title: An outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica in a captive colony of African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) in the Caribbean.
abstract: Yersinia enterocolitica is a zoonotic gram-negative pathogen that causes mesenteric lymphadenitis, terminal ileitis, acute gastroenteritis, and septicemia in domestic animals and primates. In 2012, 46 captive African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) died during an outbreak of acutely fatal enteric disease over a period of 1 mo on the island of St Kitts. The affected monkeys presented with a history of mucohemorrhagic diarrhea, marked dehydration, and depression. Fifteen bacterial isolates were recovered from the spleen, liver, and lungs of affected monkeys. All isolates were identified as Y. enterocolitica by biochemical analysis and sequence comparison of the 16S rRNA gene. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of the recovered isolates revealed homogeneity among the recovered bacteria, and all isolates gave a random amplified polymorphic DNA pattern resembling that given by genotype D under serotypes O:7,8. This outbreak represents the first isolation and characterization of Y. enterocolitica as the causative agent of fatal enteric disease in primates in the Caribbean.
authors.affiliation: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, West Farm, St Kitts. esoto@rossvet.edu.kn.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castillo-Alcala
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beierschmitt
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beeler-Marfisi
authors.forename: Maziel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arauz
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Illanes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017691:Caribbean Region; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial