Fatal Infection in an Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Caused by Pathogenic Rhodococcus equi.

ABSTRACT: Rhodococcus (R.) equi is a pathogen primarily known for infections in equine foals, but is also present in numerous livestock species including New World camelids. Moreover, R. equi is considered an emerging zoonotic pathogen. In this report, we describe in detail a fatal rhodococcal infection in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos), to our best knowledge, for the first time. The alpaca died due to a septicemic course of an R. equi infection resulting in emaciation and severe lesions including pyogranulomas in the lungs and pericardial effusion. The onset of the infection was presumably caused by aspiration pneumonia. R. equi could be isolated from the pyogranulomas in the lung and unequivocally identified by MALDI-TOF MS analysis and partial sequencin

SUBMITTER: Sting R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9137691 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature