Prototheca zopfii is an ubiquitous achlorophyllic (without chlorophyll) green alga.[1] It is a known cause of mastitis in cattle.
Prototheca zopfii | |
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Photomicrograph depicting the histopathology associated with protothecosis in a dog due to Prototheca zopfii | |
Scientific classification | |
(unranked): | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Trebouxiophyceae |
Order: | Chlorellales |
Family: | Chlorellaceae |
Genus: | Prototheca |
Species: | P. zopfii
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Binomial name | |
Prototheca zopfii W.Krüger
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The genome of this organism's mitochondrion and plastid were first sequenced in 2018.[2] Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis are useful tool for rapid confirmative diagnosis.[3]
Prototheca zopfii is ubiquitous in nature, but mainly associated with wet areas and places with high amounts of organic matter. It can be found in tanks, well water, teat-dip containers, and milking machines.[4]
Prototheca zopfii grows in aerobic conditions and reproduce asexually by endosporulation.[5] Sabouraud agar is used as a cultural medium.[6]
Prototheca zopfii is an opportunistic environmental pathogen. The species can infect man and animal, causing mastitis.[3] P. zopfii can cause bovine clinical mastitis in high milk-yielding cows.[7] Genotypes I and III, traditionally, are thought not to be involved in the pathogenicity of mastitis and to be pollutants of milk, whereas genotype II is believed the main cause of mastitis.[3] However, in 2017, three cases of human protothecosis due to P. zopfii genotype I have been reported in China.[8]
Bovine mastitis outbreaks by P. zopfii is a global problem. It is reported from Europe,[9][10][11] Asia,[12] North America,[13][14] and South America.[15][16]
Prototheca zopfii is less susceptible or completely resistant to clotrimazole, fluconazole, econazole, flucytosine, cefoperazone, cephalexin, enrofloxacin, lincomycin, oxytetracycline, miconazole, colistin, a combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, enrofloxacin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, penicillin, lincomycin, and novobiocin, whereas drugs such as nystatin, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B are effective against algae isolated from milk of mastitis-affected cows.[6]