VMICRO – Gram-negative Facultative Anaerobic Rods

1. Colibacillosis of Fowls
ESCHERICHIA  marked by debilitation and chronic diarrhea
 constitute the major microflora of the  fulminating septicemia
gastrointestinal tract  complicated by respiratory infections
 they have the ability to become opportunistic  associated with salpingitis, synovitis, and
microbes in almost all species of animals panophthalmitis
 predisposition to septicemic diseases,
enterotoxigenic diarrhea and edema disease 2. E. coli infection of swine (Swine Colibacillosis)
 marked by colonic malabsorption
Species of Escherichia associated with animal o 3 Distinct Manifestations
infections  Neonatal E.coli enteritis (1-4 days old piglets)
 E. coli  Weanling enteritis (enteritis occurs shortly
after weaning, entero-toxemia cases)
Morphology, staining features and cellular composition  Edema disease (diarrhea, associated w/ age,
 gram-negative rods change in feed)
 non-spore former, some strains are capsulated
 strains are motile by means of peritrichous flagella 3. E. coli infection of cattle (Cattle Colibacillosis)
(H-antigens)  Enteric disease (white scours) in calves during
 Invasive strains possess capsular the first week life
polysaccharides
(K-antigens) 4. E. coli infection of lambs (Lambs Colibacillosis)
 K-antigens inhibit attachment of the pathogen to  Enteric form occurs in lambs 2-8 days old
phagocytic cells and ingestion by host cells  Caused by the proliferation of entero-pathogenic,
non-invasive strain of E. coli in the upper small
Growth characteristics intestines
 grows on all ordinary media
 some strains are aerobes while some are 5. E. coli infection of horses (Horses Colibacillosis)
facultative anaerobes  accounts for approximately 1% of abortion cases
 positive for indole, nitrate, and urease  observed in mare and about 25% in infected foals
 does not ferment sorbitol (E. coli 057: H7)
6. E. coli infection of dogs
Reservoir of Infection  bacteremia implicated in “fading puppy syndrome”
 environment infected w/ fecal materials
 carrier animals 7. E. coli infection of poultry
 E. coli is rarely implicated in avian diarrheal
Transmission diseases
 feco-oral route
8. E. coli infection of rabbits
Strains of Escherichia associated with animal infections  Cellulitis accompanied by dysentery and high
(Diarrhea and Colibacillosis) mortality
1. ETEC – Enterotoxigenic strains – neonatal piglets
and weanlings Virulence Factors of Escherichia
2. EIEC – Entero-invasive strains – neonates that  surface structures expressed as O ( somatic), K
received inadequate amount of colostrum (Capsular), H (flagellar), and F (fimbrial) antigens
3. EPEC – Enteropathogenic strains – diarrhea in attack complement cascade
animal with attaching effacing lesions in the  plasmid – encoded heat-labile (LT) and heat-
intestinal tract stable (ST) enterotoxins
4. EHEC – Enterohemorrhagic strains – associated  edema disease toxin
with Edema and enterotoxemia and it involves  vasotoxin (edema disease)
release of a vasotoxin  lipopolysaccharide from the outer membrane
5. Colibacillosis of Fowls – debilitation and chronic  adhesins (adherence to target cells of the GI tract)
diarrhea  siderophores, Shiga-like toxins (verotoxin)
6. ExPEC – Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli  cytotoxic necrotizing factors
  hemolysin  gram-negative
 non-capsules short rods
