Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. I. Isolation and characterization from pinnipeds and bite/ abrasion wounds in humans

Abstract

The bactenum Eryslpelothrm rhusiopathlae was ~solated flom the teeth/gum margin area of 2 of 10 2-yr-old northern fur seals Callorhlnus urslnus (NFS) 2 of 20 northern elephant seals Mlrounga aflguShr0StrJS (ES), a random sample of Atlantic hernng fish meal a n d 12 of 116 bite wounds in marine mammal handlers The isolates were typical of E r l ~u s ~o p a t h ~a e and represented Serotypes 2, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 21, and a possible new serotype Two ~solates from NFS had p a r t ~a l reaction w t h Serotype 2 Selected serotypes were vlrulent for mice = 1 X 101 ' bacteria) Mice challenged w t h Serotypes 4 and 5 were passively protected by commercial horse antiserum to E rhus~opathiae The manne mammal isolates were most sensihve to penic~llin followed by tetracycline then streptomycin