Nontoxigenic tox-bearing Corynebacterium ulcerans infection among game animals, Germany

Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;20(3):448-52. doi: 10.3201/eid2003.130423.

Abstract

Corynebacterium ulcerans may cause diphtheria in humans and caseous lymphadenitis in animals. We isolated nontoxigenic tox-bearing C. ulcerans from 13 game animals in Germany. Our results indicate a role for game animals as reservoirs for zoonotic C. ulcerans.

Keywords: Capreolus capreolus; Corynebacterium ulcerans; Germany; Sus scrofa; bacteria; diphtheria; diphtheria toxin; nontoxigenic; pseudotuberculosis; toxigenic; wildlife; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Animal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Animal Diseases / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo*
  • Corynebacterium / classification
  • Corynebacterium / genetics*
  • Corynebacterium / isolation & purification
  • Corynebacterium Infections / veterinary*
  • Diphtheria Toxin / genetics*
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny

Substances

  • Diphtheria Toxin