Isolation, identification, antibiotic resistance profile and molecular analysis of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheal isolates from turkeys.

BACKGROUND: Ornithobacterium rhinotracheal (ORT) infects numerous birds, particularly chickens and turkeys. ORT is an emerging bacterial pathogen of global concern in the poultry industry. As ORT is rapidly spreading throughout commercial poultry, it requires intensive studies of its epidemiology, diagnostic procedures, molecular typing, virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted in isolation and identification of ORT from slaughtered turkeys. METHODS: Cleft palate swabs of 200 were collected from slaughtered turkeys and cultured on blood agar. ORT was characterized using biochemical tests and PCR targeting the ORT 16S rRNA gene. Virulence genes of isolates were determined targeting adenylate kinase (adk), copA and virulence-associated protein D (vapD) genes. Additionally, diversity of ORT isolates was performed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) and RAPD PCR. Disk diffusion was used to determine the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates. RESULTS: ORT was identified in 23 (11.5%) samples using both the biochemical tests and PCR. The result of detecting virulence genes showed that all the isolates (23: 100%) had the adk gene, whereas two (8.7%) isolates had the copA gene, and seven (30.43%) isolates had the vapD gene. Molecular typing of isolates revealed 21 different patterns by RAPD PCR assay using M13 primer and 20 distinct patterns by ERIC PCR test. Both ERIC and RAPD PCR were distinctive methods for investigating the genetic diversity of ORT isolates. The antibiotic resistance test showed that 18 (78.26%) isolates were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin, cefazolin, streptomycin and penicillin. All isolates (100%) were resistant to cloxacillin and fosfomycin. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the prevalence of ORT in turkey and high resistance of this bacterium to many common veterinary antibiotics. Moreover, both ERIC and RAPD PCR are distinctive methods for investigating the genetic diversity of ORT isolates. These data may help monitor antibiotic resistance and typing of ORT in epidemiological studies and serve as the foundation for designing region-specific vaccines for future use.

Clinical manifestations, antimicrobial resistance and genomic feature analysis of multidrug-resistant Elizabethkingia strains.

BACKGROUND: Elizabethkingia is emerging as an opportunistic pathogen in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence factors, and genome features of Elizabethkingia spp. METHODS: Clinical data from 71 patients who were diagnosed with Elizabethkingia-induced pneumonia and bacteremia between August 2019 and September 2021 were analyzed. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on seven isolates, and the results were compared with a dataset of 83 available Elizabethkingia genomes. Genomic features, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) results and clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 56.9 ± 20.7 years, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 29.6% (21/71). Elizabethkingia strains were obtained mainly from intensive care units (36.6%, 26/71) and emergency departments (32.4%, 23/71). The majority of the strains were isolated from respiratory tract specimens (85.9%, 61/71). All patients had a history of broad-spectrum antimicrobial exposure. Hospitalization for invasive mechanical ventilation or catheter insertion was found to be a risk factor for infection. The isolates displayed a high rate of resistance to cephalosporins and carbapenems, but all were susceptible to minocycline and colistin. Genomic analysis identified five ß-lactamase genes (blaGOB, blaBlaB, blaCME, blaOXA, and blaTEM) responsible for ß-lactam resistance and virulence genes involved in stress adaptation (ureB/G, katA/B, and clpP), adherence (groEL, tufA, and htpB) and immune modulation (gmd, tviB, cps4J, wbtIL, cap8E/D/G, and rfbC). Functional analysis of the COGs revealed that "metabolism" constituted the largest category within the core genome, while "information storage and processing" was predominant in both the accessory and unique genomes. The unique genes in our 7 strains were mostly enriched in KEGG pathways related to microRNAs in cancer, drug resistance (ß-lactam and vancomycin), ABC transporters, biological metabolism and biosynthesis, and nucleotide excision repair mechanisms. CONCLUSION: The Elizabethkingia genus exhibits multidrug resistance and carries carbapenemase genes. This study presents a comparative genomic analysis of Elizabethkingia, providing knowledge that facilitates a better understanding of this microorganism.

Neonatal Elizabethkingia anophelis meningitis originating from the water reservoir of an automated infant milk dispenser, the Netherlands, February 2024.

