First clinical isolation report of Shewanella xiamenensis from Chinese giant salamander

Shewanella xiamenensis, a newly virulent zoonotic pathogen belonging to the genus Shewanella is the causative organism of emerging intra-abdominal infection, acute skin ulceration, rotten limbs and ascites in humans and animals. The global spread of S. xiamenensis entails severe economic impact. However, it was rarely reported as a cause of infection and no reports were found that S. xiamenensis isolated from clinical samples. The isolate was identified as a S. xiamenensis strain by 16S rDNA amplification and DNA sequencing identification method. Even if co-infection by other bacteria could not be ruled out, this is the first report of acute disease caused by S. xiamenensis in the Chinese giant salamander in China. By using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, the sensitivity of the isolate to clinical antibiotics was evaluated. Antibiotic susceptibility test indicated that the isolate was resistant to 32 antibacterial drugs such as kanamycin, florfenicol and ceftriaxone suggesting that the isolate was a multi-drug resistant strain.