- Email: [email protected]
New names, new bugs
98:141-150. 7. Ghendon, Y. and SE. Robertson. 1994. Interrupting the transmission of wild polioviruses with vaccines: immunological considerations. WHO Bulletin OM8.72:973-983. 8. Plotkin, S.A. 1995. Inactivated polio vaccine for the United States: a missed opportunity. Pediatr. Infect. Dis J. 14:835-839.
9. Prevots, R.D. et al. 1997. Poliomyelitis prevention in the United States: intro-
duction of a sequential vaccination schedule of inactivated poliovirus vaccine followed by oral poliovirus vaccine. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 46: l-24. 10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1997. Progress towards
global eradication of poliomyelitis, 1996. MMWR 579-584. 11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1997. Status of the Global Laboratory Network for Poliomyelitis Eradication, 1994- 1996. MMWR 46:692-694. 12. Hovi, T. 1995. Safety aspects of oral poliovirus vaccine campaigns. Devel. Biol. Stand. Base], Karger. 84:137-144.
tyrosine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine. Colonies are recognizable in 2 days on BHI as being yellow, dry, and rough. (Yassin, A.F. et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:607-614) A microaerophilic gram-negative campylobacter-like organism isolated from a variety of clinical material has been assigned a new genus and species: Sutterella wadsworthensis. The organisms were originally thought to be Campylobacter (previously Bacteroides) gracilis but differ in their bile resistance and abilty to reduce triphenyltetrazoliurn chloride (TTC). S. wadsworthensis is resistant to bile, reduces TTC anaerobically, has a different fatty acid profile than Campylobacter, is asaccharolytic, and reduces nitrate to nitrite. Like Campylobacter; Sutterella spp. grow in the presence of 2 to 6% oxygen on enriched media. The organism was named in memory of Vera Sutter, previous director of the Wadsworth (VA) Anaerobe Laboratory, reknowned for her work in anaerobic bacteriology. (Wexler, H.M. et al. 1997. Int J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:252-258) Bordetella trematum, originally placed in the genus Alcaligenes is now considered to be more closely related to the Bordetella genus by DNA and rDNAsequencing, fatty acid analysis, and other metabolic and biochemical characteristics. A number of these strains have been isolated from a variety of clinical specimens over the past 15 years. The source of the type species, chronic otitis media, is the derivation of the species name: trema is Latin or Greek for open or aperture. B. trematum joins the other recently described species of Bordetella, B. hinzii (1994)
and B. holmseii (1995). (Vandamme P. et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 46:849-858) Flavobacterium odoratum has been reclassified into a new genus Myroides as M. odoratus or M. odoratimimus. Genotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data based on DNA-DNA hybridization, cell protein and fatty acid analyses showed that the previously described F: odoratum was distinct from the genus Flavobacterium and the isolates were divided into two species. M. odoratus and M. odoratimimus have been isolated from a variety of clinical specimens. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek myran for perfume. (Vancanneyt, M. et al. 1996. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 46:926-932) A new coryneform bacterium, Corynebacterium coyleae, that can be recognized by having a strong CAMP reaction and slow or no fermentative activity has been described. The cellwall constituents and rRNA and DNA analyses place the organism in the genus Corynebacterium, but it is genotypically distinct from other species of the genus. The species is named for Marie Coyle for her contributions to the clinical and microbiologic aspects of the coryneform bacteria. C. coyleae strains that were studied were isolated from blood cultures. (Funke, G. et al. 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:92-96) Another unusual species, Corynebacterium mucifaciens, has been described. Isolated from a variety of human clinical specimens, the organism is characterized by its yellow pigmented, very mucoid colonies. C. mucifaciens belongs to the non-fermenting group of corynebacteria and can be differentiated from other species in the group by a
New Names, New Bugs R. J. Zabransky, Ph.D. VA Medical Center Cleveland, OH 44122 New organisms are described almost every day; those of clinical significance with much less frequency. In addition, new relationships based on genetic relatedness and molecular biology reveal that previously described organisms should be reclassified into different genera. The following descriptions of new organisms (new species or new names) were extracted from recent literature. Tsukamurella pulmonis is a new and distinct species of the genus Tsukamurells which is related to other acid-fast or partially acid-fast genera such as Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Mycobacten’um, and Gordona. This species was isolated from the sputum of a 92-year-old woman with tuberculosis and is most closely related to ;r: inchonensis and 7: paurometabola. (Yassin, A.F. et al. 1996. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 46:429-436) Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens is a new organism related to the mycolic acid-containing bacteria. Strains of this new species were isolated from blood cultures of patients with cardiac pacemakers and sputa of patients with chronic lung infections. Membership in the Tsukamurella genus was demonstrated by 16s rDNA sequence analysis, and DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed the isolate to be a distinct species. The species is a slightly acid-fast, grampositive aerobic bacillus that grows as long rods that fragment with age. The organism grows on MacConkey agar without crystal violet, tolerates 5% salt, and characteristically hydrolyzes
