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Published on: January 16, 2013
Suppurative adenitis of preputial glands associated with Corynebacterium mastitidis infection in mice
Enrico Radaelli1, Giovanni Manarolla, Giuliano Pisoni
1Department of Veterinary Pathology, Hygiene, and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. enrico.radaelli@unimi.it
Abstract:
Suppuration of the preputial gland in mice occurs as a septic complication of fight wounds around the external genitalia. Currently reported bacterial isolates from these lesions are limited to Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella pneumotropica, and Klebsiella oxytoca. In the context of a pilot experiment aimed at defining the aging phenotype of estrogen receptor beta knockout (BERKO) mice, 2 male mice (1 of the BERKO line and the other from the age- and sex-matched wild-type control group) were discovered at necropsy to have preputial gland lesions. In both cases, histopathologic examination confirmed severe suppuration and abscesses of the preputial glands associated with systemic reactive (secondary) amyloidosis. Both Gram staining and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunohistochemistry highlighted the presence of numerous bacillary to rod-shaped bacteria within the preputial lesions. Subsequent PCR analysis coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis identified Corynebacterium mastitidis in the preputial gland abscesses. This organism is isolated infrequently from the milk of sheep with subclinical mastitis and was identified as part of the normal microflora of the human ocular surface. No information regarding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of C. mastitidis infection in laboratory animals is currently available, and to our knowledge this report is the first description of C. mastitidis infection in mice.
Insights
A novel bacterial infection, Corynebacterium mastitidis, was identified in preputial gland abscesses in mice. This finding expands the known pathogens causing suppurative complications in laboratory animals.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
- Laboratory Animal Science
Background:
- Suppuration of preputial glands in mice is a known septic complication of fight wounds.
- Previous bacterial isolates reported from these lesions include Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella pneumotropica, and Klebsiella oxytoca.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the bacterial cause of preputial gland lesions and associated amyloidosis in estrogen receptor beta knockout (BERKO) and wild-type mice.
- To describe the first reported case of Corynebacterium mastitidis infection in laboratory mice.
Main Methods:
- Necropsy and histopathological examination of preputial gland lesions.
- Gram staining and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunohistochemistry to detect bacteria.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for bacterial identification.
Main Results:
- Severe suppuration and abscesses of the preputial glands were observed in both BERKO and wild-type mice.
- Histopathology revealed systemic reactive (secondary) amyloidosis associated with the preputial gland lesions.
- PCR-DGGE identified Corynebacterium mastitidis as the causative agent in the preputial gland abscesses.
Conclusions:
- Corynebacterium mastitidis can cause severe preputial gland infections and abscesses in mice.
- This study represents the first report of Corynebacterium mastitidis infection in laboratory animals, expanding the differential diagnosis for such lesions.
- Further research is needed to understand the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Corynebacterium mastitidis in this context.
