Gerrard, John G.

Nimmo, Graeme R.

Vohra, Renu

University of Queensland eSpace

540 CDI Vol 27 No 4 2003
Short report
References
1.  Forrest JM, Burgess MA, Donovan T. A resurgence 
of congenital rubella in Australia? Commun Dis Intell 
2003;27:533–536.
2.  Gilbert GL, Escott RG, Gidding HF, Turnbull FM, 
Heath TC, McIntyre PB, et al. Impact of the Australian 
Measles Control Campaign on immunity to measles 
and rubella. Epidemiol Infect 2001;127:297–303.
3.  Turnbull FM, Burgess MA, McIntyre PB, , Lambert SB, 
Gilbert GL, Gidding HF, et al. The Australian Measles 
Control Campaign, 1998. Bull World Health Organ 
2001;79:882–888.
4.  Anderson RM, May RM. Infectious Diseases of Humans. 
Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1999.
5.  Campbell M. Young adult measles vaccination [editorial]. 
Commun Dis Intell 2000;24:241–242.
6.  Castillo-Solorzano C, Carrasco P, Tambini G, Reef S, 
Brana M, de Quadros CA. New horizons in the 
control of rubella and prevention of congenital rubella 
syndrome in the Americas. J Infect Dis 2003;187 
Suppl 1:S146–S152.
Identifi cation of Photorhabdus asymbiotica in 
cases of human infection
John G Gerrard,1 Renu Vohra,2 Graeme R Nimmo3
Photorhabdus asymbiotica is a potential cause 
of severe soft tissue and systemic infection in 
Australia. The clinical and laboratory features 
have been described in a recent publication.1 
Recognition of this unusual pathogen presents a 
challenge for clinical microbiology laboratories. It 
is a bioluminescent gram-negative bacillus and is 
a member of the Enterobacteriaceae. It produces a 
thin zone of annular haemolysis on trypt ic soy agar 
containing either 5 per cent sheep or horse blood 
and tends to swarm.
Some isolates produce a yellow pigment and all 
are faintly luminescent in total darkness. This 
species is not yet included in the databases of 
commercial bacterial identifi cation systems. Use 
of the MicroScan Walkaway (Dade Behring Inc., 
Sacramento, CA), Vitek (bioMérieux, Hazlewood, 
MO) or API 20E (bioMérieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) 
will result in incorrect identifi cation. The results 
obtained with these three systems for six Australian 
isolates of P. asymbiotica are shown in the Table.
It is possible that infection due to this species 
is under-reported due to incorrect laboratory 
identifi cation. Knowledge of the epidemiology 
of infection due to P. asymbiotica is incomplete. 
For example, it has only ever been isolated from 
clinical specimens and no reservoir or source has 
been identifi ed. We wish to raise awareness of this 
infection among clinicians and laboratory workers in 
the hope of improving case identifi cation. We would 
be grateful to receive information and isolates from 
other cases of this condition.
Reference
1. Gerrard JG, McNevin S, Alfredson D, Forgan-Smith 
R, Fraser N. Photorhabdus species: bioluminescent 
bacteria as emerging human pathogens? Emerg 
Infect Dis 2003;9:251-254.
1. Director of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital, Southport, Queensland
2. Consultant Microbiologist, Queensland Health Pathology Service, Gold Coast Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital, 
Queensland
3. Director of Microbiology, Queensland Health Pathology Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, 
Queensland
Corresponding author: Dr John G. Gerrard, Director of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital, Southport, QLD 4215. 
Telephone: +61 7 5571 8211. Facsimile:+61 7 5571 8996. Email: John_Gerrard@health.qld.gov.au
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Table. Misidentifi cation of Australian isolates of P. asymbiotica by commercial Vitek GNI, Microscan Walkaway Neg BP combo 11, Microscan 
Walkaway Rap Neg BP 5A and API 20E panels
Year Location Vitek GNI Microscan Walkaway
Neg BP combo 11
Microscan Walkaway
Rap Neg BP 5A
API 20E
Bionumber Misidentifi cation Bionumber Misidentifi cation Bionumber Misidentifi cation Bionumber Misidentifi cation
1998 Melbourne 6022100020 Unidentifi ed 0004060-0 P. oryzihabitans 011377142202-000 S. putrefaciens 000000045 Non fermenter spp.
1998 Wangaratta 6002000020 Providencia stuartii 0000060-0 P. oryzihabitans 011377162222-400 P. aeruginosa 000000045 Non fermenter spp.
1998 Murwillumbah 6002100020 Shigella dysenteriae 0000064-0 A. lwoffi i 011377142222-400 S.putrefaciens 000000045 Non fermenter spp.
1999 Gold Coast 60221000000 Flavobacterium spp. 0000060-0 P. oryzihabitans 011377102202-000 S. putrefaciens 000000045 Non fermenter spp.
2001 Gladstone 60201000000 Flavobacterium spp. 4000000-2 Shigella sp. 011377100002-000 S. putrefaciens 000000045 Non fermenter spp.
2003 Beaudesert 60221000000 Flavobacterium spp. 0004060-0 P. oryzihabitans 011377102202-000 S. putrefaciens 000000045 Non fermenter spp.


Identification of Photorhabdus asymbiotica in cases of human infection

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Identification of Photorhabdus asymbiotica in cases of human infection

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