scholarly journals Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis with Bartonella washoensis in a Human European Patient and Its Detection in Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Friederike D. von Loewenich ◽  
Christof Seckert ◽  
Elke Dauber ◽  
Marja J. L. Kik ◽  
Ankje de Vries ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prosthetic Valve ◽  
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Members of the genus Bartonella are fastidious Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacteria that are typically transmitted by arthropod vectors. Several Bartonella spp. have been found to cause culture-negative endocarditis in humans. Here, we report the case of a 75-year-old German woman with prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Bartonella washoensis. The infecting agent was characterized by sequencing of six housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, ftsZ, gltA, groEL, ribC, and rpoB), applying a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach. The 5,097 bp of the concatenated housekeeping gene sequence from the patient were 99.0% identical to a sequence from a B. washoensis strain isolated from a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) from China. A total of 39% (24/62) of red squirrel (S. vulgaris) samples from the Netherlands were positive for the B. washoensis gltA gene variant detected in the patient. This suggests that the red squirrel is the reservoir host for human infection in Europe.

scholarly journals Fatal exudative dermatitis in island populations of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris): spillover of a virulent Staphylococcus aureus clone (ST49) from reservoir hosts

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Fountain ◽  
Tiffany Blackett ◽  
Helen Butler ◽  
Catherine Carchedi ◽  
Anna-Katarina Schilling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Bacterial Cell Membrane ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

Fatal exudative dermatitis (FED) is a significant cause of death of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands where it is associated with a virulent clone of Staphylococcus aureus, ST49. S. aureus ST49 has been found in other hosts such as small mammals, pigs and humans, but the dynamics of carriage and disease of this clone, or any other lineage in red squirrels, is currently unknown. We used whole-genome sequencing to characterize 228 isolates from healthy red squirrels on Jersey, the Isle of Arran (Scotland) and Brownsea Island (England), from red squirrels showing signs of FED on Jersey and the Isle of Wight (England) and a small number of isolates from other hosts. S. aureus was frequently carried by red squirrels on the Isle of Arran with strains typically associated with small ruminants predominating. For the Brownsea carriage, S. aureus was less frequent and involved strains associated with birds, small ruminants and humans, while for the Jersey carriage S. aureus was rare but ST49 predominated in diseased squirrels. By combining our data with publicly available sequences, we show that the S. aureus carriage in red squirrels largely reflects frequent but facile acquisitions of strains carried by other hosts sharing their habitat (‘spillover’), possibly including, in the case of ST188, humans. Genome-wide association analysis of the ruminant lineage ST133 revealed variants in a small number of mostly bacterial-cell-membrane-associated genes that were statistically associated with squirrel isolates from the Isle of Arran, raising the possibility of specific adaptation to red squirrels in this lineage. In contrast there is little evidence that ST49 is a common carriage isolate of red squirrels and infection from reservoir hosts such as bank voles or rats, is likely to be driving the emergence of FED in red squirrels.

A novel dicistrovirus in a captive red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akbar Dastjerdi ◽  
David J. Everest ◽  
Hannah Davies ◽  
Daniela Denk ◽  
Roland Zell
Keyword(s):  
Genome Organization ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Particle Morphology ◽  
Intestinal Content ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
The Family ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Dicistroviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses in the family Dicistroviridae. The viruses have mainly been detected in arthropods and are the cause of several devastating diseases in many of these species such as honeybees. Increasingly, dicistroviruses have also been detected in both mammalian and avian species in faeces, blood and liver, but with unconfirmed pathology. Here, we report a novel dicistrovirus detected in the intestinal content of a captive red squirrel with enteritis along with the disease history, pathology and genomic characterisation of the virus. Virus particle morphology resembled those of picornaviruses with a diameter of 28–32 nm but failed to be detected using a mammalian/avian pan viral microarray. Next-generation sequencing confirmed a dicistrovirus having a typical dicistrovirus genome organization, but with the polyprotein 1 being shorter by about 100 amino acids, compared to that of other dicistroviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF1 and ORF2 sequences clustered the virus with two yet unassigned dicistroviruses detected in Gorilla gorilla and a freshwater arthropod and likely to be designated to a new genus. Our data further highlights the ever-growing diversity of dicistroviruses, but the clinical significance of the virus in mammalian species and particularly red squirrels has yet to be established.

scholarly journals The spinal nerves that constitute the brachial plexus in the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 405-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Aydin
Keyword(s):  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Spinal Nerves

The brachial plexus in adult red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) was found to be formed by the rami ventralis of C5, C6, C7, C8. A thin branch of C5 and C6 constituted the cranial trunk, and the caudal trunk was formed completely by the rami ventralis of C7 and C8. Thus, in squirrels, the spinal nerves which form the brachial plexus and the joining of these spinal nerves to each other differ from other rodents and mammals.

scholarly journals Population fragmentation leads to morpho-functional variation in British red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip G. Cox ◽  
Philip J.R. Morris ◽  
Andrew C. Kitchener
Keyword(s):  
Functional Divergence ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Population Fragmentation ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Functional Variation ◽  
Linear Measurements ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
The Uk