Laboratory Diagnosis  w/ peritrichous flagella (majority of strains)
 Samples: stools  some carry fimbriae (S. gallinarum & S. pullorum)
 Agent Identification:  one capsular type (Vi, virulence)
o Bacterial isolation (MacConkey, Minca medium  LPS O-antigens and antigenic determinants on
and E media) surface of flagella (H-antigens) (Kauffman-White
o Qualification of E.coli in the small intestines serologic classification)
o ELISA for ST and LT enterotoxin
o DNA probes for genes encoding enterotoxins Growth characteristics
o PCR specific for E. coli trait  aerobic but some are facultative anaerobes
o Detection of genes associated with EPEC  use citrate as a carbon source
 produce gas from glucose
Treatment with antibiotics
 Apramycin Reservoir of Infection
 Chloramphenicol  soil, water, vegetation and animal feeds
 Spectinomycin  GI tract of warm and cold-blooded animals
 Gentamycin  carrier animals
 Trimethoprim-sulfamethazole
 Ceftiofur Transmission
 Correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalance  feco-oral route
 ingestion
Prevention and control  through the yolk, horizontal transmission and
 Good husbandry practice Argasid ticks (Pullorum) and fowl typhoid
 Vaccination of gilts and sows with fimbrial K88
antigens Establishment of infection to Salmonella
 Administration of heat-inactivated bacterins  Phase I. Colonization of the Intestine (mediated
by adhesins)
 Phase II. Invasion of the intestinal epithelium
SALMONELLA (inflammatory response w/ PMN influx and
 pathogens of the gastrointestinal tract of animals diarrhea sets in if immune response wanes)
 species of the genus cause some septicemic  Phase III. Stimulation of fluid exsorption
infections
Diseases associated with Salmonella
Species of Salmonella associated with animal infections 1. Salmonellosis in CATTLE
 S. typhimurium  Etiologic agent: S. dublin, S. typhimurium, S.
 S. agona montevideo, S. Saint-paul
 S. dublin  infect young animals (4-5 months old)
 S. anatum  feedlot cattle are susceptible
 S. worthington  septicemic in nature or limited to the GI tract
 S. newport  pneumonia is acquired hematogenously
 S. Abortus-equi  abortion is common
 S. Abortus-ovis  decreased in milk production
 S. gallinarum  foul smelling diarrhea
 S. pullorum  fever, depression, anorexia weakness
 S. heidelberg  death of calve in a day or two
 S. Abortus-suis
 S. montevideo
2. Salmonellosis in SWINE
 S. Saint-paul
 Etiomology agent: S. Cholera-suis, S. typhirium
 S. panama
 acute, fulminating septicemia or chronic
 S. Arizona
debilitating disease in feeder pigs
 stress-associated infection
Morphology, staining features and cellular composition
  purplish areas on the ears, rump and abdomen
 high fever and anorexia
 postmortem lesions (petechiae, pneumonia,
thickening and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa
3. Salmonellosis in HORSES
 Etiologic agent: S. abortus-qui, S. typhimurium, S.
Heidelberg
 diarrhea w/ severe abdominal pain, septicemia
and colic
4. Salmonellosis DOGS AND CATS
 Etiologic agent: S. typhimurium, S. panama
 very uncommon
 due to noso-comial infection
 abortions, stillbirths
5. Salmonellosis in SHEEP AND GOATS
 Etiologic agent: S. abortus ovis, S. Dublin, S.
Montevideo, S. tymphimurium
6. Salmonellosis in POULTRY
1. Pullorum/Bacillary white diarrhea
 Etiologic agent: S. pullorum, S. typhimurium, S.