Elizabethkingia anophelis is a multidrug-resistant pathogen causing high mortality and morbidity in adults with comorbidities and neonates. We report a Dutch case of E. anophelis meningitis in a neonate, clonally related to samples taken from an automated infant milk dispenser located at the family's residence. We inform about the emergence of E. anophelis and suggest molecular surveillance in hospitals and other health settings. This is the first case connecting an automated formula dispenser to an invasive infection in a neonate.

Flavobacterium covae is the predominant species of columnaris-causing bacteria impacting the Channel Catfish industry in the southeastern United States.

OBJECTIVE: Columnaris disease is a leading cause of disease-related losses in the catfish industry of the southeastern United States. The term "columnaris-causing bacteria" (CCB) has been coined in reference to the four described species that cause columnaris disease: Flavobacterium columnare, F. covae, F. davisii, and F. oreochromis. Historically, F. columnare, F. covae, and F. davisii have been isolated from columnaris disease cases in the catfish industry; however, there is a lack of knowledge of which CCB species are most prevalent in farm-raised catfish. The current research objectives were to (1) sample columnaris disease cases from the U.S. catfish industry and identify the species of CCB involved and (2) determine the virulence of the four CCB species in Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in controlled laboratory challenges. METHODS: Bacterial isolates or swabs of external lesions from catfish were collected from 259 columnaris disease cases in Mississippi and Alabama during 2015-2019. The DNA extracted from the samples was analyzed using a CCB-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction to identify the CCB present in each diagnostic case. Channel Catfish were challenged by immersion with isolates belonging to each CCB species to determine virulence at ~28°C and 20°C. RESULT: Flavobacterium covae was identified as the predominant CCB species impacting the U.S. catfish industry, as it was present in 94.2% (n = 244) of diagnostic case submissions. Challenge experiments demonstrated that F. covae and F. oreochromis were highly virulent to Channel Catfish, with most isolates resulting in near 100% mortality. In contrast, F. columnare and F. davisii were less virulent, with most isolates resulting in less than 40% mortality. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results demonstrate that F. covae is the predominant CCB in the U.S. catfish industry, and research aimed at developing new control and prevention strategies should target this bacterial species. The methods described herein can be used to continue monitoring the prevalence of CCB in the catfish industry and can be easily applied to other industries to identify which Flavobacterium species have the greatest impact.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Outbreak in NICU: An Observational Study on a Debilitating Neuroinfection in Neonates.

BACKGROUND: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging nosocomial pathogen implicated in neonatal sepsis with high mortality and morbidities. However, there is very limited data regarding the characteristics as well as outcomes following this infection, particularly in developing countries. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of all infants with culture-positive Elizabethkingia sepsis as part of an outbreak, to study their clinical and epidemiological characteristics, as well as their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, using a structured proforma from the neonatal intensive care unit database. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics and predictors of mortality and hydrocephalus were also identified. RESULTS: Of the 21 neonates enrolled, 9 (42.9%) were male, with a mean gestational age and birth weight of 31.7 ± 3.4 weeks and 1320 ± 364 g, respectively. The median (interquartile range) age of onset of illness was 7 (5-12) days. The overall mortality rate was 23.8%, and among survivors, 50% had neurologic complications requiring intervention. Vancomycin and ciprofloxacin were the most used antibiotics for treatment in our series, with a median duration of 26 (17-38) days. On univariate analysis, shock at presentation was significantly associated with increased mortality (P = 0.04) while, seizures (P = 0.04) and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein levels (P = 0 .01) at onset of illness predicted progressive hydrocephalus in surviving neonates. CONCLUSION: E. meningoseptica sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotics are critical for improving survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Though isolation of the organism by environmental surveillance is always not possible, with proper infection control measures, the infection can be controlled.

Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica.

IMPORTANCE: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging infectious agent associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data available on the genomic features of E. meningoseptica. This study aims to characterize the geographical distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission of this bacterium. A systematic analysis of the E. meningoseptica genome revealed that a common ancestor of this bacterium existed 90 years ago. The evolutionary history showed no significant relationship with the sample source, origin, or region, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Whole genome sequencing data also demonstrated that E. meningoseptica bacteria possess inherent resistance and pathogenicity, enabling them to spread within the same hospital and even across borders. This study highlights the potential for E. meningoseptica to cause severe nosocomial outbreaks and horizontal transmission between countries worldwide. The available evidence is crucial for the development of evidence-based public health policies to prevent global outbreaks caused by emerging pathogens.

Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica in bullfrog Rana catesbeiana isolated in Taiwan.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a hazardous bacterium for agriculture production and human health. The present study identified E. meningoseptica from the bullfrog, human and reference strain BCRC 10677 by API 20NE, 50S ribosome protein L27 sequencing and pulse field gel electrophoresis to differentiate isolates of E. meningoseptica from aquatic animals and humans. All isolates from bullfrogs and humans were identified as E. meningoseptica by DNA sequencing with 98.8%-100% sequence identity. E. meningoseptica displayed significant genetic diversity when analysed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). There were six distinct pulsotypes, including one pulsotype found in bullfrog isolates and five pulsotypes found in human isolates. However, E. meningoseptica from bullfrog exhibited one genotype only by PFGE. Overall, molecular epidemiological analysis of PFGE results indicated that the frog E. meningoseptica outbreaks in Taiwan were produced by genetically identical clones. The bullfrog isolates were not genetically related to other E. meningoseptica from human and reference isolates. This research provided the first comparisons of biochemical characteristics and genetic differences of E. meningoseptica from human and bullfrog isolates.

Co-occurrence of heterogeneous Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates within the same Chilean farm and during the same infectious outbreak.

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a pathogenic bacterium affecting Chilean salmonid farms. High antigenic and genetic diversity exists among Chilean F. psychrophilum isolates, but the distribution thereof among farms is poorly understood. These epidemiological data are key for developing isolate-specific vaccines. The present study isolated F. psychrophilum in diseased Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from five freshwater farms between 2018 and 2019. Each farm only raised one salmonid species and was geographically separated from and did not share culturing water with the other farms. Antigenic and genetic analyses were conducted to shed light on the possibility of isolates coexisting within the same farm during outbreaks. A total of 68 Chilean F. psychrophilum isolates were recovered from skin lesions, gills, fins, kidney and spleen of moribund and live fish. Among the 68 Chilean isolates, mPCR-serotyping indicated three major serotypes (i.e. 23.5% type 0; 47.1% type 2; and 26.5% type 4) and, to a lesser degree, serotype 1 (2.9%). Sixteen antigenic groups were detected by slide agglutination. Genetic characterizations by 16S rRNA alleles identified 71% of the isolates as the virulent genogroup CSF259-93 allele. A predominant serotype was associated with each farm, with types 0 and 4 related to Atlantic salmon and types 1 and 2 to rainbow trout. Notwithstanding, several antigenic groups coexisted within some farms. Likewise, the experimental intramuscular challenges (n = 20) demonstrated that the type-2 isolates from rainbow trout were the most pathogenic among isolates recovered from infectious outbreaks in Atlantic salmon, especially as compared to those from types-0 and -4. These results allow us to suggest that prevention measures, specifically vaccines, should be developed according to dominant isolates and with specificity to each farm, that is the use of autogenous or site-specific vaccines.

Isolation of Elizabethkingia spp. from Diagnostic Specimens from Dogs and Cats, United States, 2019-2021.

We retrospectively reviewed Elizabethkingia spp. culture and susceptibility results from 86 veterinary diagnostic laboratory results from US dogs and cats. We noted 26 E. menigoseptica, 1 E. miricola, and 59 unspeciated Elizabethkingia isolates from 9 US states (2-22 isolates per state). Elizabethkingia infections in animals might increase risks to humans.

Epidemiological investigation and drug resistance characteristics of Riemerella anatipestifer strains from large-scale duck farms in Shandong Province, China from March 2020 to March 2022.