AbstractIt is well-known that population fragmentation and isolation can lead to rapid morphological and functional divergence, with the effect being particularly well-documented in rodents. Here, we investigated whether such a phenomenon could be identified in the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), which was once widespread across the majority of Great Britain, but suffered a severe population decline across the 20th century, leaving a highly fragmented distribution. The aim was to test for morphological and biomechanical variation of the mandible between the remaining British red squirrel populations. Linear and geometric morphometric methods were used to analyse shape in a sample of over 250 squirrel mandibles from across the UK and Germany. Canonical variates analysis identified significant shape differences between most British red squirrel populations, but particularly between squirrels from Formby and those from other populations. Linear measurements showed that Formby red squirrels have a significantly lower mechanical advantage of the temporalis muscle, indicating that they are less efficient at gnawing. We suggest that this difference may be related to past supplemental feeding of Formby squirrels with peanuts, which are less mechanically resistant than food items that occur naturally in the diet of British red squirrels.

scholarly journals Bartonella quintana as a cause for prosthetic valve endocarditis and post-sternotomy mediastinitis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nienke L. Plantinga ◽  
Roemer J. Vos ◽  
Lyuba Georgieva ◽  
Nienke Roescher
Keyword(s):  
Type Species ◽  
Prosthetic Valve ◽  
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bartonella Quintana ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

An otherwise healthy patient, with minimal clinical, biochemical and peroperative signs of infection, was diagnosed with Bartonella quintana prosthetic valve endocarditis by 16S PCR. The patient subsequently developed a post-sternotomy mediastinitis and Bartonella quintana was the only detected pathogen. Bartonella quintana can cause severe infections in individuals not classically at risk, and may be missed in the routine diagnostic work-up of endocarditis.

scholarly journals Brown-Pigmented Mycobacterium mageritense as a Cause of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis and Bloodstream Infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 2777-2780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison R. McMullen ◽  
Caline Mattar ◽  
Nigar Kirmani ◽  
Carey-Ann D. Burnham
Keyword(s):  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Prosthetic Valve ◽  
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽  
Brown Pigment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Acid Fast Bacilli ◽  
Valve Tissue ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
Culture Negative

Mycobacterium spp. are a rare cause of endocarditis. Herein, we describe a case of Mycobacterium mageritense prosthetic valve endocarditis. This organism produced an unusual brown pigment on solid media. Cultures of valve tissue for acid-fast bacilli might be considered in some cases of apparently culture-negative prosthetic valve endocarditis.

scholarly journals Identification ofRaoultella terrigenaas a Rare Causative Agent of Subungual Abscess Based on 16S rRNA and Housekeeping Gene Sequencing

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Xiawei Jiang ◽  
Zemin Xu ◽  
Chaoqun Ying ◽  
Wei Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Rare Case ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Pathogen Identification ◽  
Rrna Sequencing ◽  
Vitek 2 ◽  
Raoultella Terrigena

A 63-year-old-man was admitted to our hospital with severe subungual abscess. Bacteria were isolated from pus samples, and an inconsistent identification was shown by VITEK 2 system and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry asRaoultella planticolaandRaoultella terrigena, respectively. Molecular identification by 16S rRNA sequencing suggested that the isolate isR. terrigena, and this was further demonstrated by sequencing three housekeeping genes (rpoB,gyrA, andparC) with phylogenetic analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of subungual abscess caused byR. terrigena, a rare case of human infection due to soil bacterium. Our study highlights the technique importance on this pathogen identification.

scholarly journals Mycoplasma hominis, a Rare but True Cause of Infective Endocarditis

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 3068-3071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amandine Gagneux-Brunon ◽  
Florence Grattard ◽  
Jerome Morel ◽  
Florence Suy ◽  
Jean-François Fuzellier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infective Endocarditis ◽  
Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Prosthetic Valve ◽  
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽  
Mycoplasma Hominis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
16S Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Mycoplasma Spp

Mycoplasma spp. are rarely recognized agents of infective endocarditis. We report a case ofMycoplasma hominisprosthetic valve endocarditis diagnosed by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR and culture of valves in a 74-year-old man. We reviewed the literature and found only 8 other cases reported.

scholarly journals Corynebacterium freneyi as a cause of early prosthetic valve endocarditis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. e245152
Author(s):  
Bjørnar Grenne ◽  
Håvard Dalen ◽  
Dag Ole Nordhaug ◽  
Torgeir Sand-Aas ◽  
Espen Holte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Infective Endocarditis ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Prosthetic Valve ◽  
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Causative Pathogen ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Threatening Situation

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with severe complications and a high mortality rate. Identification of the causative pathogen is crucial to optimise treatment. We present a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium freneyi, a very rare cause of human infection and not previously reported as a cause of IE. Despite proper antibiotic therapy, the patient eventually needed surgery after progression of the infection. After surgery, he quickly recovered without evidence of relapse during an 8-month follow-up period. This report highlights critical decision making in a complex and potentially life-threatening situation, where neither guidelines nor previous clinical or microbiological experience were able to give clear treatment recommendations.

Is coat-colour polymorphism in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris L.) adaptive?

Mammalia ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc A. Wauters ◽  
Massimiliano Zaninetti ◽  
Guido Tosi ◽  
Sandro Bertolino
Keyword(s):  
Coat Colour ◽  
Colour Polymorphism ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Sciurus Vulgaris ◽  
Red Squirrels

Coat-colour polymorphism, the relative frequencies of red, brown and black fur-morphs, was examined in nine populations of the Eurasian red squirrel (

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