Bartonella quintana in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

We identified a Bartonella quintana strain by polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, and sequencing of DNA extracted from lysed erythrocytes and cultured colonies grown from peripheral blood collected from a captive-bred cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). This report describes naturally acquired B. quintana infection in a nonhuman primate.

Capnocytophaga sp. isolated from a cat with chronic sinusitis and rhinitis.

A Capnocytophaga sp. was inadvertently isolated from a cat with chronic sinusitis and rhinitis when cytopathic effects were observed in Crandall-Reese feline kidney cells that had been inoculated with oropharyngeal swab samples. Although Capnocytophaga spp. are of considerable zoonotic importance, their clinical relevance for dogs or cats has not been established. However, failure to do so may be attributed to the infrequent use of specialized isolation techniques that are required to grow Capnocytophaga spp. To our knowledge, successful isolation of these organisms from a cat with nasopharyngeal disease has not been reported.

Differentiation of Haemobartonella canis and Mycoplasma haemofelis on the basis of comparative analysis of gene sequences.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Haemobartonella canis and Mycoplasma haemofelis (formerly known as H felis [large form]) can be differentiated by use of comparative analysis of gene sequences. SAMPLE POPULATION: Blood samples obtained from 3 dogs infected with H canis and 2 cats infected with M haemofelis. PROCEDURE: The partial 16S rDNA and ribonuclease P RNA (RNase P) genes were amplified, cloned, and sequenced in blood samples obtained from H canis-infected dogs and M haemofelis-infected cats. The DNA sequences were subjected to comparative analysis. RESULTS: The 16S rDNA sequences of H canis and M haemofelis were nearly identical (homology of 99.3 to 99.7%). In contrast, RNase P gene sequences had a lower degree of sequence homology between the 2 organisms (94.3 to 95.5%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Haemobartonella canis and M haemofelis are not identical organisms. Molecular differentiation of H canis and M haemofelis is more clearly evident by use of comparative analysis of RNase P gene sequences than by comparative analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequences.

Isolation and identification of Mycobacterium kansasii from pleural fluid of a dog with persistent pleural effusion.

A 3-year-old spayed female Whippet was examined for cough and respiratory distress. Lung lobe torsion with pleural effusion was diagnosed, and lung lobectomy was performed. Pleural effusion recurred during the following 27 months; conventional bacteriologic cultures of pleural effusion did not result in bacterial growth. A second lung lobectomy, pleuroperitoneal shunt placement. and pericardectomy were subsequently performed. Mycobacterium kansasii was eventually isolated from pleural fluid and identified by polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing. The dog was euthanatized before therapeutic response could be evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. kansasii infection in a dog. Additionally, this is the first report of mycobacterial isolation from pleural fluid, and one of few reports of antemortem mycobacterial isolation from a body fluid, as opposed to identification in specimens during histologic examination. Routine bacteriologic culture methods are insufficient to isolate mycobacterial agents, and special methods are indicated in dogs with persistent pleural effusion.

Investigation of the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Bartonella based on comparative sequence analysis of the rnpB gene, 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA.

A variety of genes and analytical methods have been applied to the study of phylogenetic relationships within the genus Bartonella, but so far the results have been inconsistent. While previous studies analysed single protein-encoding genes, we have analysed an alignment containing the sequences of three important phylogenetic markers, RNase P RNA, 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA, merged by catenation, to determine the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Bartonella. The dataset described here comprises 13 different Bartonella strains, including the seven strains that are known to be human pathogens. A variety of algorithms have been used to construct phylogenetic trees based on the combined alignment and, for comparison purposes, each individual gene. Trees generated from the catenated alignment are more consistent (independent of algorithm) and robust (higher bootstrap support). It is suggested that a phylogenetic analysis incorporating the RNase P RNA, 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA be used to study the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Bartonella.