Yersiniosis in an Axis
Deer
Peter Moisan
Kimberly Hagans
NC Department of Agriculture
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Axis DeerAxis Deer
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History
1-year-old, male (buck)
This is a collection of small ruminants in a sort
of petting zoo.
Past history of MCF, EHD, necrobacillosis in this
and related/neighboring herds
This emaciated animal died a day after handling
for ear tagging
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Necropsy Findings
Thin body condition (BCS 1/9)
Hyperemia of the small intestine and colon
Small (1cm) circular erosions in the colon
Multifocal pinpoint white foci (several hundred)
throughout the hepatic parenchyma
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Microscopic Findings
1. Small intestine; enteritis, moderate, necrosuppurative,
segmental, subacute, with colonies of coccobacilli.
2. Liver; hepatitis, moderate, multifocal and random, acute,
necrosuppurative, with coccobacilli.
3. Lymph node; lymphadenitis, granulomatous to
occasionally pyogranulomatous, moderate, diffuse, subacute,
with intrahistiocytic coccobacilli.
4. Lung; interstitial pneumonia, acute, suppurative, diffuse,
mild.
5. Heart (epicardium), abomasum and small intestine
(mesentery); adipocyte atrophy, severe, diffuse, chronic.
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Bacteriology Findings
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was isolated from liver,
lymph node, and intestinal tissue.
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Yersinia
Virulence Factors
YOP Proteins are secreted by the
Type III Secretory Mechanism
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Type III Secretory
System
Acts as a protein injector (injectisome) into the
adjacent host cell.
A constituent Gram negative and Enterobacteriaceae
cell wall component.
Have close protein homology to flagellar protein
insertion sites.
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Type III Secretory Systems
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Blocker A et al. PNAS 2003;100:3027-3030
©2003 by National Academy of Sciences
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YOP Proteins
Probably the earliest family of membrane proteins
described in bacteria
Evolutionarily based in eukaryotic cells
Phage-mediated (must have transferred to bacteria
from eukaryotes some time ago)
YOP Proteins (cont.)
Adhesion factors to mammalian epithelial cells
Survival in macrophages by corrupting the
cytoskeletal components
Resist action of complement and other components
of the immune system
Outcome and Thoughts
No other reported cases of yersiniosis in this herd
(yet).
Disease problem in farmed deer in New Zealand and
Canada and may be a problem here in the future.
When we see yersiniosis, it seems to be secondary to
other stressors or concomitant diseases.
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Our Histo Folk
Special thanks to:
Cindy, Diane, Faye, Judy, Mary!!!
They produce a LOT of slides every day.
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References
Cheng et al. Regulated secretion of YopN by the type
III machinery of Yersinia enterocolitica. J Bacteriol.
2001
Wilharm et al. Yersinia enterocolitica type III
secretion: evidence for the ability to transport
proteins that are folded prior to secretion. BMC
Microbiol. 2004
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