First report ofPhotobacterium damselaesubspeciesdamselaein Razorbill (Alca torda)

A razorbill (Alca torda) was found dead in Bacoli, Italy, on January 16, 2023, during an exceptional irruptive event. The bird, a young female weighing 800 g with a moderate nutritional status and no external traumatic injuries underwent a post-mortem examination, which revealed coelomitis with severe congestion of the liver, lungs, kidneys, and myocardium. Lung, liver, kidney, and heart samples were collected for microbiological and histopathological analyses. Bacterial isolation on blood agar showed the growth of spherical/ovoid colonies after 48 hours, consistent with thePhotobacteriumgenus. Identification by MALDI-TOF MS and PCR confirmed the presence ofPhotobacterium damselaesubsp.damselae(Pdd), supported by 16S gene sequencing and detection of theureCgene. PCR screening for virulence factors identified thehlyAchgene in lung samples, suggesting a potentially pathogenic strain in avian species. Histopathological examination showed severe, inflammatory infiltrates and widespread hemorrhages in the liver, the lung tissue and kidneys. In the myocardium, mild and multifocal lymphocytic infiltrates were present. These findings suggest a significant role ofP. damselaesubsp.damselaein the observed lesions. The results of the study revealed a new cross-species transmission of this potential zoonotic bacterium and the need for further research in this field.