Review
Bloodstream Infection with Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens: A Potentially Lethal Infection
Abstract
Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens (A succiniciproducens), a spiral, Gram-negative anaerobic rod which is part of the normal intestinal flora of cats and dogs, has rarely been reported as a cause of bacteremia and diarrhea in humans, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Although it can be associated with significant mortality, the full extent of its pathogenicity, clinical spectrum, and optimal therapy remain to be determined. We review the available literature on microbiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment options for Anaerobiospirillum infection.This content is limited to qualifying members.
Existing members, please login first
If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.
Purchase only this article ($25)
Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.
Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)
Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.
Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)
Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.
References
1. Davis DP, Cleven D, Brown J, et al. Anaerobiospirillum, a new genus of spiral-shaped bacteria. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1976;26:498–504.
2. Malnick H, Jones A, Vickers JC. Anaerobiospirillum: cause of a “new” zoonosis? Lancet 1989;1:1145–1146.
3. Tee W, Korman TM, Waters MJ, et al. Three cases of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducensbacteremia confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. J Clin Microbiol 1998;36:1209–1213.
4. Pienaar C, Kruger AJ, Venter EC, et al. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteraemia. J Clin Pathol 2003;56:316–318.
5. Malnick H, Williams K, Phil-Ebosie J, et al. Description of a medium for isolating Anaerobiospirillumspp., a possible cause of zoonotic disease, from diarrheal feces and blood of humans and use of the medium in a survey of human, canine, and feline feces. J Clin Microbiol 1990;28:1380–1384.
6. Kelesidis T, Bard J, Humphries R, et al. First report of treatment of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bloodstream infection with levofloxacin. J Clin Microbiol 2010;48:1970–1973.
7. Fadzilah MN, Faizatul LJ, Hasibah MS, et al. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteraemia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. J Med Microbiol 2009;58:142–143.
8. Mikami Y, Otsuka Y, Sugiura H et al. [Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens septicemia.] Rinsho Byori 2007;55:930–935.
9. Secchi C, Cantarelli VV, Pereira Fde S, et al. Fatal bacteremia due to Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens: first description in Brazil. Braz J Infect Dis 2005;9:169–172.
10. Rudensky B, Wachtel D, Yinnon AM, et al. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia in a young child. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2002;21:575–576.
11. Wecke J, Horbach I. Ultrastructural characterization of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens and its differentiation from Campylobacter species. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999;170:83–88.
12. Goddard WW, Bennett SA, Parkinson C. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens septicaemia: important aspects of diagnosis and management. J Infect 1998;37:68–70.
13. Marcus L, Gove EW, van der Walt ML, et al. First reported African case of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens septicemia. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1996;15:741–744.
14. Saavedra JM, Naranjo C, Vega D, et al. [Bacteremia caused by Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens associated with paralytic ileus.] Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 1996;14:513.
15. Papasian CJ, Kragel PJ, Enna-Kifer S, et al. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens sepsis. Clin Microbiol Newsl 1995;17:14–15.
16. Malnick H. Anaerobiospirillum thomasii sp. nov., an anaerobic spiral bacterium isolated from the feces of cats and dogs and from diarrheal feces of humans, and emendation of the genus Anaerobiospirillum. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1997;47:381–384.
17. Henry J. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens septicaemia—“a case of red herrings.” N Z J Med Lab Technol 1989;43:113.
18. Yuen KY, Yung WH, Seto WH. A case report of Anaerobiospirillum causing septicemia. J Infect Dis 1989;159:153–154.
19. Lally R, Woolfrey B. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia. Clin Microbiol Newslett 1988;10:87–88.
20. McNeil MM, Martone WJ, Dowell VR Jr. Bacteremia with Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens. Rev Infect Dis 1987;9:737–742.
21. Park CH, Hixon DL, Endlich JF, et al. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens. Two case reports. Am J Clin Pathol 1986;85:73–76.
22. Malnick H, Thomas ME, Lotay H, et al. Anaerobiospirillum species isolated from humans with diarrhoea. J Clin Pathol 1983;36:1097–1101.
23. Shlaes DM, Dul MJ, Lerner PI. Anaerobiospirillum bacteremia. Ann Intern Med 1982;97:63–65.
24. Rifkin GD, Opdyke JE. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens septicemia. J Clin Microbiol1981;13:811–813.
25. De Cock HE, Marks SL, Stacy BA, et al. Ileocolitis associated with Anaerobiospirillum in cats. J Clin Microbiol 2004;42:2752–2758.
26. Rossi M, Hänninen ML, Revez J, et al. Occurrence and species level diagnostics of Campylobacterspp., enteric Helicobacter spp. and Anaerobiospirillum spp. in healthy and diarrheic dogs and cats. Vet Microbiol 2008;129:304–314.
27. Misawa N, Kawashima K, Kondo F, et al. Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter,Helicobacter, and Anaerobiospirillum strains from a puppy with bloody diarrhea. Vet Microbiol 2002;87:353–364.
28. Kodaka H, Armfield AY, Lombard GL, et al. Practical procedure for demonstrating bacterial flagella. J Clin Microbiol 1982;16:948–952.
29. Rohner P, Pittet D, Pepey B, et al. Etiological agents of infectious diarrhea: implications for requests for microbial culture. J Clin Microbiol 1997;35:1427–1432.
30. Johnson CC, Finegold SM. Uncommonly encountered, motile, anaerobic gram-negative bacilli associated with infection. Rev Infect Dis 1987;9:1150–1162.
31. Goldstein EJ, Citron DM, Vreni Merriam C, et al. Activities of gemifloxacin (SB 265805, LB20304) compared to those of other oral antimicrobial agents against unusual anaerobes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1999;43:2726–2730.
