Henry Malnick

Bordetella petrii Clinical Isolate

We describe the first clinical isolate of Bordetella petrii from a patient with mandibular osteomyelitis. The only previously documented isolation of B. petrii occurred after the initial culture of a single strain from an environmental source.

Anaerobiospirillum thomasii sp. nov., an Anaerobic Spiral Bacterium Isolated from the Feces of Cats and Dogs and from Diarrheal Feces of Humans, and Emendation of the Genus Anaerobiospirillum

Thirty-seven similar strains isolated from feces of cats and dogs and from human diarrheal feces had characteristics of the genus Anaerobiospirillum. These organisms were distinguished from the only previously described Anaerobiospirillum species, Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens, by producing acid from adonitol but not from fructose, raffinose, or sucrose and by the lack of alpha-glucosidase. The G + C contents of the DNAs of the new strains were 39 to 42 mol%. The results of morphological, physiological, DNA G + C content, and DNA homology studies support the proposal that the description of the genus Anaerobiospirillum should be emended so that a new species can be included in the genus. The new species Anaerobiospirillum thomasii is proposed, with strain A273/88 (= NCTC 12467) as the type strain.

Description of Kingella potus sp. nov., an Organism Isolated from a Wound Caused by an Animal Bite

ABSTRACT We report the isolation and characterization of a hitherto unknown gram-negative, rod-shaped Neisseria-like organism from an infected wound resulting from a bite from a kinkajou. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown organism be classified as a new species, Kingella potus sp. nov.

Cellulosimicrobium funkei: First Report of Infection in a Nonimmunocompromised Patient and Useful Phenotypic Tests for Differentiation from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Cellulosimicrobium terreum

ABSTRACT Cellulosimicrobium funkei is a rare, opportunistic pathogen. We describe a case of bacteremia and possibly prosthetic valve endocarditis by this organism in a nonimmunocompromised patient. Useful phenotypic tests for differentiating C. funkei from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Cellulosimicrobium terreum include motility, raffinose fermentation, glycogen, d-xylose, and methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside assimilation, and growth at 35°C.

Melioidosis Acquired by Traveler to Nigeria

We describe melioidosis associated with travel to Nigeria in a woman with diabetes, a major predisposing factor for this infection. With the prevalence of diabetes projected to increase dramatically in many developing countries, the global reach of melioidosis may expand.

First clinical case of Corynebacterium auriscanis isolated from localized dog bite infection

Corynebacterium auriscanis has only previously been isolated from dogs and to our knowledge no cases of zoonotic transmission to humans have been reported. A case of a leg wound infection following a dog bite in a previously healthy human patient is described and confirms this organism to be a potential human pathogen.

Acute necrotising pneumonitis associated with Suttonella ornithocola infection in tits (Paridae).

Suttonella ornithocola, first isolated from the lungs of British tit species in 1996, was found to be a novel bacterium belonging to the family Cardiobacteriaceae. Comprehensive surveillance of garden bird mortality across Great Britain between April 2005 and April 2009 involved post mortem and microbiological examination of 82 tits (Paridae; multiple species) and six long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae; Aegithalos caudatus). S. ornithocola was isolated from six birds submitted from six incidents of morbidity and mortality involving Paridae and Aegithalidae species with a wide geographical distribution. The mortality incidents occurred sporadically at low incidence throughout the study period, which suggested that the infection is endemic in native bird populations, with a seasonal peak during early spring. Histopathological examination showed multiple foci of acute pulmonary necrosis associated with gram-negative cocco-bacillary bacteria. These findings supported the hypothesis that S. ornithocola is a primary pathogen of tits in Great Britain.

Unusual mortality incidents in tit species (family Paridae) associated with the novel bacterium Suttonella ornithocola

BETWEEN March and June 1996, 11 unusual mortality incidents apparently involving only species of tits (family Paridae) in gardens in England and Wales were reported to one of the authors (J. K. K.) by members of the public. In eight of these incidents blue tits (Parus caeruleus) only were seen to be involved, and one case (case 5) involved only long-tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus). The other two incidents also involved blue tits; in one case (case 3) a coal tit (Parus ater) and a longtailed tit were also found dead, and in another case (case 6), a great tit (Parus major) was also reported to be showing signs of illness (Table 1). Apart from a report in one of these cases (case 8) that two bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) appeared unwell, no deaths or signs of disease were reported in other species. In 1993, J. K. K. had started, on a hobby basis, to investigate unusual mortality incidents in garden birds. Members of the public who contacted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or the British Trust for Ornithology about deaths in garden birds were referred so that details of the incidents could be collected by telephone. People were encouraged to send carcases, if available, for postmortem examinations, which were undertaken, when time permitted, in the evenings and at weekends. By 1996, this pastime had grown to the extent that during that year, 105 reports were received. The cluster of 11 incidents reported in this short communication thus represented approximately 10 per cent of the total for 1996. It is important to emphasise that this report gives no indication of the frequency of disease outbreaks in garden birds. It is likely that only a very small proportion of incidents were observed and that a still smaller proportion were reported, as this incident investigation scheme had not been advertised and was not well known. Information was collected on the species and numbers affected, signs observed, location, habitat type, when the incident had occurred and Veterinary Record (2006) 158, 203-205

Brevibacterium otitidis: an elusive cause of neurosurgical infection

Coryneform bacteria are usually considered as non-pathogenic when isolated from clinical specimens. We present a case of Brevibacterium otitidis neurosurgical infection in an immunocompetent patient, and highlight the difficulty with identification and interpretation of antimicrobial susceptibility results for this unusual pathogen.

Recurrent Microvirgula aerodenitrificans Bacteremia

ABSTRACT Microvirgula aerodenitrificans is a denitrifying Gram-negative organism first described by Patureau et al. in 1998 (D. Patureau et al., Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:775–782, 1998). The organism has been isolated globally but has never been described as causative of clinical infection. We describe the first human case of bacteremia attributed to M. aerodenitrificans in an infant with Pompes disease.