Infectious serositis is a common disease caused by Riemerella anatipestifer (R. anatipestifer) in ducks, characterized by respiratory distress, septicemia, and neurological symptoms. In this study, 1,020 samples (brain and liver) were collected from ducks with suspected R. anatipestifer infection from March 2020 to March 2022 in Shandong Province, of which 171 R. anatipestifer strains were identified by PCR and isolation culture. The serotype of all strains was analyzed, and 74 strains were subjected to drug sensitivity tests and drug resistance genes detection. The results showed that the overall prevalence rate of R. anatipestifer in Shandong Province was 16.7% (171/1,020), with most strains coming from brain samples of ducklings under 3-mo old collected from September to December each year. Histopathological examination showed that heart vessels of the diseased duck were highly dilated and filled with red blood cells, with obvious fibrin exudates outside the pericardium, and fatty degeneration of liver cells. There were 45 strains of serotype 1, 45 strains of serotype 2, 2 strains of serotype 4, 33 strains of serotype 6, 44 strains of serotype 7, and 2 strains of serotype 10. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10 common antibiotics against 74 representative strains was determined by the agar dilution method. It was found that 74 strains had the most severe resistance to gentamicin (77%) and fully susceptible to ceftriaxone, but the 81.1% isolated strains were multidrug resistant. Resistance genes testing of 74 R. anatipestifers showed that tetracycline resistance gene tet X had the highest detection rate of 95.9%, followed by macrolide resistance gene ermF with 77%, and the rate of ß-lactam resistance gene blaTEM is the lowest (10.8%). The animal experiment of 4 R. anatipestifer strains with different serotypes showed that they had strong pathogenicity to 7-day-old ducklings, which could cause nervous symptoms, and the mortality rate was 58% to 70%. The autopsy showed obvious pathological changes. These findings of this study on R. anatipestifer will help us to understand the latest prevalence, drug resistance characteristics, and pathogenicity of R. anatipestifer in Shandong, China, and provide a scientific guide for the treatment and control of the disease.

Genomic and phylogenetic characterization of Elizabethkingia anophelis strains: The first two cases of life-threatening infection in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: Elizabethkingia anophelis causes meningitis, bloodstream infections, and respiratory infections in immunocompromised individuals. We examined two E. anophelis strains isolated from the first life-threatening cases caused by this species in Japan to determine the phylogenetic origin and genomic features of them. METHODS: We performed whole genome-based analysis to clarify the genetic relationship for the two strains (EK0004 and EK0079) and Elizabethkingia sp. strains isolated from worldwide and to characterize the genomic features such as the prevalence of virulence- and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related genes. PATIENTS: A 29-year-old man with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma and a 52-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus developed fatal bacteremia and meningitis due to E. anophelis, respectively. RESULTS: Two strains, EK0004 and EK0079, were genetically different but most closely related to the strains isolated from the largest outbreak in Wisconsin, USA from 2015 to 2016, and the strain isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of a patient in Florida, USA in 1982, respectively. The two strains contained AMR-related genes such as those encoding for an extended-spectrum ß-lactamase and multiple metallo-ß-lactamases and several virulence-related genes such as capsular polysaccharide synthesis gene clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Although further functional analyses are required to understand the virulence of these clones, these finding suggests that enough caution of E. anophelis infection in immunocompromised patients is required since the number of infections by this species is increasing outside Japan.

Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of patients infected with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica at a tertiary hospital in Hefei City, China.

Background: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a bacterium causing potential nosocomial infections and is associated with a high mortality rate; however, the date of patients in the Hefei population who have been diagnosed with this infection is generally limited. Purpose: The clinical and laboratory data of patients from a tertiary hospital in Hefei City who had E. meningoseptica infection were evaluated in this retrospective analysis. Patients and methods: From May 2017 to November 2021, there were 24 patients infected with E. meningoseptica in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Data were gathered from the hospital's electronic medical records for all patients. Results: The most prevalent symptom among the 24 patients was fever (83.3%), followed by edema (41.7%), cough (37.5%), altered consciousness (41.7%), and sputum (37.5%), and laboratory results presented with anemia (75%), hypoproteinemia (75%), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (66.7%), neutrophilia (54.2%), and leukocytosis (50.0%). Hepatic disease (1 vs. 7, P = 0.009) was the only significant risk factor for underlying diseases. The mean value of lymphocyte (LYMPH#) (1.4 vs. 0.83 × 109/L, P = 0.033) counts was higher in the survival group than death group, while both anemia (8 vs. 10, P = 0.024) and hypoproteinemia (8 vs. 10, P = 0.024) occurred more frequently in the death group compared with the survival one. Conclusion: Fever was the most common symptom and the only significant factor of underlying diseases was hepatic disease (P = 0.009) that often occurred in death groups. In this investigation, the risk factors for death in patients were anemia, hypoproteinemia, and lymphocyte count. The susceptibility of some quinolones, piperacillin-tazobactam, and cotrimoxazole was relatively high, suggesting that they may be the preferred drugs for the treatment of E. meningoseptica infection. As E. meningoseptica can produce biofilm to pollute the hospital environment and cause infection in patients, the disinfection of the hospital environment should be strengthened and medical staff should pay attention to aseptic operations.

