title: Identification and management of an outbreak of Flavobacterium meningosepticum infection in a colony of South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis).
abstract: During the summer of 1996, an outbreak of Flavobacterium meningosepticum infection developed in a colony of South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). Clinical signs were consistent with septicemia: ascites, anasarca, dyspnea, extreme lethargy, congestion of web vessels, petechial hemorrhages, and sudden death. Mortality rate reached 35%, and all infections were fatal. The organism was resistant to most antibiotics but was susceptible to enrofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine. Treatment with trimethoprim-sulfadiazine was unsuccessful. Although the point source of the infection was not determined, several environmental reservoirs were identified, including a communal water barrel and various pieces of equipment. Molecular strain typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and biochemical analyses revealed that frogs were infected with a single strain of F meningosepticum. Sanitation and management procedures were effective in controlling the outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bouley
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Tolwani
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Waggie
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lifland
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005417:Flavobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012499:Sanitation; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014982:Xenopus laevis