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variety of biochemical tests (nitrate reduction, urea and esculin hydrolysis, CAMP reaction, and non-lipophilia). (Funke, G. et al. 1997 Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:952-957) A species of Corynebacterium, C. seminale, is distinct from other members of the genus by DNA-DNA hybridization and DNA sequencing analyses. Phenotyically the organism grows well on blood agar, but not when the medium is supplemented with Tween 80. It is CAMP test positive, ferments glucose and sucrose, and produces l3-glucuronidase. Urea and esculin hydrolysis and nitrate reduction varies with the strains tested. The type strain for the species was isolated from the semen of a patient with prostatitis. (Siegel, P. et al. 1995. J. Clin. Microbial. 3312244-2249) Covnebacterium singulare is another new species of Corynebacterium isolated from clinical specimens. 16s rDNA sequencing show the organism to be very similar to C. minitissimum but with a DNA relatedness of less than 40%. Major differentiating characteristics from the other fermenting species of Corynebacterium include urease positivity, fermentation of glucose and sucrose, but not trehalose. (Riegel, P. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 47: 1092- 1096) Still another new species of Corynebacterium, Corynebacterium durum, isolated from human sputum specimens has been described. This isolate has all the characteristics of the genus, but 16s and RNA gene sequencing show it to be adistinct taxon. The organism produces irregular, tough, and strongly adherent colonies under aerobic conditions. Nitrate is positive, urease activity is weak, and a variety of sugars are fermented; PYRase, alkaline phosphatase, l3-galactosidase, &glucuronidase are not produced. (Riegel, P. et al. 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:1107-1111) Actinomjces graevenitzii, named in honor of Alexander von Graevenitz, a contemporary American and Swiss microbiologist, is a new species of the genus Actinomyces. The organism has the typical cellular and colonial morphology of the actinomyces except that it is strongly adherent to agar. A variety of biochemical tests are required to differentiate it from the more commonly seen species of the genus: nitrate, urease,
Clinical Microbiology
Newsletter 20:8.1998
esuclin, fermentation of a variety of sugars. Notably, this organism produces large amounts of lactic acid and N-acetylB-glucosaminidase. A. graevenitzii is facultatively anaerobic and has been isolated from respiratory tract specimens. (Ramos, C.P. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 47:885-888) Three new species of the genus Peptococcus have been described: p harei, I? ivorii, and I? octavius. All strains have been isolated from a variety of human clinical specimens and were found to be atypical in their relationship to existing species. Analysis of 16s rRNA gene sequences indicates that they are peptostreptococci but distinct from currently recognized species. I! harei, named for Ronald Hare, a British microbiologist, is indole- and fructose-negative, and catalase-positive; it forms a variety of proteolytic enzymes. l? ivorii, named for Ivor, another British microbiologist, is relatively biochemically inactive; proline AMD is the only proteolytic enzyme produced. E! octavius was originally assigned to the Hare group VIII of anaerobic cocci; it is very active metabolically; catalse is variable and, if positive, is weak. (Murdoch, D.A. et al. 1997 Int J. System. Bacterial. 47:781-787) Chryseomonas luteola and Flavimonas orizihabitans were originally described as members of the genus Pseudomonas. Type strains were isolated from human clinical material. Transfers to their current genus was based on DNA-DNA hybridazation studies, but recent 16s rRNA sequencing analyses show them to have a high degree of homology (94%) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the type species of the genus and greater than 90% with other species of Pseudomonas. Based on these data Anzai and associates (Anzai, Y. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 47:24925 1) recommend that the original genus name for these organisms be used. A second species of Stenotrophomonas, S. africana isolated from a CSF sample from an HIV-positive Rwandan with primary meningoencephalitis has been described. The isolate has evolutionary homology and similar phenotypic traits with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. S. africana can be distinguished from S. maltophilia by the lack of the typical ammonia odor, assimilation studies, and DNA-DNA hybridiza-
0 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.
