clavulanate and cefotaxime. A high prevalence (80%) of ESBL-positive phenotype is present in L. hongkongensis . Overall, our results suggested that the ESBL-positive phenotype in L. hongkongensis results from the expression of the intrinsic AmpC beta-lactamase. Confirmatory tests should be performed before issuing laboratory reports for L. hongkongensis isolates that are tested ESBL-positive by disk diffusion clavulanate inhibition test., Competing Interests: PW has provided scientific advisory/laboratory services for Gilead Sciences, Incorporated; International Health Management Associates, Incorporated; Merck & Corporation, Incorporated and Pfizer, Incorporated. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Teng, Luo, Tang, Fong, Wang, Jia, Wong, Chan, Leung, Siu, Chiu, Fung, Wu, Yeung, Lau and Woo.)

Three bacterial strains, HKU70 T , HKU71 T and HKU72 T , were isolated from the conjunctival swab, blood and sputum samples of three patients with conjunctivitis, bacteraemia and respiratory infection, respectively, in Hong Kong. The three strains were aerobic, Gram-stain positive, catalase-positive, non-sporulating and non-motile bacilli and exhibited unique biochemical profiles distinguishable from currently recognized Tsukamurella species. 16S rRNA, secA , rpoB and groEL gene sequence analyses revealed that the three strains shared 99.6-99.9, 94.5-96.8, 95.7-97.8 and 97.7-98.9 % nucleotide identities with their corresponding closest Tsukamurella species respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization confirmed that they were distinct from other known species of the genus Tsukamurella (26.2±2.4 to 36.8±1.2 % DNA-DNA relatedness), in line with results of in silico genome-to-genome comparison (32.2-40.9 % Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator and 86.3-88.9 % average nucleotide identity values]. Fatty acids, mycolic acids, cell-wall sugars and peptidoglycan analyses showed that they were typical of members of Tsukamurella . The G+C content determined based on the genome sequence of strains HKU70 T , HKU71 T and HKU72 T were 69.9, 70.2 and 70.5 mol%, respectively. Taken together, our results supported the proposition and description of three new species, i.e. Tsukamurella sputi HKU70 T (=JCM 33387 T =DSM 109106 T ) sp. nov., Tsukamurella asaccharolytica HKU71 T (=JCM 33388 T =DSM 109107 T ) sp. nov. and Tsukamurella conjunctivitidis HKU72 T (=JCM 33389 T =DSM 109108 T ) sp. nov.

We characterized a strain of Laribacter hongkongensis isolated from the blood of a patient with fatal sepsis, who had alcoholic cirrhosis with ascites and portal hypertension. L. hongkongensis bacteremia is associated with underlying liver diseases (P < 0.001) and mortality (P < 0.05), whereas L. hongkongensis gastroenteritis is associated with recent travel history (P < 0.05)., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection in a captive giant panda in Hong Kong. The viral load peaked on day 1 and became undetectable on day 5, and an antibody response developed. Genome analysis showed 99.3%-99.9% nucleotide identity between the virus and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus circulating in Hong Kong.

Background: Nocardiosis is often a multi-systemic disease in humans and other mammals. Nocardiosis in birds is uncommon. Laboratory identification of Nocardia to the species level is difficult by traditional phenotypic methods based on biochemical reactions and hydrolysis tests, and is most accurately performed by sequencing multiple gene targets., Case Presentation: We report the first case of fatal Nocardia nova infection in a yellow-bibbed lory nestling in an oceanarium diagnosed by multilocus sequencing. Necropsy examination showed effacement of normal sternal musculature with yellowish, firm aberrant material, and diffuse infiltration of the lungs with nodular, tan to yellow foci. Histologically, severe granulomatous inflammation with marked necrosis was observed in the lung, spleen and sternal musculature. Fine, sometimes Gram-positive, 0.5-1 μm wide, branching and beaded filamentous organisms were visible within the lesions. They were acid-fast on Fite-Faraco stain. Tissue samples obtained from the sternum, liver, right lung and right kidney recovered Nocardia species. Sequencing of four gene loci and phylogenetic analysis of concatenated (gyrB-16S-secA1-hsp65) sequences revealed that the isolate was N. nova., Conclusions: We report the first case of N. nova infection in yellow-bibbed lorry (Lorius chlorocercus). The present case is the first one of which the species identity of the isolate was determined by multilocus sequencing. Molecular diagnosis is important for identifying the Nocardia to species level and understanding the epidemiology of nocardiosis in birds.

