On the trail of novel infectious agents in wildlife
First scientific description of a previously unknown Streptococcus
species of Chacoan peccaries

Date:
October 13, 2020
Source:
Forschungsverbund Berlin
Summary:
A research team investigated the causes of severe respiratory
disease in peccaries and taxonomically characterized a novel
Streptococcus species (Streptococcus catagoni sp. nov.) based on
its phenotypic properties and genetic features.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The species richness of zoo and wild animals is reflected in the diversity
of infectious agents they harbour. However, our knowledge is sparse and pathogen detection remains challenging. For streptococci, a bacterial
family of importance to human and animal health, wildlife research has
taken a step forward: A research team led by Kristin Mu"hldorfer from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) and Tobias Eisenberg from the Hessian State Laboratory investigated the causes of
severe respiratory disease in peccaries and taxonomically characterised
a novel Streptococcus species (Streptococcus catagoni sp. nov.) based on
its phenotypic properties and genetic features. The results, published
in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, contribute to a better understanding and reliable identification of this
novel bacterial species.


==========================================================================
The family Streptococcaceae consists of bacteria inhabiting the skin and
mucous membranes and includes important pathogens. Despite Streptococcus species with a broad host range infecting humans and vertebrates, the
family includes bacterial species that seems to be exclusively adapted to certain hosts or habitats, such as Streptococcus castoreus of beavers, Streptococcus didelphis of certain marsupial species or Streptococcus
phocae of marine mammals and fish.

In the present paper the authors analysed a previously unknown
Streptococcus species that was responsible over two consecutive years
for severe disease in a group of Chacoan peccaries (Catagonus wagneri)
kept in a zoo. Animals were mainly affected within the first year of life
and showed suppurative infections of the upper and lower respiratory
tract. At least five peccaries had died from the infection. The novel
bacterial species has been named according to its origin as Streptococcus catagoni sp. nov.

"These are the first confirmed cases in Chacoan peccaries," says
Dr Kristin Mu"hldorfer, scientist from the Leibniz-IZW. The Chacoan
peccary is an endangered species that shows a continuing decline in its population size.

"Unfortunately, we often do not know the impact of infectious diseases
on wildlife populations and associated pathogens," says Mu"hldorfer. The reasons for these deficits include animal species richness, the lack
of knowledge of wildlife health and restricted accessibility of wild
animals in their habitats.

Novel infectious agents frequently occur in zoo and wild animals but they
are often not identified with established test systems and data bases,
thereby increasing time and methodical requirements of laboratories considerably.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry provides a good solution because newly created reference spectra enable rapid and reliable bacterial identifications. The
data base entries of Streptococcus catagoni were generated at the Chemical
and Veterinary Analysis Agency Stuttgart and are available for exchange
via the MALDI-TOF MS User Platform.

"We are glad to have established this successful collaboration of
the participating institutions which we hope will continue," say
Kristin Mu"hldorfer and Tobias Eisenberg. The microbiologists aim to characterise uncommon bacterial agents, their occurrence in specific
hosts and importance for certain wildlife species. Modern approaches to wildlife disease will help to detect pathogens and develop diagnostics
to overcome current limitations and support conservation efforts.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Forschungsverbund_Berlin. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kristin Mu"hldorfer, Claudia A. Szentiks, Gudrun Wibbelt, Mark
van der
Linden, Christa Ewers, Torsten Semmler, Valerij Akimkin, Jochen
Blom, Jo"rg Rau, Tobias Eisenberg. Streptococcus catagoni sp. nov.,
isolated from the respiratory tract of diseased Chacoan peccaries
(Catagonus wagneri). International Journal of Systematic and
Evolutionary Microbiology, 2020; DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004471 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201013124123.htm

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