Prototheca zopfii

Prototheca zopfii[2] is opportunistic, environmental pathogen and ubiquitous in nature. This alga is mainly associated with wet areas and places with high organic contents. It can be found in tanks, well water, teat-dip containers, and milking machines.[3]

The genome of this organism's mitochondrion and plastid were first sequenced in 2018.[4]

Prototheca zopfii reproduce asexually by endosporulation.[5]

Sabouraud agar is used as a cultural medium.[6]

Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis are useful tool for rapid confirmative diagnosis.[7]

The species can infect man and animal, causing mastitis.[7] P. zopfii can cause bovine clinical mastitis in high milk-yielding cows.[8] 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.[7] However, in 2017, three cases of human protothecosis due to P. zopfii genotype I have been reported in China.[9]

Bovine mastitis outbreaks by P. zopfii is a global problem. It is reported from Europe,[10][11][12] Asia,[13] North America,[14][15] and South America.[16][17]

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]