Equis ISSN 2398-2977

Serratia spp

Contributor(s): Richard Walker

Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

Family:Enterobacteriaceae.
Genus:serratia.

Etymology

Named after Serafino Serrati, an Italian physicist.

Active Forms

This article is available in full to registered subscribers

Sign up now to purchase a 30 day trial, or Login

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

Environmental organism, opportunistic pathogen.

Lifecycle

Multiplies in damp, shaded environments by binary fission.
Multiplies in the immunocompromised host.
May exchange plasmids with otherEnterobacteriaceae.

Transmission

Contamination of wounds or other compromised sites.
Cause of nosocomial infections following environmental contamination.

Pathological effects

Associated with infection in immunosuppressed animals and humans.

Mastitis in cows.
Septicemia in chickens and immunosuppressed mammals, eg foals.
Infections in reptiles.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

Most strains are resistant to several antibiotics Therapeutics: antimicrobials .
Drug-resistant plasmids occur.

Diagnosis

This article is available in full to registered subscribers

Sign up now to purchase a 30 day trial, or Login

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
Jores J et al (2004) Isolation of Serratia marcescens from an equine abortion in Germany. Vet Rec 154 (8), 242-244 PubMed.
Ewart S et al (1992) Serratia marcescens endocarditis in a horse. JAVMA 200 (7), 961-963 PubMed.
Young D R et al (1989) Serratia marcescens septicemia associated with infusion of an amino acid solution in two horses. JAVMA 195 (3), 340-342 PubMed.
Rigg D L et al (1987) Marsupialization of an abdominal abscess caused by Serratia marcescens in a mare. JAVMA 191 (2), 222-224 PubMed.
Colahan P T et al (1984) Serratia spp infection in 21 horses. JAVMA 185 (2), 209-211 PubMed.
Shaftoe S (1984) Serratia marcescens septicemia in a neonatal Arabian foal. Equine Vet J 16 (4), 389-392 PubMed.
Fox J G, Beaucage C M, Folta C A & Thornton G W (1981) Nosocomial transmission of Serratia marcescens in a veterinary hospital due to contamination by benzalkonium chloride. J Clin Microbiol 14 (2), 157-60 PubMed.

ADDED