Population genomics of emerging Elizabethkingia anophelis pathogens reveals potential outbreak and rapid global dissemination.

Elizabethkingia anophelis is an emerging species and has increasingly been reported to cause life-threatening infections and even outbreaks in humans. Nevertheless, there is little data regarding the E. anophelis geographical distribution, phylogenetic structure, and transmission across the globe, especially in Asia. We utilize whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data to define a global population framework, phylogenetic structure, geographical distribution, and transmission evaluation of E. anophelis pathogens. The geographical distribution diagram revealed the emerging pathogenic bacteria already distributed in various countries worldwide, especially in the USA and China. Strikingly, phylogenetic analysis showed a part of our China original E. anophelis shared the same ancestor with the USA outbreak strain, which implies the possibility of localized outbreaks and global spread. These closer related strains also contained ICEEaI, which might insert into a disrupted DNA repair mutY gene and made the strain more liable to mutation and outbreak infection. BEAST analysis showed that the most recent common ancestor for ICEEaI E. anophelis was dated twelve years ago, and China might be the most likely recent source of this bacteria. Our study sheds light on the potential possibility of E. anophelis causing the large-scale outbreak and rapid global dissemination. Continued genomic surveillance of the dynamics of E. anophelis populations will generate further knowledge for optimizing future prevent global outbreak infections.

Effect of Intragenomic Sequence Heterogeneity among Multiple 16S rRNA Genes on Species Identification of Elizabethkingia.

Accurate identification of Elizabethkingia species mostly requires the use of molecular techniques, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing is generally considered the method of choice. In this study, we evaluated the effect of intraspecific diversity among the multiple copies of the 16S rRNA gene on the accuracy of species identification in the genus Elizabethkingia. Sequences of 16S rRNA genes obtained from the 32 complete whole-genome sequences of Elizabethkingia deposited in GenBank and from 218 clinical isolates collected from 5 hospitals in Taiwan were analyzed. Four or five copies of 16S rRNA were identified in the Elizabethkingia species with complete genome sequences. The dissimilarity among the copies of the16S rRNA gene was <1% in all Elizabethkingia strains. E. meningoseptica demonstrated a significantly higher rate of nucleotide variations in the 16S rRNA than did E. anophelis (P = 0.011). Nucleotide alterations occurred more frequently in regions V2 and V6 than in other hypervariable regions (P < 0.001). E. meningoseptica, E. anophelis, and E. argenteiflava strains were clustered distinctly in the phylogenetic tree inferred from 16S rRNA genes, and the intragenomic variation of gene sequences had no profound effect on the classification of taxa. However, E. miricola, E. bruuniana, E. ursingii, and E. occulta were grouped closely in the phylogenetic analysis, and the variation among the multiple copies of the 16S rRNA in one E. ursingii strain affected species classification. Other marker genes may be required to supplement the species classification of closely related taxa in the genus Elizabethkingia. IMPORTANCE Incorrect identification of bacterial species would influence the epidemiology and clinical analysis of patients infected with Elizabethkingia. The results of the present study suggest that 16S rRNA gene sequencing should not be considered the gold standard for the accurate identification of Elizabethkingia species.

Elizabethkingia anophelis outbreak in France.

OBJECTIVE: We report an outbreak of Elizabethkingia anophelis infections in France. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first outbreak described in Europe. METHODS: Each E. anophelis-positive microbiological sample was considered a case. All patients were hospitalized in an infectious diseases unit. Clinical, environmental, and microbiological investigations (MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, PCR, E-test) were performed for each case. RESULTS: Twenty cases were reported from September 2020 to September 2021, mainly community-acquired infections, responsible for nine deaths. The phylogenetic analysis showed a clonal origin and excluded nosocomial transmission. Despite the analysis of multiple environmental specimens, no source of contamination was identified. All strains were highly resistant to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and imipenem. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and microbiologists should be aware of this multidrug-resistant bacterium, capable of causing severe infections. Most strains showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values for cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin, making them the best choice for empirical antibiotic therapy.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Elizabethkingia Species: Report from a Reference Laboratory.