tion (35% similarity). Other contrasting characteristics of this new species is that it was not nosocomial in origin, and is even more resistant to antibiotics than S. maltophilia. (Drancourt, M. et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:160-163) Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis is a new species of Norcardia originally identified as N. brasiliensis. The presence of nocardomycolic acids, other cell wall components, G+C content, and DNA sequencing definitely characterize the new species as a Nocardia but DNADNA hybridization, mycolic acid pattern, nitrate reduction, and antimicrobial susceptibility distinguish it from N. brasiliensis and N. asteroides, its closest phylogenetic relatives. (Ruimy, R. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 46:259-264) A new rapidly growing, nonphotochromogenic species of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium mageritense, has been isolated from human sputum specimens from hospitalized patients in Spain. Growth characteristics, acidfastness, and mycolic acid analyses were consistent with the Mycobacterium genus, but DNA-DNA hybridization studies and gene sequence analysis indicate that this represents a novel species. M. mageritense is phylogenetically between M. fortuitum complex and the thermotolerant group of rapid growers characterized by M. smegmatis. M. mageritense, whose name is derived from the old Arabic name for the city of Madrid, Magerit, can be differentiated from M. fortuitum by its growth at 45°C and use of mannitol as a sole carbon source, and from M. smegmatis by its growth on MacConkey agar without crystal violet. It also differs from all other rapid growers by the presence of a heat-labile catalase. (Domenech, P. et al. 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:535-540) Mycobacterium conspicuum is a new species isolated from patients with disseminated infections (sputum, blood, skin). The organism is acid-fast, slow growing, nonphotochromogenic, and posseses cell wall mycolic acids consistent with the Mycobacterium genus. M. conspicuum shows a quite distinct metabolic reaction pattern which can rarely be confused with that of other mycobacterial species. In particular, the fatty acid profile is unique, and the occurrence of two branched-chain fatty
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acids (C15.0 and C17.0) is diagnostic; 16s rRNA sequencing also defines this new species. (Springer, B. et al. 1995. J. Clin. Microbial. 33:2805-2811) A rapidly growing, photochromogenie, acid-fast organism isolated from a spreading granulation on the hand of a child was characterized as a new species of mycobacteria by gene sequencing. It could be distinguished from other rapid growers on the basis of its mycolic acid pattern and abilit:y to produce yellow pigmented colones when incubated in the light. The organism was named Mycobacterium rrovocastrense for its city of origin, Newcastle, England. M. novacastrense might be confused with M. marinum, a photochromogen that also produces skin lesions, but they can be differentiated by nitrate reduction and growth at 42°C; the former is positive for both. Further, M. novocastrense is slow growing with a different mycolic acid profile. (Shojaei, H. et al. 1997. .I. Syst. Bacterial. 47: 1205- 1207) Another mycobacterium, Mycobacterium triplex, characterized by its three-cluster mycolic acid HPLC pat-
tern has been described. It is a slow growing, acid-fast bacillus phylogenetitally closely resembling M. simiae and IV. genavense; its antimicrobial resisl.ance pattern is similar to the M. avium complex. M. triplex colonies are cream ‘~0buff, nonpigmented, usually smooth, becoming rough with age, and always nonphotochromogenic; growth occurs at 30 to 37”C, but not at 25 or 42°C. Clinical isolates (sputum, CSF, and lymph node tissue) have been distributed throughout the U.S. (Floyd, M.M. et al. 1996. J. Clin. Microbial. 34:29632967) The number of species of Borrelia and borrelia-like agents continues to grow. B. garinii isolated in 1992 (Baranton, G. et al., 1992. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 42:378-383) and B. afzelii found in 1993 (Canica, M.M. et al. 1993. Stand. J. Infect. Dis 25:441-448) were both found to be associated with borreliosis. In 1993, Borrelia japonica was isolated from the Ixodes ovatus tick in Japan (Kawabata, H. et al. 1993. Microbial. Immunol. 37:843-848), and B. andersonii was isolated from the
Ixodes dentatus tick in the U.S.
(Barbour, A.G. et al. 1996. J. Infect. Dis 173:403-409); both species are nonpathogenic for humans. Two other species of Borrelia, B. tanukii and B. turdae, also with unknown pathogenicity for humans, have also been isolated from ixodid ticks in Japan. (Fukunaga, M. et al. 1996 Microbial. Immunol. 40:877-881). B. lonestari, isolated from the hard tick Amblyomma americanum, is possibly the agent of a Lyme borreliosis-like disease in the U.S. (Marconi, R.T. et al. 1995. J. Clin. Microbial 33:2427-2434) and B. miyamotoi, obtained from the Ixodes persulcatus tick in Japan (Fukunaga, M. et al. 1995. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial 45:804-810) causes a Lyme disease-like illness in that country. B. valaisiana (Wang, G. et al. 1997. Int J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:926-932) and B. lusitaniae (Le Fleche, A. et al 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:921925) have both been isolated from Ixodes ricinus ticks in European and Eurasian countries. The pathogenic potential of these latter two species is unknown.
Case Report
Spontaneous Peritonitis due to Campylobacterfetus in a Patient with Cirrhiosis Rosa Elcuaz Ana Ma Caiias Bernard0 Lafarga Servicio de Micmbiologia Hospital Nuestm Seiiora de1 Pino Las Palmas de &an Canaria
Ma Eugenia Arkuch Jer6nimo Artiles Saturnino Suarez Servicio de Medicina Intema Hospital El Sabmal Las Palmas de G-an Canaria Cumpylobacter
Case Report
fetus ssp. fetus is a
comma-shaped, microaerophilic, gramnegative bacillus, belonging to the genus Campylobacter, whose distinguishing feature is that it causes bacteremia and other extraintestinal infections unlike the thermophi’lic species (C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari), which principally cause 12
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gastroenteritis (1). This feature seems to be due to the vascular tropism of C. fetus ssp. fetus, especially when vascular damage already exists, and to the innate resistance of the organism to the bactericidal activity of human serum (2,3). We present here a case of spontaneous peritonitis due to C. fetus ssp. fetus that recently occurred in our hospital in a patient suffering from cirrhosis.
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A 68-year-old male with a previous history of cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and dementia was admitted with abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. On physical examination, he had a temperature of 38.2”C, blood pressure of 110170, respiratory wheezing due to bronchial secretions, enlarged liver and ascites with signs of diffuse peritoneal tenderness.
Q 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.