Five bacterial strains, UAE-HKU57 T , UAE-HKU58, UAE-HKU59, UAE-HKU60 and UAE-HKU61, were isolated in Dubai, UAE, from necrotic foot tissue samples of four dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) and associated maggots (Wohrlfartia species). They were non-sporulating, Gram-negative, non-motile bacilli. They grew well under aerobic conditions at 37 °C, but not anaerobically. The pH range for growth was pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5-8.0) and the strains could tolerate NaCl concentrations (w/v) up to 2 % (optimum, 0.5 %). They were catalase- and cytochrome oxidase-positive, but caseinase-, gelatinase- and urease-negative. Their phenotypic characters were distinguishable from other closely related species. Phylogenetic analyses of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene and partial 23S rRNA gene, gyrB, groEL and recA sequences revealed that the five isolates were most closely related to undescribed Ignatzschineria strain F8392 and Ignatzschineria indica, but in most phylogenies clustered separately from these close relatives. Average nucleotide identity analysis showed that genomes of the five isolates (2.47-2.52 Mb, G+C content 41.71-41.86 mol%) were 98.00-99.97% similar to each other, but ≤87.18 % similar to other Ignatzschineriaspecies/strains. Low DNA relatedness between the five isolates to other Ignatzschineriaspecies/strains was also supported by Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator analysis. The chemotaxonomic traits of the five strains were highly similar. They were non-susceptible (intermediate or resistant) to tetracycline and resistant to trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole. The name Ignatzschineria cameli sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these five strains, with strain UAE-HKU57 T (=CCOS1165 T =NBRC 113042 T ) as the type strain.

Although Tsukamurella infections have been increasingly reported in Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, indicating that diseases caused by this group of bacteria are emerging in a global scale, species identification within this genus is difficult in most clinical microbiology laboratories. Recently, we showed that groEL gene sequencing is useful for identification of all existing Tsukamurella species. Nevertheless, PCR sequencing is still considered expensive, time-consuming, and technically demanding, and therefore is yet to be incorporated as a routine identification method in clinical laboratories. Using groEL gene sequencing as the reference method, 60 Tsukamurella isolates were identified as five different Tsukamurella species [T. tyrosinosolvens (n = 31), T. pulmonis (n = 25), T. hongkongensis (n = 2), T. strandjordii (n = 1), and T. sinensis (n = 1)]. The most common source of the patient isolates were the eye (n = 18), sputum (n = 6), and blood (n = 6). None of the 60 isolates were identified correctly to species level by MALDI-TOF MS with the original Bruker database V.6.0.0.0. Using the Bruker database extended with 15 type and reference strains which covered all the currently recognized 11 Tsukamurella species, 59 of the 60 isolates were correctly identified to the species level with score ≥2.0. MALDI-TOF MS should be useful for routine species identification of Tsukamurella in clinical microbiology laboratories after optimization of the database. T. tyrosinosolvens was the most common species observed in patients with Tsukamurella infections and the predominant species associated with ocular infections.

Reverse zoonosis or zooanthroponosis is the transfer of pathogens from humans to animals. Although less studied than zoonotic diseases, this phenomenon poses significant risks to both animal and public health. The increasing human-animal interactions driven by urbanization, globalization, and environmental changes have exacerbated the occurrence of reverse zoonosis. This review evaluated the global impact and transmission patterns of reverse zoonosis, highlighting the anthropogenic and intrinsic factors contributing to its emergence. The study performed a systematic review and included 91 scientific articles published from 2000 to 2022, covering viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and protozoal reverse zoonoses. This study indicated that viral infections, particularly respiratory viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and influenza, have the highest incidence of reverse zoonosis, followed by bacterial infections like tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The United States, India, and Hong Kong are among the most reported regions for reverse zoonotic events. Major risk factors identified include environmental degradation, climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and global wildlife trade. The review underscores the need for enhanced surveillance systems, interdisciplinary collaboration, and stringent regulations on wildlife trade and animal husbandry practices to mitigate the risks associated with reverse zoonosis. Understanding the dynamics of human-animal pathogen transmission is crucial for developing not only effective but also sustainable strategies to protect animal populations as well as public health from emerging infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tsukamurella spp. are obligate aerobic, gram-positive, non-motile, and slightly acid-fast bacilli belonging to the Actinomycetes family. They share many characteristics with Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Gordonia, and the rapidly growing Mycobacterium species. Therefore, standard testing may misidentify Tsukamurella spp. as another species. Accurate and rapid diagnosis is critical for proper infection management, but identification of this bacterium is difficult in the standard laboratory setting. Case presentation A bloodstream infection caused by a gram-positive bacterium and related to a central venous catheter was identified in an immunocompromised 2-year-old girl. Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens was identified by modified secA1 sequencing. Antibiotic treatment and removal of the central venous catheter resolved the infection. Inappropriate management of the catheter during an overnight stay outside of the hospital was considered as a possible source of infection. Conclusions SecA1 sequencing may be a useful diagnostic tool in the identification of T. tyrosinosolvens. Providing proper central venous catheter care instructions to patients, their families, and medical staff is important for infection prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of coinfection with two acid-fast bacilli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Tsukamurella species, in a patient with pulmonary opacities.Topics include the challenges in diagnosing and treating Tsukamurella infections, the need for specialized laboratory tests to identify the pathogen, and the importance of considering non-tuberculosis infections in patients with positive acid-fast smears.

