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Potential Transmission Pathways of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus.
Jessika Dumke1, Dennis Hinse1, Tanja Vollmer1
1Institute for Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
Plos One
|May 16, 2015
Summary
This study suggests Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus may transmit from poultry to humans. Genetic analysis linked patient isolates to laying hen flock samples, indicating a potential zoonotic transmission route.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Animal and Human Health
Background:
- Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus is a Group D streptococcus found in animal and human gastrointestinal tracts.
- It acts as a facultative pathogen, causing infections like endocarditis, septicemia, and mastitis.
- Transmission routes between animals and humans remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential transmission of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus between poultry and humans.
- To compare isolates from an infective endocarditis patient with those from his laying hen flock.
Main Methods:
- Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to analyze genetic profiles.
- DNA fingerprinting was employed to assess clonal relatedness.
- Isolates were obtained from human blood culture, pooled laying hen droppings, and pooled dust samples.
Main Results:
- MLST revealed identical allelic profiles for isolates from the human blood culture and laying hen droppings.
- DNA fingerprinting demonstrated clonal identity between these isolates.
- This provides the first evidence suggesting potential transmission between poultry and humans.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a possible zoonotic transmission of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus from poultry to humans.
- The zoonotic potential of poultry-associated S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus warrants further investigation.
- This highlights the importance of considering poultry as a reservoir for human infections.
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