Tyzzer's disease

Last updated

Tyzzer's disease is an acute epizootic bacterial disease found in rodents, rabbits, dogs, cats, birds, pandas, deer, foals, cattle, and other mammals including gerbils [1] and spinifex hopping-mice (Notomys alexis). [2] It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Clostridium piliforme , formerly known as Bacillus piliformis. [3] It is an infectious disease characterized by necrotic lesions on the liver, is usually fatal, and is present worldwide. [1] Animals with the disease become infected through oral ingestion of the bacterial spores and usually die within a matter of days. [4] Animals most commonly affected include young, stressed animals in laboratory environments, such as immature rodents and rabbits. [1] Most commonly affected wild animals include muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and occasionally cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.). [5] Even today, much remains unknown about Tyzzer's disease, including how and why it occurs. [6]

Contents

Distribution

Although Tyzzer's disease is commonly found in laboratory animals worldwide, infected wild animal populations have been identified in North America and Australia. [5] Specific locations where the disease has been reported in the United States include Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [5] In Canada, it has been reported in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. [5] Outbreaks in these locations are primarily attributed to muskrat populations; however infected cottontail rabbits have been discovered in Maryland. [5]

Transmission

Tyzzer's disease is transmitted horizontally through the fecal-oral route. Bacterial spores within infected fecal matter can contaminate soil or feed and become orally ingested by a viable host. [7] Success of the disease is determined by the amount and virulence of the bacteria and the resistance of the host. [8] Laboratory animals are more susceptible to this disease, as bacteria spores from infected feces can survive in bedding at room temperature for over one year. [8] Animals do occasionally transfer the disease asymptomatically, acting as carriers. [5] Infected animals are more likely to develop the disease when subjected to stressful conditions. [5]

Clinical Signs

Common clinical signs of Tyzzer's Disease include watery diarrhea, depression, emaciation, and a ruffled coat. [8] Other observed clinical signs include melena, depression, lethargy, and decreased temperature. [8] In muskrats, this disease is characterized by extensive hemorrhaging within the lower intestine and abdomen. [6] Due to the fast-acting nature of this disease, infected individuals often do not live long enough to exhibit symptoms. [8] It is not uncommon for an infected animal to die within 1–10 days of disease contraction. [8]

During necropsy, inflammation of the ileum, cecum, and colon are commonly present. [9] Perhaps the most distinctive trait of this disease, however, is the grayish yellow necrotic lesions found on the liver of diseased animals. [8] The number of these spots present can range from one to countless. [8] Occasionally, lesions are discovered in the lower intestinal tract and heart as well. [8] Even with physical signs and symptoms present, a conclusive diagnosis is dependent upon the presence of C. piliforme within the liver of the infected animal. [8]

Prevention

In laboratory animals, prevention includes a low-stress environment, an adequate amount of nutritional feed, and appropriate sanitation measurements. [9] Because animals likely ingest bacterial spores from contaminated bedding and feed, regular cleaning is a helpful method of prevention. No prevention methods are currently available for wild animal populations.[ citation needed ]

Treatment and Control

Currently, antibiotic drugs such as penicillin or tetracycline are the only effective methods for disease treatment. [5] Within wild populations, disease control consists of reducing the amount of bacterial spores present in the environment. This can be done by removing contaminated carcasses and scat. [5]

History

Tyzzer's disease was first discovered by parasitologist Ernest Tyzzer in 1917 when his entire colony of Japanese waltzing mice suddenly died. [10] Upon closer observation, Tyzzer discovered necrotic lesions and spore-forming bacillus in the livers of the deceased mice. [8] This led Tyzzer to name the bacteria Bacillus piliformis and deem it the cause of this new disease. [8] Later on, B. piliformis was renamed C. piliforme. In the 1940s, a biologist named Paul Errington found a fatal condition in Iowa muskrat populations that he believed to be a new disease. [6] Dead muskrats were found with blood around their anus and internal bleeding, therefore Errington called this new condition “hemorrhagic disease”. [6] Upon necropsy, lesions were found on the liver of the deceased muskrats. While hemorrhagic disease was identified in dead muskrats across North America, the causative agent remained undetermined. [6] After Errington's death, the name “hemorrhagic disease” was changed to “Errington’s disease”. It was not until 1971 that the two diseases were discovered to be the same, upon which the name was reverted to “Tyzzer’s disease”. [6]

Related Research Articles

A human pathogen is a pathogen that causes disease in humans.

