Abstract
We report on a case of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans infection in a fully immunised veterinary student, investigated in London, United Kingdom, in May 2010. There was no ongoing transmission in human contacts. Possible animal sources were identified.
Highlights
Diphtheria can result in an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract or a cutaneous lesion
We report on a case of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans infection in a fully immunised veterinary student, investigated in London, United Kingdom, in May 2010
It is caused by three toxin-producing Corynebacterium species: C. diphtheriae responsible for epidemic disease, C. ulcerans and, more rarely, C. pseudotuberculosis, the last two being zoonotic infectious agents [1,2]
Summary
Diphtheria can result in an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract or a cutaneous lesion. Throat swabs were taken from all of these contacts, who were provided with prophylaxis and advised on signs and symptoms of the infection by their family doctor. The farm owners and workers were all reported to be fit and well and their contact with the sheep and lambs was determined to be minimal outside lambing season, which had ended some weeks before the case was notified to the HPU. The case had been in close contact with a number of domestic animals (dogs, cat, rabbit and chickens) during the same period as the lambing placement None of these were reported to have exhibited any clinical signs suggestive of C. ulcerans infection and, in view of the time lapse and large number of potential exposures, it was not feasible to undertake any animal sampling [7]
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