title: Diagnosis of Aeromonas hydrophila, Mycobacterium species, and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in an African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).
abstract: Here we describe diagnosis of concurrent infection with Aeromonas hydrophila, Mycobacterium spp., and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in a wild female Xenopus laevis captured in Chile and transported to the United States. After approximately 130 d in the laboratory, the frog was presented for dysecdysis and obtundation. After euthanasia, tissues were submitted for histopathologic evaluation and PCR analysis for B. dendrobatidis and Ranavirus. Clinically significant gross lesions included cutaneous ulcerations on the lip, right forelimb, and ventral chest. Microscopic findings included regionally extensive splenic necrosis, diffuse pneumonia, and fibrinous coelomitis all containing intralesional bacteria. PCR analysis yielded positive results for B. dendrobatidis only. Bacterial culture of the ulcerated skin and liver yielded A. hydrophila. Infection with Contracaecum spp. was diagnosed as an incidental finding. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of simultaneous infection with Aeromonas hydrophila, Mycobacterium spp., and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in a laboratory-maintained X. laevis captured from the wild.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. wahill@utk.edu
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Shelley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Linden
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czarra
authors.forename: J Paige
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory / Q000382:microbiology*; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000382:microbiology