ssp.fetus
Laboratory findings were as follows: 15,200 leukocyte/mm3 (88% segmented neutrophils, 8% lymphocytes, 4% monocytes), and 72% albumin 32 g/L. The chest X-ray was normal. The abdominal X-ray showed signs of ascites and hepatomegaly. A diagnostic paracentesis was performed, which revealed a macroscopically purulent ascitic fluid. The ascitic fluid examination showed leukocytes, 163,200/mm3 (92% polymorphonuclear cells): erythrocytes 800/m3; glucose, 5 mg/lOO ml; protein, 2.6 g/lOOmL; and LDH, 146 U/L. The abdominal echography showed heterogeneous hepatomegaly with two focal masses compatible with neoplasia, as well as signs of portal hypertension and left portal thrombosis. A presumptive diagnosis of sponta-
Clinical Microbiology
Newsletter 20:8,1998
9. Prevots, R.D. et al. 1997. Poliomyelitis prevention in the United States: intro-
duction of a sequential vaccination schedule of inactivated poliovirus vaccine followed by oral poliovirus vaccine. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 46: l-24. 10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1997. Progress towards
global eradication of poliomyelitis, 1996. MMWR 579-584. 11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1997. Status of the Global Laboratory Network for Poliomyelitis Eradication, 1994- 1996. MMWR 46:692-694. 12. Hovi, T. 1995. Safety aspects of oral poliovirus vaccine campaigns. Devel. Biol. Stand. Base], Karger. 84:137-144.
tyrosine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine. Colonies are recognizable in 2 days on BHI as being yellow, dry, and rough. (Yassin, A.F. et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:607-614) A microaerophilic gram-negative campylobacter-like organism isolated from a variety of clinical material has been assigned a new genus and species: Sutterella wadsworthensis. The organisms were originally thought to be Campylobacter (previously Bacteroides) gracilis but differ in their bile resistance and abilty to reduce triphenyltetrazoliurn chloride (TTC). S. wadsworthensis is resistant to bile, reduces TTC anaerobically, has a different fatty acid profile than Campylobacter, is asaccharolytic, and reduces nitrate to nitrite. Like Campylobacter; Sutterella spp. grow in the presence of 2 to 6% oxygen on enriched media. The organism was named in memory of Vera Sutter, previous director of the Wadsworth (VA) Anaerobe Laboratory, reknowned for her work in anaerobic bacteriology. (Wexler, H.M. et al. 1997. Int J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:252-258) Bordetella trematum, originally placed in the genus Alcaligenes is now considered to be more closely related to the Bordetella genus by DNA and rDNAsequencing, fatty acid analysis, and other metabolic and biochemical characteristics. A number of these strains have been isolated from a variety of clinical specimens over the past 15 years. The source of the type species, chronic otitis media, is the derivation of the species name: trema is Latin or Greek for open or aperture. B. trematum joins the other recently described species of Bordetella, B. hinzii (1994)
and B. holmseii (1995). (Vandamme P. et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 46:849-858) Flavobacterium odoratum has been reclassified into a new genus Myroides as M. odoratus or M. odoratimimus. Genotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data based on DNA-DNA hybridization, cell protein and fatty acid analyses showed that the previously described F: odoratum was distinct from the genus Flavobacterium and the isolates were divided into two species. M. odoratus and M. odoratimimus have been isolated from a variety of clinical specimens. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek myran for perfume. (Vancanneyt, M. et al. 1996. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 46:926-932) A new coryneform bacterium, Corynebacterium coyleae, that can be recognized by having a strong CAMP reaction and slow or no fermentative activity has been described. The cellwall constituents and rRNA and DNA analyses place the organism in the genus Corynebacterium, but it is genotypically distinct from other species of the genus. The species is named for Marie Coyle for her contributions to the clinical and microbiologic aspects of the coryneform bacteria. C. coyleae strains that were studied were isolated from blood cultures. (Funke, G. et al. 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:92-96) Another unusual species, Corynebacterium mucifaciens, has been described. Isolated from a variety of human clinical specimens, the organism is characterized by its yellow pigmented, very mucoid colonies. C. mucifaciens belongs to the non-fermenting group of corynebacteria and can be differentiated from other species in the group by a
New Names, New Bugs R. J. Zabransky, Ph.D. VA Medical Center Cleveland, OH 44122 New organisms are described almost every day; those of clinical significance with much less frequency. In addition, new relationships based on genetic relatedness and molecular biology reveal that previously described organisms should be reclassified into different genera. The following descriptions of new organisms (new species or new names) were extracted from recent literature. Tsukamurella pulmonis is a new and distinct species of the genus Tsukamurells which is related to other acid-fast or partially acid-fast genera such as Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Mycobacten’um, and Gordona. This species was isolated from the sputum of a 92-year-old woman with tuberculosis and is most closely related to ;r: inchonensis and 7: paurometabola. (Yassin, A.F. et al. 1996. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 46:429-436) Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens is a new organism related to the mycolic acid-containing bacteria. Strains of this new species were isolated from blood cultures of patients with cardiac pacemakers and sputa of patients with chronic lung infections. Membership in the Tsukamurella genus was demonstrated by 16s rDNA sequence analysis, and DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed the isolate to be a distinct species. The species is a slightly acid-fast, grampositive aerobic bacillus that grows as long rods that fragment with age. The organism grows on MacConkey agar without crystal violet, tolerates 5% salt, and characteristically hydrolyzes
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variety of biochemical tests (nitrate reduction, urea and esculin hydrolysis, CAMP reaction, and non-lipophilia). (Funke, G. et al. 1997 Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:952-957) A species of Corynebacterium, C. seminale, is distinct from other members of the genus by DNA-DNA hybridization and DNA sequencing analyses. Phenotyically the organism grows well on blood agar, but not when the medium is supplemented with Tween 80. It is CAMP test positive, ferments glucose and sucrose, and produces l3-glucuronidase. Urea and esculin hydrolysis and nitrate reduction varies with the strains tested. The type strain for the species was isolated from the semen of a patient with prostatitis. (Siegel, P. et al. 1995. J. Clin. Microbial. 3312244-2249) Covnebacterium singulare is another new species of Corynebacterium isolated from clinical specimens. 16s rDNA sequencing show the organism to be very similar to C. minitissimum but with a DNA relatedness of less than 40%. Major differentiating characteristics from the other fermenting species of Corynebacterium include urease positivity, fermentation of glucose and sucrose, but not trehalose. (Riegel, P. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 47: 1092- 1096) Still another new species of Corynebacterium, Corynebacterium durum, isolated from human sputum specimens has been described. This isolate has all the characteristics of the genus, but 16s and RNA gene sequencing show it to be adistinct taxon. The organism produces irregular, tough, and strongly adherent colonies under aerobic conditions. Nitrate is positive, urease activity is weak, and a variety of sugars are fermented; PYRase, alkaline phosphatase, l3-galactosidase, &glucuronidase are not produced. (Riegel, P. et al. 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:1107-1111) Actinomjces graevenitzii, named in honor of Alexander von Graevenitz, a contemporary American and Swiss microbiologist, is a new species of the genus Actinomyces. The organism has the typical cellular and colonial morphology of the actinomyces except that it is strongly adherent to agar. A variety of biochemical tests are required to differentiate it from the more commonly seen species of the genus: nitrate, urease,
Clinical Microbiology
Newsletter 20:8.1998
esuclin, fermentation of a variety of sugars. Notably, this organism produces large amounts of lactic acid and N-acetylB-glucosaminidase. A. graevenitzii is facultatively anaerobic and has been isolated from respiratory tract specimens. (Ramos, C.P. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 47:885-888) Three new species of the genus Peptococcus have been described: p harei, I? ivorii, and I? octavius. All strains have been isolated from a variety of human clinical specimens and were found to be atypical in their relationship to existing species. Analysis of 16s rRNA gene sequences indicates that they are peptostreptococci but distinct from currently recognized species. I! harei, named for Ronald Hare, a British microbiologist, is indole- and fructose-negative, and catalase-positive; it forms a variety of proteolytic enzymes. l? ivorii, named for Ivor, another British microbiologist, is relatively biochemically inactive; proline AMD is the only proteolytic enzyme produced. E! octavius was originally assigned to the Hare group VIII of anaerobic cocci; it is very active metabolically; catalse is variable and, if positive, is weak. (Murdoch, D.A. et al. 1997 Int J. System. Bacterial. 47:781-787) Chryseomonas luteola and Flavimonas orizihabitans were originally described as members of the genus Pseudomonas. Type strains were isolated from human clinical material. Transfers to their current genus was based on DNA-DNA hybridazation studies, but recent 16s rRNA sequencing analyses show them to have a high degree of homology (94%) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the type species of the genus and greater than 90% with other species of Pseudomonas. Based on these data Anzai and associates (Anzai, Y. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 47:24925 1) recommend that the original genus name for these organisms be used. A second species of Stenotrophomonas, S. africana isolated from a CSF sample from an HIV-positive Rwandan with primary meningoencephalitis has been described. The isolate has evolutionary homology and similar phenotypic traits with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. S. africana can be distinguished from S. maltophilia by the lack of the typical ammonia odor, assimilation studies, and DNA-DNA hybridiza-
0 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.
tion (35% similarity). Other contrasting characteristics of this new species is that it was not nosocomial in origin, and is even more resistant to antibiotics than S. maltophilia. (Drancourt, M. et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:160-163) Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis is a new species of Norcardia originally identified as N. brasiliensis. The presence of nocardomycolic acids, other cell wall components, G+C content, and DNA sequencing definitely characterize the new species as a Nocardia but DNADNA hybridization, mycolic acid pattern, nitrate reduction, and antimicrobial susceptibility distinguish it from N. brasiliensis and N. asteroides, its closest phylogenetic relatives. (Ruimy, R. et al. 1997. Int. J. System. Bacterial. 46:259-264) A new rapidly growing, nonphotochromogenic species of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium mageritense, has been isolated from human sputum specimens from hospitalized patients in Spain. Growth characteristics, acidfastness, and mycolic acid analyses were consistent with the Mycobacterium genus, but DNA-DNA hybridization studies and gene sequence analysis indicate that this represents a novel species. M. mageritense is phylogenetically between M. fortuitum complex and the thermotolerant group of rapid growers characterized by M. smegmatis. M. mageritense, whose name is derived from the old Arabic name for the city of Madrid, Magerit, can be differentiated from M. fortuitum by its growth at 45°C and use of mannitol as a sole carbon source, and from M. smegmatis by its growth on MacConkey agar without crystal violet. It also differs from all other rapid growers by the presence of a heat-labile catalase. (Domenech, P. et al. 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:535-540) Mycobacterium conspicuum is a new species isolated from patients with disseminated infections (sputum, blood, skin). The organism is acid-fast, slow growing, nonphotochromogenic, and posseses cell wall mycolic acids consistent with the Mycobacterium genus. M. conspicuum shows a quite distinct metabolic reaction pattern which can rarely be confused with that of other mycobacterial species. In particular, the fatty acid profile is unique, and the occurrence of two branched-chain fatty
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acids (C15.0 and C17.0) is diagnostic; 16s rRNA sequencing also defines this new species. (Springer, B. et al. 1995. J. Clin. Microbial. 33:2805-2811) A rapidly growing, photochromogenie, acid-fast organism isolated from a spreading granulation on the hand of a child was characterized as a new species of mycobacteria by gene sequencing. It could be distinguished from other rapid growers on the basis of its mycolic acid pattern and abilit:y to produce yellow pigmented colones when incubated in the light. The organism was named Mycobacterium rrovocastrense for its city of origin, Newcastle, England. M. novacastrense might be confused with M. marinum, a photochromogen that also produces skin lesions, but they can be differentiated by nitrate reduction and growth at 42°C; the former is positive for both. Further, M. novocastrense is slow growing with a different mycolic acid profile. (Shojaei, H. et al. 1997. .I. Syst. Bacterial. 47: 1205- 1207) Another mycobacterium, Mycobacterium triplex, characterized by its three-cluster mycolic acid HPLC pat-
tern has been described. It is a slow growing, acid-fast bacillus phylogenetitally closely resembling M. simiae and IV. genavense; its antimicrobial resisl.ance pattern is similar to the M. avium complex. M. triplex colonies are cream ‘~0buff, nonpigmented, usually smooth, becoming rough with age, and always nonphotochromogenic; growth occurs at 30 to 37”C, but not at 25 or 42°C. Clinical isolates (sputum, CSF, and lymph node tissue) have been distributed throughout the U.S. (Floyd, M.M. et al. 1996. J. Clin. Microbial. 34:29632967) The number of species of Borrelia and borrelia-like agents continues to grow. B. garinii isolated in 1992 (Baranton, G. et al., 1992. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 42:378-383) and B. afzelii found in 1993 (Canica, M.M. et al. 1993. Stand. J. Infect. Dis 25:441-448) were both found to be associated with borreliosis. In 1993, Borrelia japonica was isolated from the Ixodes ovatus tick in Japan (Kawabata, H. et al. 1993. Microbial. Immunol. 37:843-848), and B. andersonii was isolated from the
Ixodes dentatus tick in the U.S.