A Gram-staining negative, non-motile, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain HR5S32T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the halophyte Kalidium cuspidatum, in Tumd Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, northern China. Strain HR5S32T grew at 10–40 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum pH 9.0), and 0–12% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2%). It was positive for catalase, methyl red test, Voges–Proskauer test, and nitrate reduction, but negative to oxidase, urease and hydrolysis of Tween 80. The phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences and whole genome both showed that strain HR5S32T was most closely related to Ignatzschineria indica FFA1T (= KCTC 22643 T). Ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) was the major respiratory quinone. Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phospholipid were the major polar lipids. Its major fatty acids were Summed features 8 (C18:1ω6c and/or C18:1ω7c), C16:0, Summed features 3 (C16:1ω6c and/or C16:1ω7c), and C14:0. The genome consisted of a 3,074,733 bp circular chromosome, with a G + C content of 38.8%, predicting 2,763 coding sequence genes, 70 tRNA genes and 6 rRNA. The values of the average nucleotide identities (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of strain HR5S32T to I. indica FFA1T were 74.6% and 22.0%, respectively, hence significantly lower than the thresholds of 95% for ANI and 70% for DDH for species delineation. The results of phenotypic, physiological, genotypic, and phylogenetic tests allowed the differentiation of strain HR5S32T from its closely related species. Ignatzschineria rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is therefore proposed, and the type strain is HR5S32T (= CGMCC 1.19435 T = KCTC 92093 T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glanders is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, a Tier 1 select agent. In this study, we raised a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. mallei and developed a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for B. mallei infection. Using the titrated optimal conditions of B. mallei-LPS (2 ng) for microtiter plate coating, sample serum dilution at 1:20 and 3.5 ng/μL anti-LPS mAb B5, the cutoff value of the cELISA was determined using serum samples from 136 glanders-free seronegative horses in Hong Kong. All calculated percentage inhibition (PI) values from these seronegative samples were below 39.6% inhibition (1.5 standard deviations above mean PI) and was used as the cutoff value. The diagnostic sensitivity of the developed LPS-based cELISA was first evaluated using sera from donkeys and mice inoculated with B. mallei. An increasing trend of PI values above the defined cELISA cutoff observed in the donkey and mouse sera suggested positive detection of anti-LPS antibodies. The sensitivity and specificity of the LPS-based cELISA was further evaluated using 31 serologically positive horse sera from glanders outbreaks in Bahrain and Kuwait, of which 30 were tested positive by the cELISA; and 21 seronegative horse sera and 20 seronegative donkey sera from Dubai, of which all were tested negative by the cELISA. A cELISA with high sensitivity (97.2%) and specificity (100%) for the detection of B. mallei antibodies in different animals was developed. Author summary: Glanders is a highly contagious and life-threatening disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, a Tier 1 select agent, with no available vaccine. The disease is endemic in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America with sporadic outbreaks and mainly occurs in horses, donkeys and mules, although it has also been reported in camels, tigers, lions, and even humans. As the bacterium is not easily isolated from clinical specimens and correct identification based on clinical signs is difficult, it is thus important to develop serological tests which can quickly diagnose B. mallei infection. In this study, we generated a monoclonal antibody against B. mallei lipopolysaccharide and used it to develop a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for the serodiagnosis of B. mallei infection. The developed cELISA was optimized and evaluated using glanders-free and glanders-positive horses, donkeys and mice from Hong Kong and the Middle East, and was shown to be highly sensitive and specific for the detection of glanders in different animals. A simple and inexpensive test to allow for the early detection and diagnosis of suspected clinical cases as well as the screening of apparently asymptomatic animals will be helpful in controlling the spread and elimination of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the complete 17,855 bp mitochondrial genome of Lorius chlorocercus was obtained using sanger sequencing. It consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and a control region. The overall base composition is 22.5% T, 33.18% C, 30.42% A, and13.9% G. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using neighbour-joining (NJ) method based on 19 parrot species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that L. chlorocercus was closest to Melopsittacus undulates. The complete mitogenome data would be useful for further study on the molecular evolution of L. chlorocercus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]