Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants
Abstract The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation. Poaching and malicious poisoning were excluded early on in the investigation. Other potential causes included environmental intoxication, in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41987-z |
| _version_ | 1797558105713672192 |
|---|---|
| author | Chris M. Foggin Laura E. Rosen Marijke M. Henton Angela Buys Toby Floyd Andrew D. Turner Jonathan Tarbin Antony S. Lloyd Columbas Chaitezvi Richard J. Ellis Helen C. Roberts Akbar Dastjerdi Alejandro Nunez Arnoud H. M. van Vliet Falko Steinbach |
| author_facet | Chris M. Foggin Laura E. Rosen Marijke M. Henton Angela Buys Toby Floyd Andrew D. Turner Jonathan Tarbin Antony S. Lloyd Columbas Chaitezvi Richard J. Ellis Helen C. Roberts Akbar Dastjerdi Alejandro Nunez Arnoud H. M. van Vliet Falko Steinbach |
| author_sort | Chris M. Foggin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation. Poaching and malicious poisoning were excluded early on in the investigation. Other potential causes included environmental intoxication, infectious diseases, and increased habitat stress due to ongoing drought. Here we show evidence of the mortalities in Zimbabwe as fatal septicaemia associated with Bisgaard taxon 45, an unnamed close relative of Pasteurella multocida. We analyse elephant carcasses and environmental samples, and fail to find evidence of cyanobacterial or other intoxication. Post-mortem and histological findings suggest a bacterial septicaemia similar to haemorrhagic septicaemia caused by P. multocida. Biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis of six samples and genomic analysis of one sample confirm the presence of Bisgaard taxon 45. The genome sequence contains many of the canonical P. multocida virulence factors associated with a range of human and animal diseases, including the pmHAS gene for hyaluronidase associated with bovine haemorrhagic septicaemia. Our results demonstrate that Bisgaard taxon 45 is associated with a generalised, lethal infection and that African elephants are susceptible to opportunistically pathogenic Pasteurella species. This represents an important conservation concern for elephants in the largest remaining metapopulation of this endangered species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:25:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf6ffca8df9b4212bd03c723d9880eea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:25:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf6ffca8df9b4212bd03c723d9880eea2023-11-20T10:12:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-10-0114111010.1038/s41467-023-41987-zPasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephantsChris M. Foggin0Laura E. Rosen1Marijke M. Henton2Angela Buys3Toby Floyd4Andrew D. Turner5Jonathan Tarbin6Antony S. Lloyd7Columbas Chaitezvi8Richard J. Ellis9Helen C. Roberts10Akbar Dastjerdi11Alejandro Nunez12Arnoud H. M. van Vliet13Falko Steinbach14Victoria Falls Wildlife TrustTransboundary Epidemiology Analytics, LLCVetdiagnostix, Blue HillsDesign Biologix, ErasmusrandPathology and Animal Sciences Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency WeybridgeCentre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, The NotheFera Science, Biotech CampusFera Science, Biotech CampusZimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management AuthoritySurveillance and Laboratory Services Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency WeybridgeDepartment for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith SquareVirology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency WeybridgePathology and Animal Sciences Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency WeybridgeDepartment of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of SurreyVirology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency WeybridgeAbstract The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation. Poaching and malicious poisoning were excluded early on in the investigation. Other potential causes included environmental intoxication, infectious diseases, and increased habitat stress due to ongoing drought. Here we show evidence of the mortalities in Zimbabwe as fatal septicaemia associated with Bisgaard taxon 45, an unnamed close relative of Pasteurella multocida. We analyse elephant carcasses and environmental samples, and fail to find evidence of cyanobacterial or other intoxication. Post-mortem and histological findings suggest a bacterial septicaemia similar to haemorrhagic septicaemia caused by P. multocida. Biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis of six samples and genomic analysis of one sample confirm the presence of Bisgaard taxon 45. The genome sequence contains many of the canonical P. multocida virulence factors associated with a range of human and animal diseases, including the pmHAS gene for hyaluronidase associated with bovine haemorrhagic septicaemia. Our results demonstrate that Bisgaard taxon 45 is associated with a generalised, lethal infection and that African elephants are susceptible to opportunistically pathogenic Pasteurella species. This represents an important conservation concern for elephants in the largest remaining metapopulation of this endangered species.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41987-z |
| spellingShingle | Chris M. Foggin Laura E. Rosen Marijke M. Henton Angela Buys Toby Floyd Andrew D. Turner Jonathan Tarbin Antony S. Lloyd Columbas Chaitezvi Richard J. Ellis Helen C. Roberts Akbar Dastjerdi Alejandro Nunez Arnoud H. M. van Vliet Falko Steinbach Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants Nature Communications |
| title | Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants |
| title_full | Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants |
| title_fullStr | Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants |
| title_short | Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants |
| title_sort | pasteurella sp associated with fatal septicaemia in six african elephants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41987-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chrismfoggin pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT lauraerosen pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT marijkemhenton pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT angelabuys pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT tobyfloyd pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT andrewdturner pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT jonathantarbin pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT antonyslloyd pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT columbaschaitezvi pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT richardjellis pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT helencroberts pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT akbardastjerdi pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT alejandronunez pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT arnoudhmvanvliet pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants AT falkosteinbach pasteurellaspassociatedwithfatalsepticaemiainsixafricanelephants |