anatum, S. Newport
 fatal among chicks (first 2 weeks of life)
 infects the embryo before egg is hatched
 associated with the failure of eggs to hatch
 death is due to septicemia
2. Fowl typhoid
 Etiologic agent: S. gallinarum
 acute septicemic disease of adult chickens
 paresis, anemia, wing drooping
 CLINICAL SIGNS OF SALMONELLOSIS IN
POULTRY
o diarrhea, septicemia, weakness
o wing drooping
o hyperexcitability
o drowsiness
o paresis and joint swellings
o anemia and hemorrhages
o leukocytosis
o multiple small necrotic area
o enlarged spleen (pm)
7. Other disease entities caused by Salmonella
 Paratyphoid (infectious enteritis of pigs)
o Etiologic agent: S. typhimurium
 Avian Arizoonosis
o Etiologic agent: S. arizonae
 Paracolon infection of turkeys
o maintained in turkey flock via infected eggs
o have R plasmids
Virulence Factors
 O (somatic) Antigen
 H (flagellar) Antigen
 Vi (Virulence) Antigen
 Invasins (sip, Salmonella invasion protein in
pathogenicity islands in the chromosomes)
 Adhesins (fimbria encoded genes, fim; plasmid
encoded fimbriae, pef; and long polar fimbriae,
lpf)
 Toxins (LT-like toxin with phospholipase A
activity)
 Siderophores (removes iron from iron-binding
proteins of host)
 Salmonella virulence plasmids (svp)
 RNA polymerase containing RPOs that regulate
acid tolerance (survival at < 5.0 pH)
 LPS and Salmolysin (Sly A)
Laboratory Diagnosis
 Samples: feces, intestinal scrapings, milk of
infected cows, blood samples, spleen and bone
marrow)
 Preferred culture media: Bacterial isolation
(MacConkey Agar, XLD agar, Hektoen Enteric
Media, Brilliant Green Agar)
 Agent Identification:
o Determination of somatic and flagellar antigens
o Salmonella-specific DNA probes and primers for
PCR
Treatment with antibiotics
 Ampicillin
 Cirofloxacin
 Enrofloxacin
 Amikacin
Prevention and control
 Elimination of carriers
 Proper hygiene and sanitation
 No effective vaccines
KLEBSIELLA
 large, non-motile bacteria
 produce sticky colonies when plated on nutrient
media
 normal flora of the vestibule, urethra and clitoris
 frequently encountered in infections of the
respiratory, intestinal and urogenital tracts
Species of Klebsiella associated with animal infections
 K. pneumonia (Friedlander’s bacillus)
 K. ozanae
  K. rhinoscleromatis
Treatment with antibiotics
Morphology, staining features and cellular composition  Cephalexin
 gram-negative short plump rods with rounded  Kanamycin
ends  Neomycin
 encapsulated and non-motile  Gentamycin
 may occur singly or in pairs  Steroids to correct acute inflammatory symptoms

Growth characteristics
 grow well on ordinary media Prevention and control
 ferment a number of carbohydrates  strict hygiene and sanitation
 H2S and urease producer  elimination of carriers
 nitrites are produced from nitrates
ENTEROBACTER
Reservoir of Infection  inhabitants of the intestines of mammals
 respiratory excretions
 secretions in animals and man Species of associated with animal infections
 E. agglomerans (soil-borne)
Transmission  E. aerogenes (bovine strain)
 airborne
 oral route Morphology, staining features and cellular composition
 direct contact with carriers  gram-negative
 small, motile organisms (peritrichous flagella)
Diseases associated with Klebsiella  non-spore forming rods
1. Swine Vaginal discharges
2. Metritis, infertility and abortion Growth characteristics
3. Pneumonia in sheep and goats  grow in ordinary media
4. Normal flora of the vestibule, urethra and clitoris  facultative anaerobes
5. Coliform mastitis (cattle and sow)  reduces nitrates to nitrites
 Etiologic agent: K. pneumonia  ferments carbohydrates (glucose with acid and
 hyperemia gas)
 edema  acetate as source of carbon
 swelling of the udder
 reduced milk secretion Reservoir of Infection
 animal excretions (urine, pus, feces)
Pathologic entities associated with Klebsiella  inanimate materials (soil, sewage, water)
 mastitis
 metritis Transmission
 meningitis  immediate contact
 oral route
Virulence Factors
 capsule Diseases associated with Enterobacter
 klebecins (bacteriocin) 1. Septicemic conditions
2. Enteric infections
Laboratory Diagnosis
 Samples: nasal secretions, milk samples, blood Virulence Factors
and sputum  Adhesins
 Preferred culture media: TSA, MacConkey agar,  Colonizing factors
EMB and Blood agar
 Agent Identification:
o bacterial isolation Laboratory Diagnosis
o PCR of a target gene  Samples: feces
o serology (determines the type of antigens)  Preferred culture media: MacConkey, Trypticase
Soy Agar, Brilliant Green AGar
  Agent Identification: Virulence Factors
o bacterial isolation  Urease (histotoxic effect on the urinary
o PCR of genes epithelium)
 Proteases
Treatment with antibiotics
 Penicillin Laboratory Diagnosis
 Tetracycline  Samples: feces, pus, urine
 Preferred culture media: MacConkey, EMB, TSI
Prevention and control  Agent Identification:
 strict sanitation o bacterial isolation and identification
 elimination of carries o urine exam
o PCR
PROTEUS
 inhabit the soil, infect water, Treatment with antibiotics
o intestinal and urinary tracts,  Penicillin
o blood, soft tissues and  Cephalosporin
o lower respiratory tracts of animals  Kanamycin
 motile and have a tendency to swarm in  Streptomycin
laboratory media (progressive surface spreading
ability) Prevention and control
 strict hygiene and sanitation
Species of Proteus associated with animal infections
 P. mirabilis PASTEURELLA
 P. rettgerii  organisms are seen frequently as tiny,
 P. vulgaris pleomorphic coccobacilli
 show bipolar staining in smears
Morphology, staining features and cellular composition
 gram-negative straight rods Species of Pasteurella associated with animal
 highly motile (peritrichous flagella) infections
 produce a swarming growth on agar  P. multocida
 P. hemolytica
Growth characteristics  P. pneumotropica
 ferments glucose, xylose and sucrose  P. urea
 produces urease and hydrogen sulfide  P. anatipestifer
 produces indole but some do not (P. mirabilis)
Morphology, staining features and cellular composition
Reservoir of Infection  gram-negative bacteria
 urine  non-motile coccobacillary rods which show bipolar
 feces staining
 non-piliated, non-flagellated and non-spore
Transmission formers
 ingestion of infected material  colonies on blood agar are smooth with a
characteristic semen-like odor
Diseases associated with Proteus  many strains produce a capsular substance
1. Urinary and GI infections (P. mirabilis-infected  capsule contains polysaccharide
spayed bitches)  produce adhesins and cell wall consists of LPS
2. Otitis externa (dogs) and proteins
3. Diarrhea (dogs)
4. Other pathologic entities associated with Proteus
 Urinary and GI tract infection in dogs and cats Growth characteristics
 Septicemia in dogs  growth best in serum and blood
 Wound infection in a dogs  facultative anaerobes
 Otitis externa of dogs and cats  ferments carbohydrates
  fibrinous pleuropneumonia/ bronchopneumonia
Reservoir of Infection of cattle and calves handled in stressful
 mucus membranes of susceptible hosts animals conditions
 respiratory distress and fever
Transmission
 inhalation 4. Snuffle and Rabbit septicemia
 ingestion  Mucopurulent rhinosinusitis
 through bites and scratch wounds  P. multocida
 by airborne droplets  CLINICAL SIGNS
 food and water contamination o fever
 direct or indirect o sero-purulent nasal discharge
o difficulty in breathing
Diseases associated with Pasteurella
o mucopurulent exudates
1. Hemorrhagic septicemia of cattle and buffaloes
 Etiologic agent: P. multocida o difficulty breathing, bronchopneumonia
o P. multocida serotype 6:B (Southeast Asia); o middle and inner ear infections
o P. multocida serotype 6:B (Africa);
o P. multocida serotype B2 and E (Philippines) 5. Other diseases associated with P. multocida
 CLINICAL SIGNS 1. Atrophic rhinitis
o fever (41-42C)  distortion of the turbinate bones, snout and
o dysentery facial structures of swine
2. Pneumonia, Shipping fever, Swine plaque
o edema (pectoral region)
(cattle, sheep, goats, swine)
o cyanosis of the mucous membrane
 associated with stress factors ( transport,
o hypersalivation harsh climate, castration and dipping )
o hemorrhages on serous surfaces (PM)  CLINICAL SIGNS
o bloodstained fluid in the thorax and abdomen o severe dyspnea, fever
(PM)
o soft cough, nasal discharges
o abscesses (white spots) in cattle lungs
o ocular and nasal discharges
2. Pasteurella infection in Chickens ( Fowl Cholera) o diarrhea
 P. multocida 3. Ulcerative lymphangitis of horse
 outbreaks begin in a few birds in apparently 4. Duck septicemic disease (infectious serositis)
healthy flocks 5. Blue Bag (mastitis in sheep)
 Route of entry: through the eyes and abrasions
 vascular damage leads to hemorrhage Virulence Factors
 CLINICAL SIGNS  Heat-labile toxins
o Mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharges  Surface envelope antigen
(acute cases)  Capsule
o Rales and diarrhea  Lipopolysaccharide/Endotoxin
o Caseous lesions (chronic cases)  Outer membranes proteins
 NECROPSY FINDINGS  Leukotoxins
o Petechial of the heart  Hyaluronidase
o Swollen spleen  Neuraminidase
o Reddening of the mucosa of the anterior part of
the intestine Laboratory Diagnosis
 Samples: Tracheal aspirate,
o Blood, Tonsils of dead animals,
o serum, Lungs, spleen, air sacs,
3. Shipping fever o material from pneumonic lesions,
 Etiologic agent: P. hemolytica (Manheimia o milk, respiratory secretions
hemolytica A1)  Preferred culture media: blood agar
 Agent Identification:
o bacterial cultivation
 o smears prepared from blood, spleen and tissues Transmission
of animals with septicemia  ingestion of the organism
o PCR of Pasteurella genes  through fleas
 airborne route
Treatment with antibiotics  oral acquisition (predation, cannibalism and
 Penicillin scavenging)
 Ceftiofur
 Tilmicocin Diseases associated with Yersinia
 Florfenicol 1. Bubonic plaque
 Etiologic agent: Y. pestis
Prevention and control  characterized by hemorrhagic inflammatory
 reduction of stress lesions of local lymph nodes (“buboes”)
 routinary immunization  systemic dissemination (septicemia)
 strict quarantine measures  pneumonia is fatal
 fleas as vectors (Rat fleas/ Xenopsylla cheopis)
YERSINIA  CLINICAL SIGNS
 affect fishes, birds, rodents, primates and o regional lymphadenitis
domestic animals o CNS involvement
 implicated in plagues spreading among people o fever, depression, anorexia, sneezing,
through animals via fleas coughing
 infections are clustered during warm months
affecting handlers of rabbits, cats and coyotes 2. Enteric red mouth (freshwater fishes)
 Hemorrhagic inflammation of peri-oral subcutis
Species of Yersinia associated with animal infections 3. Yersinia infection in other animals
 Y. ruckeri  Exophthalmus (Owls & Sea lions)
 Y. pseudotuberculosis  Yersinia infection in humans
 Y. pestis
 Y. enterocolitica Virulence Factors
 Y. intermedia  Yersinia adhesin proteins (Yad A) (resist activity
 Y. frederiksenii of complement)
 Y. kristensenii  Virulence proteins (Plasmid-encoded)
 Y. aldovae  Yersinia outer membrane proteins
 Y. rhodei  Yersinia protein kinase (Ypk A) (inhibits
 Y. mollaretti  phagocytosis and oxidative burst )
 Y. bercovieri  Coagulase
 Exotoxin
Morphology, staining features and cellular composition
 gram-negative coccobacilli Laboratory Diagnosis
 pleomorphic microbes in chains  Samples: Lymph nodes, cerebrospinal fluid,
 non-capsulated but flagellated ( ambient transtracheal aspirates, blood
temperatures)  Preferred culture media: Deoxycholate – citrate
 show bipolar staining medium)
 microbes possess invasion locus proteins (AiL)  Agent Identification:
and invasion (Inv) proteins o bacterial cultivation
o Serologic tests (hemagglutination,
Growth characteristics hemagglutination- inhibition)
 grows on ordinary laboratory media (MacConkey) o Animal inoculation (guinea pigs or mice) die in 3
 ferments glucose to 8 days
 produces urease o PCR for Yersinia genes

Reservoir of Infection Treatment with antibiotics

 birds and soil  Aminoglycosides
 Fluoroquinolones
  Chloramphenicol
 Tetracycline

Prevention and control

 rat proofing of buildings
 cyanide fumigation
 flea elimination and rodent control