<i>Bacillus cereus</i> Species of bacterium

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in soil, food, and marine sponges. The specific name, cereus, meaning "waxy" in Latin, refers to the appearance of colonies grown on blood agar. Some strains are harmful to humans and cause foodborne illness due to their spore-forming nature, while other strains can be beneficial as probiotics for animals, and even exhibit mutualism with certain plants. B. cereus bacteria may be anaerobes or facultative anaerobes, and like other members of the genus Bacillus, can produce protective endospores. They have a wide range of virulence factors, including phospholipase C, cereulide, sphingomyelinase, metalloproteases, and cytotoxin K, many of which are regulated via quorum sensing. B. cereus strains exhibit flagellar motility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax</span> Infection caused by Bacillus anthracis bacteria

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The skin form presents with a small blister with surrounding swelling that often turns into a painless ulcer with a black center. The inhalation form presents with fever, chest pain and shortness of breath. The intestinal form presents with diarrhea, abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting. The injection form presents with fever and an abscess at the site of drug injection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endospore</span> Protective structure formed by bacteria

An endospore is a dormant, tough, and non-reproductive structure produced by some bacteria in the phylum Bacillota. The name "endospore" is suggestive of a spore or seed-like form, but it is not a true spore. It is a stripped-down, dormant form to which the bacterium can reduce itself. Endospore formation is usually triggered by a lack of nutrients, and usually occurs in gram-positive bacteria. In endospore formation, the bacterium divides within its cell wall, and one side then engulfs the other. Endospores enable bacteria to lie dormant for extended periods, even centuries. There are many reports of spores remaining viable over 10,000 years, and revival of spores millions of years old has been claimed. There is one report of viable spores of Bacillus marismortui in salt crystals approximately 250 million years old. When the environment becomes more favorable, the endospore can reactivate itself into a vegetative state. Most types of bacteria cannot change to the endospore form. Examples of bacterial species that can form endospores include Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Clostridium botulinum, and Clostridium tetani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tularemia</span> Infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis

Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Symptoms may include fever, skin ulcers, and enlarged lymph nodes. Occasionally, a form that results in pneumonia or a throat infection may occur.

<i>Clostridium</i> Genus of Gram-positive bacteria, which includes several significant human pathogens

Clostridium is a genus of anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria. Species of Clostridium inhabit soils and the intestinal tract of animals, including humans. This genus includes several significant human pathogens, including the causative agents of botulism and tetanus. It also formerly included an important cause of diarrhea, Clostridioides difficile, which was reclassified into the Clostridioides genus in 2016.

<i>Clostridium perfringens</i> Species of bacterium

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic, spore-forming pathogenic bacterium of the genus Clostridium. C. perfringens is ever-present in nature and can be found as a normal component of decaying vegetation, marine sediment, the intestinal tract of humans and other vertebrates, insects, and soil. It has the shortest reported generation time of any organism at 6.3 minutes in thioglycolate medium.

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) affects cucurbit plants around the world and can be a serious threat to farmers because it spreads through contaminated seed. BFB is the result of an infection by Gram-negative Acidovorax citrulli bacteria, which has only been recently studied in detail. Members of A. citrulli are Gram-negative rod shaped bacteria with the dimensions 0.5× 1.7 μm. They move via polar flagella. No known reliable sources of BFB resistance exist today, so seed hygiene and thorough testing of breeding facilities are the best way to control spreading. No known control methods, however, are extremely reliable for reducing BFB infection.

Rat-bite fever (RBF) is an acute, febrile human illness caused by bacteria transmitted by rodents, in most cases, which is passed from rodent to human by the rodent's urine or mucous secretions. Alternative names for rat-bite fever include streptobacillary fever, streptobacillosis, spirillary fever, bogger, and epidemic arthritic erythema. It is a rare disease spread by infected rodents and caused by two specific types of bacteria:

  1. Streptobacillus moniliformis, the only reported bacteria that causes RBF in North America
  2. Spirillum minus, common in Asia. Most cases occur in Japan, but specific strains of the disease are present in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Africa.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">American foulbrood</span> Bee disease

American foulbrood, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, is a highly infectious honey bee brood disease. It is the most widespread and destructive of the honey bee brood diseases. It is globally distributed and burning of infected colonies is often considered as the only effective measure to prevent spreading of the disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackleg (disease)</span> Bacterial disease of animals

Blackleg, black quarter, quarter evil, or quarter ill is an infectious bacterial disease most commonly caused by Clostridium chauvoei, a Gram-positive bacterial species. It is seen in livestock all over the world, usually affecting cattle, sheep, and goats. It has been seen occasionally in farmed bison and deer. The acute nature of the disease makes successful treatment difficult, and the efficacy of the commonly used vaccine is disputed.

Exogenous bacteria are microorganisms introduced to closed biological systems from the external world. They exist in aquatic and terrestrial environments, as well as the atmosphere. Microorganisms in the external environment have existed on Earth for 3.5 billion years. Exogenous bacteria can be either benign or pathogenic. Pathogenic exogenous bacteria can enter a closed biological system and cause disease such as Cholera, which is induced by a waterborne microbe that infects the human intestine. Exogenous bacteria can be introduced into a closed ecosystem as well, and have mutualistic benefits for both the microbe and the host. A prominent example of this concept is bacterial flora, which consists of exogenous bacteria ingested and endogenously colonized during the early stages of life. Bacteria that are part of normal internal ecosystems, also known as bacterial flora, are called Endogenous Bacteria. A significant amount of prominent diseases are induced by exogenous bacteria such as gonorrhea, meningitis, tetanus, and syphilis. Pathogenic exogenous bacteria can enter a host via cutaneous transmission, inhalation, and consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food microbiology</span> Study of the microorganisms that inhibit, create, or contaminate food

Food microbiology is the study of the microorganisms that inhabit, create, or contaminate food. This includes the study of microorganisms causing food spoilage; pathogens that may cause disease ; microbes used to produce fermented foods such as cheese, yogurt, bread, beer, and wine; and microbes with other useful roles, such as producing probiotics.

<i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> Species of heterotrophic, Gram-negative, bacterium

Aeromonas hydrophila is a heterotrophic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium mainly found in areas with a warm climate. This bacterium can be found in fresh or brackish water. It can survive in aerobic and anaerobic environments, and can digest materials such as gelatin and hemoglobin. A. hydrophila was isolated from humans and animals in the 1950s. It is the best known of the species of Aeromonas. It is resistant to most common antibiotics and cold temperatures and is oxidase- and indole-positive. Aeromonas hydrophila also has a symbiotic relationship as gut flora inside of certain leeches, such as Hirudo medicinalis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halo blight</span>

Halo blight of bean is a bacterial disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. Halo blight’s pathogen is a gram-negative, aerobic, polar-flagellated and non-spore forming bacteria. This bacterial disease was first discovered in the early 1920s, and rapidly became the major disease of beans throughout the world. The disease favors the places where temperatures are moderate and plentiful inoculum is available.

<i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Species of bacterium

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive and rod-shaped bacterium that causes anthrax, a deadly disease to livestock and, occasionally, to humans. It is the only permanent (obligate) pathogen within the genus Bacillus. Its infection is a type of zoonosis, as it is transmitted from animals to humans. It was discovered by a German physician Robert Koch in 1876, and became the first bacterium to be experimentally shown as a pathogen. The discovery was also the first scientific evidence for the germ theory of diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Histomoniasis</span> Medical condition

Histomoniasis is a commercially significant disease of poultry, particularly of chickens and turkeys, due to parasitic infection of a protozoan, Histomonas meleagridis. The protozoan is transmitted to the bird by the nematode parasite Heterakis gallinarum. H. meleagridis resides within the eggs of H. gallinarum, so birds ingest the parasites along with contaminated soil or food. Earthworms can also act as a paratenic host.

Hathewaya histolytica is a species of bacteria found in feces and the soil. It is a motile, gram-positive, aerotolerant anaerobe. H. histolytica is pathogenic in many species, including guinea pigs, mice, and rabbits, and humans. H. histolytica has been shown to cause gas gangrene, often in association with other bacteria species.

Emmonsia parva is a filamentous, saprotrophic fungus and one of three species within the genus Emmonsia. The fungus is most known for its causal association with the lung disease, adiaspiromycosis which occurs most commonly in small mammals but is also seen in humans. The disease was first described from rodents in Arizona, and the first human case was reported in France in 1964. Since then, the disease has been reported from Honduras, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Russia, the United States of America and Guatemala. Infections in general are quite rare, especially in humans.

Clostridium novyi-NT is an attenuated form of Clostridium novyi that is under investigation as a cancer treatment. It is one of several pathogenic species of Clostridium bacteria that have been examined for this purpose. The modification eliminated the secretion of α-toxin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pritt, S., K. S. Henderson, and W. R. Shek. 2010. Evaluation of available diagnostic methods for Clostridium piliforme in laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Laboratory Animals 44:14-19.
  2. ↑ Stannard HJ, Tulk ML, Old JM 2017. Dead mouse hopping: Tyzzer’s disease in spinifex hopping-mice (Notomys alexis). Veterinary Microbiology. 201, 201-207. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.01.018
  3. ↑ Hansen, A. K., Andersen H. V. and S. O. 1994. Studies on the diagnosis of Tyzzer’s disease in laboratory rat colonies with antibodies against Bacillus piliformis (Clostridium piliforme). Laboratory Animal Science 44:424-429.
  4. ↑ Furukawa, T., K. Furumoto, M. Fujieda, and E. Okada. 2002. Detection by PCR of the Tyzzer’s Disease Organism (Clostridium piliforme) in Feces. Experimental Animals 51:513-516.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Michigan. Department of Natural Resources. Tyzzer's Disease. <http://michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12150_12220-27297--,00.html>.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wobeser, G. A. 2006. Essentials of disease in wild animals. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
  7. ↑ Barnes, K. H., S. A. Piripi, and C. V. Lohr. 2013. Pathology in Practice. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 242:765-767.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ganaway, J. R., A. M. Allen, and T. D. Moore. 1971.Tyzzer’s Disease. American Journal of Pathology 64:717-730.
  9. 1 2 Loew, Franklin, Fred Quimby, Lynn Anderson, and James Fox. Laboratory Animal Medicine. 1st ed. San Diego: An Imprint of Elsevier, 2002. Print.
  10. ↑ Weller, T. H. 1978. Ernest Edward Tyzzer. National Academy of Sciences, Washington D. C., USA.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.