WATER-BORNE EMERGING ZOONOSE? CASE REPORT ON ERYSIPELAS (ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE) IN HARBOUR PORPOISES (PHOCOENA PHOCOENA) AND HARBOUR SEAL (PHOCA VITULINA).

BOSERET Géraldine (1)(2), SAEGERMAN Claude (2), MAINIL Jacques (1), JAUNIAUX Thierry (3).(1) Bacteriology and pathology of bacterial diseases, Department of infectious and parasitic diseases, Veterinary College,

University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium(2) Current address : Epidemiology and risk analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULg), Department of infectious and

parasitic diseases, Veterinary College, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium(3) Veterinary pathology, Department of pathology and morphology, Veterinary College, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium

 Corresponding author: geraldine.boseret@ulg.ac.be

Introduction

Bacterial analyses

Necropsy findings

Discussion and conclusions

Brooke, C.J.,Riley, T.V. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae: Bacteriology, epidemiology and clinical manifestations of an occupational pathogen. 1999. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 48 (9), 789-799.Brownstein, D.,Miller, M.A.,Oates, S.C.,Byrne, B.A,Jang, S,Murray, M.J.,Gill, V.A,Jessup, D.A. Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from sea otters (Enhydra Lutris). Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 2011. 47 (2), 278-292.Harada, K. ,Amano, K, Akimoto, S,Yamamoto, K,Yamamoto, Y.Yanagihara, K., Kohno, S.,Kishida, N.,Takahashi, T. Serological and pathogenic characterization of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolates from two human cases of endocarditis in Japan. New Microbiologica. 2011. 34 (4), 409-412 .Higgins, R. Bacteria and fungi of marine mammals: A review. Can Vet. J. 2000. 41( 2), 105-116.Hunt, T.D.,Ziccardi, M.H.,Gulland, F.M.D.,Yochem, P.K.c,Hird, D.W.ad,Rowles, T.e,Mazet, J.A.K. Health risks for marine mammals workers. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 2008. 81(1), 81-92.Melero, M.a ,Rubio-Guerri, C.a,Crespo, J.L.,Arbelo, M.,Vela, A.I.,García-Párraga, D.,Sierra, E.,Domínguez, L.,Sánchez-Vizcaíno, J.M. First case of erysipelas in a free-ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in the Mediterranean Sea. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 2011. 97 (2) 167-170.Siebert, U. ,Prenger-Berninghoff, E,Weiss, R. Regional differences in bacterial flora in harbour porpoises from the North Atlantic: Environmental effects? Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2009. 106 (1), 329-337.

Acknowledgments : MARIN project, Ceto-club of University of Liège.

o E. rhusiopathiae could be considered as involved in death of the three stranded animals described thereaboveo Stress could be at the origin of E. rhusiopathiae systemic spreading, as the seal was entangled in nets before stranding and both porpoises were

heavily parasited. o Origin of the bacteria presence in these animals could be:- Commensal flora (Siebert et al., 2009)- Food (Brooke et Riley, 1999)- Environment (Brooke and Riley, 1999)o E. rhusiopatiae is known to have a zoonotic spreading potential, directly related to marine animals handling (“seal finger”: Hunt et al., 2008;

endocarditis : Harada et al., 2011).

In conclusion, E. rhusiopathiae could be considered as a potentially emerging pathogen which could have in some extend repercussions on human health, particularly veterinarians, marine mammals rescue teams and zoos. Biosecurity should then be increased in these particular situations.

The reciprocal effect (from human to animal) could be also hypothetised, as pathogens’ burden in wild marine mammals could be directly putted in correlation with increasing human activities (Siebert et al., 2009).

Necropsy and bacteriological findings are summarized in table 1. As the bodies were in good condition, analyses could be performed with a high degree of accuracy.

 

Pure and abundant culture of a small rod-shaped, Gram-labile bacterium was obtained aerobically and anaerobically on Columbia blood agar. The colonies were alpha-hemolytic, catalase- negative and

peroxydase-negative. Biochemical sugar tests (Rapid ID 32 Strepto, Biomérieux, France) confirmed the identity of this isolate with

99% certainty as Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infections have been long ago reported in captive marine mammals but few cases have been brought to knowledge involving wild species, both cetaceans and pinnipeds (Higgins et al., 2000; Melero et al., 2011 Brownstein et al., 2011). We report here three cases of systemic infections in two harbour porpoises (Phocoena

phocoena) and one harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) stranded along the Belgian coast, and we questioned the hypothesis whether, as erysipelas is a zoonosis, sea animals could represent a threat for public health.

.

Species/reference

Emaciation Macroscopic lesions Remarks Bacteriology: isolation of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Enteric Pulmonary Other Skin Heart blood

Lung Digestive tract

Liver Spleen Brain Lymph nodes

Upper respiratory tract

skin

Phoca vitulina A02/1289

Yes Acute haemorraghic enteritis

Acute muco-haemorrhagic broncho-pneumonia

Subcutaneaous disseminated petechiae

No By-catch - - + - - nd + + -

Phocoena phocoena A02/165

Yes / Acute haemorrhagic broncho-pneumonia

/ No Mutisystemic parasitism

+ + + - - nd nd + -

Phocoena phocoena A08/001

Yes / Acute haemorrhagic broncho-pneumonia

Acute peritonitis; disseminated petechiae

Yes Mutisystemic parasitism

+ + - + - + nd nd -

Table 1: Summary of macroscopic lesions and bacteriological findings. Legend: +: isolation of E. rhusiopathiae in the organ; - : no evidence of E. rhusiopathiae .Nd: no data available

Fig 2 : Haemorrhagic acute enteritis in a harbour seal necropsied at the University of Liège.

Arrow: a segment of congestive small intestine.

Fig 3 : E. rhusiopathiae. Left: Culture on Columbia agar . Center: positive Gram-staining. Right: Rapid ID 32 Strepto results: positive for E. rhusiopathiae

Fig 1 : Left: Diamond-shaped lesion in captive dolphins. Center and right: respectively harbour seal and harbour porpoise found stranded along the belgian coast.

Fig 4: Dead stranded harbour porpoise and come-by wanderers: what’s the risk for human health?

HE 16