title: Yersiniosis due to infection by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 4b in captive meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in Japan.
abstract: Two meerkats (Suricata suricatta) housed in the same zoological garden in Japan died due to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b infection. Gross and microscopic lesions included necrotizing enteritis and enlargement of the spleen and liver with multifocal necrosis. Inflammatory cells, primarily neutrophils, and nuclear debris were associated with clusters of Gram-negative bacilli. Additionally, there were aberrant organism forms that were larger than bacilli and appeared as basophilic globular bodies. Immunohistochemical examination showed that the bacilli and globular bodies were strongly positive for Y. pseudotuberculosis O4 antigen. The globular bodies were considered a shape-changed form of Y. pseudotuberculosis, and these morphologically abnormal bacteria could present a diagnostic challenge.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (Nakamura, Une)Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan (Hayashidani)Himeji Central Park, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (Yonezawa, Suzuki).
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (Nakamura, Une)Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan (Hayashidani)Himeji Central Park, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (Yonezawa, Suzuki).
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashidani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (Nakamura, Une)Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan (Hayashidani)Himeji Central Park, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (Yonezawa, Suzuki).
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (Nakamura, Une)Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan (Hayashidani)Himeji Central Park, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (Yonezawa, Suzuki).
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (Nakamura, Une)Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan (Hayashidani)Himeji Central Park, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (Yonezawa, Suzuki) une@azabu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Une
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D002335:Carnivora; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015012:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Japan; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis; meerkat; spheroplast; yersiniosis