Corynebacterium ulcerans (C. ulcerans) may cause diphtheria in humans and can be carried by a wide range of animal species including dairy cows and, more recently, dogs and cats that have been increasingly involved in zoonotic trasmission. We isolated and characterized, by WGS, a toxigenic C. ulcerans strain from a diseased horse in the United Kingdom showing clinical signs of respiratory diphtheria comparable to those seen in people. Our results indicate a role for horses as reservoirs for zoonotic C. ulcerans.
Keywords: ST543; WGS; emerging zoonosis; horse; respiratory diphtheria-like illness; toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans.
Copyright © 2021 Zendri, Isgren, Sinovich, Richards-Rios, Hopkins, Russell, Groves, Litt, Fry and Timofte.