Hathewaya histolytica

Test code: B0120 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Hathewaya histolytica (formerly known as Clostridium histolyticum) by real time PCR

Hathewaya histolytica, formerly known as Clostridium histolyticum, is a gram-positive, spore-forming, motile bacterium in the family Clostridiaceae. It is an aerotolerant anaerobe; even though it grows best without oxygen, it can tolerate some oxygen exposure. It is commonly found in soil, feces, and intestinal contents.

These bacteria are rod-shaped and can produce oval, subterminal, bulging spores. These bacteria are highly pathogenic because they are strongly proteolytic, producing potent enzymes including multiple forms of collagenase and other exotoxins with necrotizing properties. They can cause gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), especially in trauma-associated cases, such as major wounds, natural disasters, and contaminated injuries. Severe local tissue destruction, hemorrhage, and necrosis can occur when they are introduced into muscle or wounds. They form small, β-hemolytic colonies on blood agar.

These bacteria can infect various animals, such as guinea pigs, mice, and rabbits. Rare human infections have been reported, such as endophthalmitis (eye infection) following ocular surgery.

On the other hand, these bacteria have important medical uses. Their collagenase enzymes (specifically a mixture of ColG and ColH) have been used therapeutically. A purified form of Hathewaya histolytica collagenase (marketed as Xiaflex or CCH) is used to treat Dupuytren's contracture (a hand condition causing finger bending), and Peyronie's disease (penile curvature due to plaque formation).

Presumptive diagnosis of infection can be through commercial anaerobic identification systems, such as API 20A and Rapid ID systems. Polymerase chain reaction is often used for confirmation of the initial diagnosis or for rapid diagnosis due to its high specificity and sensitivity (Brazier et al., 2004; Zulian et al., 2016).

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Hathewaya histolytica infection
• Help ensure that rodent colonies are free of this bacterium
• Early prevention of spread of this bacterium among a colony
• Minimize personnel exposure to this bacterium
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from rodents

References:
Brazier JS, Gal M, Hall V, Morris TE. Outbreak of Clostridium histolyticum infections in injecting drug users in England and Scotland. Euro Surveill. 2004 Sep;9(9):15-6.

Zulian A, Cancello R, Cesana E, Rizzi E, Consolandi C, Severgnini M, Panizzo V, Di Blasio AM, Micheletto G, Invitti C. Adipose tissue microbiota in humans: an open issue. Int J Obes (Lond). 2016 Nov;40(11):1643-1648.

Specimen requirements: Rectal swab; or 1 fecal pellet; or skin lesion swab; or environmental swipe or swab; or 10 ml soil; or 0.1 ml EDTA whole blood, or 0.2 ml culture.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected