All species of the genus Klebsiella are long known to be common in enviromental samples (see e.g. Brown & Seidler 1973 Appl Microbiol 25:900 or Podschun et al. 2001 Appl Environ Microbiol 67:3225), They have no special connection with the zoo enviroment.

Klebsiella spp. are Gram-negative, non-motile bacilli that belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Klebsiella spp. have been identified as colonizing hospital patients, where spread is associated with the frequent handling of patients (e.g., in intensive care units). Patients at highest risk are those with impaired immune systems, such as the elderly or very young, patients with burns or excessive wounds, those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy or those with HIV/AIDS infection.

Klebsiella spp. are natural inhabitants of many water environments, and they may multiply to high numbers in waters rich in nutrients, such as pulp mill wastes, textile finishing plants and sugar-cane processing operations.

Klebsiella spp. are not considered to represent a source of gastrointestinal illness in the general population through ingestion of drinking water. Klebsiella spp. detected in drinking water are generally biofilm organisms and are unlikely to represent a health risk.

Well,  Thank you Dr Johann Heider  & Dr Jose Cota  for your answers. Does Klebsiella sp shows any significant health risks to captive wild animals? Can you give me any reference papers to this ? 

Regards 

Anila Ajayan

Klebsiellae spp

Klebsiellae are ubiquitous in nature. In humans, they may colonize the skin, pharynx, or gastrointestinal tract. They may also colonize sterile wounds and urine. Carriage rates vary with different studies. Klebsiellae may be regarded as normal flora in many parts of the colon and intestinal tract and in the biliary tract. Oropharyngeal carriage has been associated with endotracheal intubation, impaired host defenses, and antimicrobial use.

K pneumoniae and K oxytoca are the 2 members of this genus responsible for most human infections. They are opportunistic pathogens found in the environment and in mammalian mucosal surfaces. The principal pathogenic reservoirs of infection are the gastrointestinal tract of patients and the hands of hospital personnel. Organisms can spread rapidly, often leading to nosocomial outbreaks.

Infection with Klebsiella organisms occurs in the lungs, where they cause destructive changes. Necrosis, inflammation, and hemorrhage occur within lung tissue, sometimes producing a thick, bloody, mucoid sputum described as currant jelly sputum. The illness typically affects middle-aged and older men with debilitating diseases such as alcoholism, diabetes, or chronic bronchopulmonary disease. This patient population is believed to have impaired respiratory host defenses. The organisms gain access after the host aspirates colonizing oropharyngeal microbes into the lower respiratory tract.

Klebsiellae have also been incriminated in nosocomial infections. Common sites include the urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, biliary tract, and surgical wound sites. The spectrum of clinical syndromes includes pneumonia, bacteremia, thrombophlebitis, urinary tract infection (UTI), cholecystitis, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, wound infection, osteomyelitis, and meningitis. The presence of invasive devices, contamination of respiratory support equipment, use of urinary catheters, and use of antibiotics are factors that increase the likelihood of nosocomial infection with Klebsiella species. Sepsis and septic shock may follow entry of organisms into the blood from a focal source.

Klebsiella granulomatis (formerly Calymmatobacterium granulomatis) is a fastidious member of the genus that causes chronic genital ulcerative disease also known as granuloma inguinale or donovanosis. It is a relatively rare disease in the United States, with fewer than 100 cases reported annually. It has long been a recognized cause of genital ulceration in parts of India, Papua New Guinea, the Caribbean, and South America (particularly Brazil). Fortunately, the incidence of the disease has decreased in recent years.

Rhinoscleroma and ozena are 2 other infections caused by Klebsiella species. These diseases are rare. Rhinoscleroma is a chronic inflammatory process involving the nasopharynx, whereas ozena is a chronic atrophic rhinitis characterized by necrosis of nasal mucosa and mucopurulent nasal discharge.

K oxytoca has been implicated in neonatal bacteremia, especially among premature infants and in neonatal intensive care units. Increasingly, the organism is being isolated from patients with neonatal septicemia.

Extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in hospitalized patients has led to both increased carriage of klebsiellae and, subsequently, the development of multidrug-resistant strains that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). These strains are highly virulent, show capsular type K55, and have an extraordinary ability to spread. Most outbreaks are due to a single clone or single gene; the bowel is the major site of colonization with infection of the urinary tract, respiratory tract, and wounds. Bacteremia and significant increased mortality have resulted from infection with these species.

In addition to prior antibiotic use, risk factors for infection include the presence of an indwelling catheter, feeding tube, or central venous catheter; poor health status; and treatment in an intensive care unit or nursing home. Acquisition of these species has become a major problem in most hospitals because of resistance to multiple antibiotics and potential transfer of plasmids to other organisms.

See these References

References

1. Mandell. Enterobacteriaceae. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Churchill Livingstone, An Imprint of Elsevier; 2009.

2. Nordmann P, Cuzon G, Naas T. The real threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing bacteria. Lancet Infect Dis. 2009 Apr. 9(4):228-36. [Medline].

3. Won SY, Munoz-Price LS, Lolans K, Hota B, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK. Emergence and Rapid Regional Spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Sep. 53(6):532-540. [Medline].

4. Livermore DM. Fourteen years in resistance. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2012 Apr. 39(4):283-94. [Medline].

5. Miftode E, Dorneanu O, Leca D, Teodor A, Mihalache D, Filip O, et al. [Antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. from urine in the Infectious Diseases Hospital Iasi]. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2008 Apr-Jun. 113(2):478-82. [Medline].

6. Tu YC, Lu MC, Chiang MK, Huang SP, Peng HL, Chang HY, et al. Genetic requirements for Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced liver abscess in an oral infection model. Infect Immun. 2009 May 11. [Medline].

7. Munoz-Price LS, Poirel L, Bonomo RA, Schwaber MJ, Daikos GL, Cormican M, et al. Clinical epidemiology of the global expansion of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013 Sep. 13(9):785-96. [Medline].

8. Fevre C, Passet V, Deletoile A, Barbe V, Frangeul L, Almeida AS, et al. PCR-based identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. rhinoscleromatis, the agent of rhinoscleroma. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011 May. 5(5):e1052. [Medline]. [Full Text].

9. Gupta N, Limbago BM, Patel JB, Kallen AJ. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: epidemiology and prevention. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Jul 1. 53(1):60-7. [Medline].

10. Doyle D, Peirano G, Lascols C, Lloyd T, Church DL, Pitout JD. Laboratory detection of Enterobacteriaceae that produce carbapenemases. J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Dec. 50(12):3877-80. [Medline]. [Full Text].

11. Weisenberg SA, Morgan DJ, Espinal-Witter R, Larone DH. Clinical outcomes of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae after treatment with imipenem or meropenem. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Apr 1. [Medline].

12. Chan YR, Liu JS, Pociask DA, Zheng M, Mietzner TA, Berger T, et al. Lipocalin 2 is required for pulmonary host defense against Klebsiella infection. J Immunol. 2009 Apr 15. 182(8):4947-56. [Medline].

13. Adams-Haduch JM, Potoski BA, Sidjabat HE, Paterson DL, Doi Y. Activity of Temocillin against KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 Mar 30. [Medline].

14. Al-Rabea AA, Burwen DR, Eldeen MA, et al. Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections in neonates in a hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1998 Sep. 19(9):674-9. [Medline].

15. Anderson MJ, Janoff EN. Klebsiella endocarditis: report of two cases and review. Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Feb. 26(2):468-74. [Medline].

16. Blaser J, Konig C, Simmen HP, Thurnheer U. Monitoring serum concentrations for once-daily netilmicin dosing regimens. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1994 Feb. 33(2):341-8. [Medline].

17. Bodey GP, Elting LS, Rodriquez S, Hernandez M. Klebsiella bacteremia. A 10-year review in a cancer institution. Cancer. 1989 Dec 1. 64(11):2368-76. [Medline].

18. Branger J, Florquin S, Knapp S. LPS-binding protein-deficient mice have an impaired defense against Gram-negative but not Gram-positive pneumonia. Int Immunol. 2004 Nov. 16(11):1605-11. [Medline].

19. Einstein BI. Enterobacteriaceae. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin E, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Vol 2. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:. 2294-310.

20. Farmer JJ. Enterobacteriaceae: Introduction and identification. In: Murray PR, Baron, EJ, Pfaller MA, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 7th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology; 1999:. 438-47.

21. Fisman DN, Kaye KM. Once-daily dosing of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Jun. 14(2):475-87. [Medline].

22. Gamea AM, el-Tatawi FA. The effect of rifampicin on rhinoscleroma: an electron microscopic study. J Laryngol Otol. 1990 Oct. 104(10):772-7. [Medline].

23. Hirche TO, Gaut JP, Heinecke JW. Myeloperoxidase plays critical roles in killing Klebsiella pneumoniae and inactivating neutrophil elastase: effects on host defense. J Immunol. 2005 Feb 1. 174(3):1557-65. [Medline].

24. Kaye KS, Fraimow HS, Abrutyn E. Pathogens resistant to antimicrobial agents. Epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, and clinical management. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Jun. 14(2):293-319. [Medline].

25. Khimji PL, Miles AA. Microbial iron-chelators and their action on Klebsiella infections in the skin of guinea-pigs. Br J Exp Pathol. 1978 Apr. 59(2):137-47. [Medline].

26. Kobashi Y, Fujita K, Karino T, et al. [Clinical analysis of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization in a community hospital--comparison of elderly and non-elderly patients]. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 2000 Jan. 74(1):43-50. [Medline].

27. Kobashi Y, Ohba H, Yoneyama H, et al. [Clinical analysis of patients with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization classified by age group]. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 2001 Mar. 75(3):193-200. [Medline].

28. Korvick JA, Bryan CS, Farber B, et al. Prospective observational study of Klebsiella bacteremia in 230 patients: outcome for antibiotic combinations versus monotherapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Dec. 36(12):2639-44. [Medline].

29. Liam CK, Lim KH, Wong CM. Community-acquired pneumonia in patients requiring hospitalization. Respirology. 2001 Sep. 6(3):259-64. [Medline].

30. Lucente FE. Rhinitis and nasal obstruction. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1989 Apr. 22(2):307-18. [Medline].

31. Mentec H, Vallois JM, Bure A, et al. Piperacillin, tazobactam, and gentamicin alone or combined in an endocarditis model of infection by a TEM-3-producing strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae or its susceptible variant. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Sep. 36(9):1883-9. [Medline].

32. Merino S, Camprubi S, Alberti S, et al. Mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to complement-mediated killing. Infect Immun. 1992 Jun. 60(6):2529-35. [Medline].

33. Nicolau DP, Freeman CD, Belliveau PP, et al. Experience with a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2,184 adult patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1995 Mar. 39(3):650-5. [Medline].

34. Paterson DL. Recommendation for treatment of severe infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Clin Microbiol Infect. 2000 Sep. 6(9):460-3. [Medline].

35. Paterson DL, Trenholme GM. Klebsiella species. In: Yu VL, Merigan TC, Barriere SL, eds. Antimicrobial therapy and vaccines. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1999:. 239-48.

36. Podschun R, Ullmann U. Klebsiella spp. as nosocomial pathogens: epidemiology, taxonomy, typing methods, and pathogenicity factors. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998 Oct. 11(4):589-603. [Medline].

37. Prabaker K, Lin MY, McNally M, Cherabuddi K, Ahmed S, Norris A. Transfer from high-acuity long-term care facilities is associated with carriage of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae: a multihospital study. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012 Dec. 33(12):1193-9. [Medline].

38. Prince SE, Dominger KA, Cunha BA, Klein NC. Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia. Heart Lung. 1997 Sep-Oct. 26(5):413-7. [Medline].

39. Restuccia PA, Cunha BA. Klebsiella. Infect Control. 1984 Jul. 5(7):343-7. [Medline].

40. Rice L. Evolution and clinical importance of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. Chest. 2001 Feb. 119(2 Suppl):391S-396S. [Medline].

41. Riser E, Noone P, Howard FM. Epidemiological study of klebsiella infection in the special care baby unit of a London hospital. J Clin Pathol. 1980 Apr. 33(4):400-7. [Medline].

42. Sahly H, Podschun R. Clinical, bacteriological, and serological aspects of Klebsiella infections and their spondyloarthropathic sequelae. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1997 Jul. 4(4):393-9. [Medline].

43. Sahly H, Podschun R, Ullmann U. Klebsiella infections in the immunocompromised host. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2000. 479:237-49. [Medline].

44. Sedor J, Mulholland SG. Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections associated with the indwelling catheter. Urol Clin North Am. 1999 Nov. 26(4):821-8. [Medline].

45. Segal-Maurer S, Mariano N, Qavi A, et al. Successful treatment of ceftazidime-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ventriculitis with intravenous meropenem and intraventricular polymyxin B: case report and review. Clin Infect Dis. 1999 May. 28(5):1134-8. [Medline].

46. Sidjabat H, Nimmo GR, Walsh TR, Binotto E, Htin A, Hayashi Y, et al. Carbapenem resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae due to the New Delhi Metallo-ß-lactamase. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Feb. 52(4):481-4. [Medline].

47. Toivanen P, Hansen DS, Mestre F. Somatic serogroups, capsular types, and species of fecal Klebsiella in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Sep. 37(9):2808-12. [Medline].

48. Tomas JM, Benedi VJ, Ciurana B, Jofre J. Role of capsule and O antigen in resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to serum bactericidal activity. Infect Immun. 1986 Oct. 54(1):85-9. [Medline].

49. Urban AW, Craig WA. Daily dosage of aminoglycosides. Curr Clin Top Infect Dis. 1997. 17:236-55. [Medline].

50. Warren JW. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2001 Apr. 17(4):299-303. [Medline].

51. Zohar Y, Talmi YP, Strauss M, et al. Ozena revisited. J Otolaryngol. 1990 Oct. 19(5):345-9. [Medline].

52. Moore PP, McGowan GF, Sandhu SS, Allen PJ. Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess complicated by endogenous endophthalmitis: the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Med J Aust. 2015 Oct 5. 203 (7):300-1. [Medline].

Thank you Dr Jose Cota. In fact, I was in a search about Klebsiella sp affecting animals especially wild animals under captive. Also on the pathogenic nature of Enterobacter cloaca and E coli. Is there any permissible limits for them on water?