(Barbour, A.G. et al. 1996. J. Infect. Dis 173:403-409); both species are nonpathogenic for humans. Two other species of Borrelia, B. tanukii and B. turdae, also with unknown pathogenicity for humans, have also been isolated from ixodid ticks in Japan. (Fukunaga, M. et al. 1996 Microbial. Immunol. 40:877-881). B. lonestari, isolated from the hard tick Amblyomma americanum, is possibly the agent of a Lyme borreliosis-like disease in the U.S. (Marconi, R.T. et al. 1995. J. Clin. Microbial 33:2427-2434) and B. miyamotoi, obtained from the Ixodes persulcatus tick in Japan (Fukunaga, M. et al. 1995. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial 45:804-810) causes a Lyme disease-like illness in that country. B. valaisiana (Wang, G. et al. 1997. Int J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:926-932) and B. lusitaniae (Le Fleche, A. et al 1997. Int. J. Syst. Bacterial. 47:921925) have both been isolated from Ixodes ricinus ticks in European and Eurasian countries. The pathogenic potential of these latter two species is unknown.
Case Report
Spontaneous Peritonitis due to Campylobacterfetus in a Patient with Cirrhiosis Rosa Elcuaz Ana Ma Caiias Bernard0 Lafarga Servicio de Micmbiologia Hospital Nuestm Seiiora de1 Pino Las Palmas de &an Canaria
Ma Eugenia Arkuch Jer6nimo Artiles Saturnino Suarez Servicio de Medicina Intema Hospital El Sabmal Las Palmas de G-an Canaria Cumpylobacter
Case Report
fetus ssp. fetus is a
comma-shaped, microaerophilic, gramnegative bacillus, belonging to the genus Campylobacter, whose distinguishing feature is that it causes bacteremia and other extraintestinal infections unlike the thermophi’lic species (C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari), which principally cause 12
0196-4399/96/$O.OIl+
gastroenteritis (1). This feature seems to be due to the vascular tropism of C. fetus ssp. fetus, especially when vascular damage already exists, and to the innate resistance of the organism to the bactericidal activity of human serum (2,3). We present here a case of spontaneous peritonitis due to C. fetus ssp. fetus that recently occurred in our hospital in a patient suffering from cirrhosis.
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A 68-year-old male with a previous history of cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and dementia was admitted with abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. On physical examination, he had a temperature of 38.2”C, blood pressure of 110170, respiratory wheezing due to bronchial secretions, enlarged liver and ascites with signs of diffuse peritoneal tenderness.
Q 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.
ssp.fetus
Laboratory findings were as follows: 15,200 leukocyte/mm3 (88% segmented neutrophils, 8% lymphocytes, 4% monocytes), and 72% albumin 32 g/L. The chest X-ray was normal. The abdominal X-ray showed signs of ascites and hepatomegaly. A diagnostic paracentesis was performed, which revealed a macroscopically purulent ascitic fluid. The ascitic fluid examination showed leukocytes, 163,200/mm3 (92% polymorphonuclear cells): erythrocytes 800/m3; glucose, 5 mg/lOO ml; protein, 2.6 g/lOOmL; and LDH, 146 U/L. The abdominal echography showed heterogeneous hepatomegaly with two focal masses compatible with neoplasia, as well as signs of portal hypertension and left portal thrombosis. A presumptive diagnosis of sponta-
Clinical Microbiology
Newsletter 20:8,1998