Elizabethkingia species are Gram-negative bacilli that were most recently linked to a cluster of infections in the Midwestern United States from 2016 to 2017. Inappropriate empirical and directed antibiotic selection for this organism is common among providers and is an independent risk factor for mortality. Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Elizabethkingia species from a referral laboratory over a 10-year period were reviewed. Identification methods used over time varied and included biochemical panels, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Agar dilution was used to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing. One hundred seventy-four clinical isolates were included. The lower respiratory tract (20/37; 54%) was the most common specimen source in pediatric patients, whereas blood isolates (62/137; 45%) constituted the most prevalent source in adults. Among the identified species, Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (72/121; 59%) constituted the majority. All Elizabethkingia species tested against minocycline were susceptible (18/18; 100%), and 90% of isolates tested against trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (117/130) were susceptible. Of the 12 Elizabethkingia miricola isolates, most of the tested isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam (11/12; 92%) and levofloxacin (11/12; 92%), whereas the Elizabethkingia anophelis isolates most often tested susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam (13/14; 93%). In this study, Elizabethkingia species showed high rates of in vitro susceptibility to minocycline and TMP-SMX. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical implications of species-level differences in antimicrobial susceptibilities in this genus.

First isolation of Flavobacterium psychrophilum from wild adult Great Lakes lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis).

Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis; LWF) is an economically and ecologically valuable native species to the Great Lakes, but recent declines in their recruitment have generated significant concern about their future viability. Although studies have sought to identify factors contributing to declining recruitment, the potential role(s) of infectious diseases has not been thoroughly investigated. In 2018 and 2019, adult LWF were collected from Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron for clinical examination and bacteriological analyses. Herein, we describe the first isolation of Flavobacterium psychrophilum, aetiological agent of bacterial coldwater disease (BCWD) and rainbow trout fry syndrome (RTFS), from systemically infected adult LWF. Bacterial isolates were yellow-orange, Gram-negative, filamentous bacilli that were oxidase and catalase positive, and produced a flexirubin-type pigment in 3% potassium hydroxide. Isolate identity was confirmed via F. psychrophilum-specific PCR, and multilocus sequence typing revealed three new singleton sequence types (STs) that were distinct from all previously described F. psychrophilum STs. The prevalence of F. psychrophilum infections was 3.3, 1.7, and 0.0% in Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron respectively. Findings illustrate the potential for F. psychrophilum to cause systemic infections in adult LWF and highlight the need for future studies to investigate the bacterium's potential role in declining LWF recruitment.

Elizabethkingia anophelis: An Important Emerging Cause of Neonatal Sepsis and Meningitis in China.

Elizabethkingia anophelis, originally isolated from the midgut of Anopheles gambiae in 2011, is an important cause of sepsis in adults and children and meningitis in newborns, with several reported outbreaks worldwide. Accumulating molecular biological and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) evidence suggests that E. anophelis is the major human pathogen belonging to the genus Elizabethkingia. The source of infection, routes of transmission and pathogenicity of E. anophelis are unclear and should be better understood as the bacterium is capable of causing sepsis and meningitis in newborns, with complications and high mortality rates. Here, we describe two healthy neonates who developed meningitis caused by Elizabethkingia infection. Initial conventional laboratory results revealed that the pathogen was E. meningoseptica; metagenomic findings later confirmed it as E. anophelis. We also summarize reported E. anophelis infections among newborns in China and elsewhere and describe the clinical, pathogenic and genetic characteristics of this bacillus.

Tenacibaculosis in Norwegian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) cage-farmed in cold sea water is primarily associated with Tenacibaculum finnmarkense genomovar finnmarkense.

