Prototheca zopfii is a ubiquitous achlorophyllic (without chlorophyll) green alga.Ueno, R., Urano, N. and Suzuki, M. (2003). Microbiol. Lett., 223:275-280. It is a known cause of mastitis in cattle.
Taxonomy The genome of this organism's mitochondrion and plastid were first sequenced in 2018.Severgnini M, Lazzari B, Capra E, Chessa S, Luini M, Bordoni R, Castiglioni B, Ricchi M, Cremonesi P (2018) Genome sequencing of Prototheca zopfii genotypes 1 and 2 provides evidence of a severe reduction in organellar genomes. Sci Rep 8(1):14637. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32992-0. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis are useful tool for rapid confirmative diagnosis.Molecular characterization of Prototheca strains isolated from bovine mastitis., A. Aouay, F. Coppée, S. Cloet, P. Cuvelier, A. Belayew, P.-E. Lagneau, C. Mullender ., Journal de Mycologie Médicale (2008) 18, 224—227.
Biology Prototheca zopfii is ubiquitous in nature, but mainly associated with wet areas and places with high amounts of organic matter. It can be found in tanks, well water, teat-dip containers, and milking machines.
Prototheca zopfii grows in aerobic conditions and reproduce asexually by endosporulation.Bovine Mastitis, Neelesh Sharma et al., 2012, Satish Serial Publishing House. . pp. 175-177. Sabouraud agar is used as a cultural medium.Antimicrobial susceptibility of Prototheca zopfii isolated from bovine mastitis., Władysław Wawron, Mariola Bochniarz, Tomasz Piech, Jerzy Wysocki1, Marcin Kocik., Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 57, 485-488, 2013.DOI: 10.2478/bvip-2013-0084
Pathogenicity Prototheca zopfii is an opportunistic environmental pathogen. The species can infect man and animal, causing mastitis. P. zopfii can cause bovine clinical mastitis in high milk-yielding cows.Janosi, S., Ratz., F.., Szigeti, G., Kulcsar, M., Kerenyi, J., Lomko, T., Katona, F. and Huszenicza, G. (2001). Vet. Quart., 23: 58-61. Genotypes I and III, traditionally, are thought not to be involved in the pathogenicity of mastitis and to be pollutants of milk, whereas genotype II is believed the main cause of mastitis. However, in 2017, three cases of human protothecosis due to P. zopfii genotype I have been reported in China.Molecular Characterization of Prototheca strains isolated in China revealed the first cases of protothecosis associated with Prototheca zopfii genotype 1., N. Hirose, Z. Hua, Y. Kato, Q. Zhang, R. Li, K. Nishimura, M. Masuda ., Medical Mycology (2017) doi: 10.1093/mmy/myx039.
Outbreaks
Bovine mastitis outbreaks by P. zopfii is a global problem. It is reported from Europe,Lagneau, P.E.(1996).J. Mycol.Med.6:145-148.Aalbaek, B., Jensen, H.E. and Huda, A.(1998). Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Immunol.Scand., 106:483-488.Buzzini, P., Turchetti, B., Facelli, R., Baudino, R., Cavarero, F., Mattalia, L., Mosso, P. and Martini, A. (2004). Mycopathologia,158:427:430). Asia,Katoch, R.C.., Nagal, K.B., Sharma, M.(1997). Indian J. Anim. Sci.,67:292-93. North America,Anderson, K.L. and Walker, R.L.(1988). J. Am. Vet. Med.Assoc.,193:553-556Higgins, R., and Larouche, Y.(1989). Med. Vet. Quebec, 19:140-141. and South America.Almeraya, A.P.(1994). Vet. Mexico, 25: 65-67Vargas, A.C.., Lazzari, A., Santurio, J.M., Alves, S.H., Ferreira, G., and Kreutz., L.C.(1998). Mycopathologia, 142:135-137
Antimicrobial therapy
Prototheca zopfii is less susceptible or completely resistant to clotrimazole, fluconazole, econazole, flucytosine, cefoperazone, cephalexin, enrofloxacin, lincomycin, oxytetracycline, miconazole, colistin, a combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, enrofloxacin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, penicillin, lincomycin, and novobiocin, whereas drugs such as nystatin, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B are effective against algae isolated from milk of mastitis-affected cows.
References