Novel Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Domestic Cats

Abstract

Novel nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae was isolated from a domestic cat with severe otitis. Contact investigation and carrier study of human and animal contacts yielded 3 additional, identical isolates from cats, although no evidence of zoonotic transmission was identified. Molecular methods distinguished the feline isolates from known C. diphtheriae.

Keywords

• Diphtheria
• Corynebacterium
• domestic cats
• zoonoses
• diphtheria toxin
• rpoB sequencing