Skin conditions associated with Tenacibaculum spp. constitute a significant threat to the health and welfare of sea-farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Norway. Fifteen presumptive tenacibaculosis outbreaks distributed along the Norwegian coast during the late winter and spring of 2018 were investigated. Bacteriological culture confirmed the presence of Tenacibaculum spp. Seventy-six isolates cultured from individual fish were selected and subjected to whole-genome sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Average nucleotide identity and MALDI-TOF analyses confirmed the presence of T. finnmarkense and T. dicentrarchi, with further division of T. finnmarkense into genomovars (gv.) finnmarkense and ulcerans. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses identified the presence of a genetically conserved cluster of gv. finnmarkense isolates against a background of relatively genetically diverse gv. finnmarkense and gv. ulcerans isolates in 13 of the 15 studied cases. This clustering strongly suggests a link between T. finnmarkense gv. finnmarkense and development of clinical tenacibaculosis in sea-farmed Norwegian salmon in the late winter and spring. Analysis of 25 Tenacibaculum isolates collected during the spring of 2019 from similar cases identified a similar distribution of genotypes. Low water temperatures were common to all cases, and most incidences involved relatively small fish shortly after sea transfer, suggesting that these fish are particularly predisposed to Tenacibaculum infection.

Infecciones por Elizabethkingia spp. en un hospital universitario: coinfección con SARS-CoV-2 y primer reporte de Elizabethkingia anophelis en Chile / Elizabethkingia spp. infections in a university hospital: coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and first report of Elizabethkingia anophelis in Chile

INTRODUCCIÓN: Elizabethkingia es un género de bacterias gramnegativas cuya relevancia como patógeno oportunista en hospederos inmunocomprometidos y pacientes críticos ha sido reconocida progresivamente en los últimos años. Este género está compuesto principalmente por E. meningoseptica, E. anophelis y E. miricola. Si bien inicialmente E. meningoseptica fue considerada la especie patógena más relevante, gracias a los avances en las técnicas de identificación microbiológica se ha reconocido a E. anophelis como el principal patógeno de este grupo. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar los casos de infecciones por Elizabethkingia spp. en una red de salud y realizar una breve revisión de esta infección. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó una revisión de los cultivos positivos para Elizabethkingia spp. en el Laboratorio de Microbiología de la Red de Salud UC-CHRISTUS (Chile) entre los años 2017 y 2021. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo 17 cultivos positivos correspondientes a siete casos clínicos, todos procedentes de un hospital universitario. Todos los casos poseían factores de riesgo conocidos de infección por Elizabethkingia spp. incluyendo uso de antimicrobianos recientes, por ejemplo, el uso previo de carbapenémicos en 85,7% de los pacientes. Cuatro casos se presentaron en pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2, una coinfección no previamente reportada en la literatura. Elizabethkingia anophelis fue identificada mediante secuenciación de ARN ribosomal en 80% de las cepas recuperadas, lo que corresponde al primer reporte de esta especie en Chile CONCLUSIÓN: Comunicamos la experiencia clínica de infecciones por este género en un hospital universitario de Chile, incluyendo los primeros casos de coinfección en pacientes cursando neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 y la primera identificación de Elizabethkingia anophelis en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Elizabethkingia is a genus of gramnegative bacteria whose relevance as an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed hosts and critically ill patients has been progressively recognized in recent years. This genus is mainly composed of E. meningoseptica, E. anophelis, and E. miricola. Although E. meningoseptica was initially reported as the most relevant pathogenic species, thanks to advances in microbiological identificaron techniques E. anophelis has been recognized as the main pathogen of this group. AIM: To characterize Elizabethkingia spp.'s infections in a health network and make a brief review of this infection. METHOD: We conducted a review of clinical cultures that were positive for Elizabethkingia sp. in the Microbiology Laboratory of the UC-CHRISTUS Health Network (Chile), between 2017 and 2021. RESULTS: Seventeen positive cultures were obtained corresponding to seven clinical cases, all originating from a university hospital. All cases had known risk factors for Elizabethkingia sp. infection, including recent use of antibiotics. Notably, previous use of carbapenems was present in 85.7% of the patients. Four cases occurred in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, a coinfection not previously reported in the literature. Elizabethkingia anophelis was identified by ribosomal RNA sequencing in 80% of the recovered strains, which corresponds to the first report of this species in Chile. CONCLUSION: We report the clinical experience of a university hospital with infections by Elizabethkingia spp., including the first cases of coinfection in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonía and the first identification of Elizabethkingia anophelis in Chile.