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Stranahan LW, Plumlee QD, Lawhon SD, Cohen ND, Bryan LK. Rhodococcus equi Infections in Goats: Characterization of Virulence Plasmids. Vet Pathol 2017; 55:273-276. [DOI: 10.1177/0300985817747327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi is an uncommon cause of systemic pyogranulomatous infections in goats with macroscopic similarities to caseous lymphadenitis caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Caprine cases have previously been reported to be caused by avirulent R. equi strains. Six cases of R. equi infection in goats yielding 8 R. equi isolates were identified from 2000 to 2017. Lesions varied from bronchopneumonia, vertebral and humeral osteomyelitis, and subcutaneous abscesses, to disseminated infection involving the lungs, lymph nodes, and multiple visceral organs. Isolates of R. equi from infected goats were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for R. equi virulence-associated plasmid ( vap) genes. Seven of 8 isolates carried the VapN plasmid, originally characterized in bovine isolates, while 1 isolate lacked virulence plasmids and was classified as avirulent. The VapN plasmid has not been described in isolates cultured from goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren W. Stranahan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Quinci D. Plumlee
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Sara D. Lawhon
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Noah D. Cohen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Laura K. Bryan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Takai S, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Feret M, Gawryś M, Witkowski M, Kita J. Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates from horses in Poland: pVapA characteristics and plasmid new variant, 85-kb type V. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:35. [PMID: 28122544 PMCID: PMC5267371 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-0954-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhodococcus equi is one of the most significant bacterial pathogens affecting foals up to 6 months of age worldwide. Rhodococcosis is present in Poland however information about molecular characterization of R. equi isolates is scarce. This study describes molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi infection on 13 horse breeding farms in Poland between 2001 and 2012. Samples were collected by tracheobronchial aspiration from pneumonic foals or during necropsy. The R. equi isolates were genotyped by plasmid profiling and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results Totally, 58 R. equi isolates were investigated. One isolate lost its plasmid. Among the 57 VapA-positive isolates, 48 contained 85-kb type I plasmid (82.8%), 8 contained 87-kb type I plasmid (13.8%). One isolate (1.7%) had a unique restriction cleavage pattern and the 2nd fragment of EcoRI digests of this plasmid DNA was about 2600 bases smaller than that of the 85 kb type I. This new plasmid variant was designated as the “85-kb type V”. Among the 58 isolates typeable with VspI-PFGE, ten PFGE clusters were detected. The majority of foals were infected mostly with isolates of low genetic diversity. Conclusions Most of clinical isolates of R. equi from foals in Poland contain pVapA 85-kb type I and 87-kb type I similarly to the other European countries and the United States. However, the new variant of pVapA 85-kb type V was identified. The chromosomal variability was detected among some of the investigated isolates and the presence of farm-specific isolates might be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucjan Witkowski
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Rzewuska
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Shinji Takai
- Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Higashi 23-35-1, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Dorota Chrobak-Chmiel
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kizerwetter-Świda
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Feret
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Gawryś
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Witkowski
- University Center of Veterinary Medicine UJ-UR, Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059, Cracow, Poland
| | - Jerzy Kita
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
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Anastasi E, Giguère S, Berghaus LJ, Hondalus MK, Willingham-Lane JM, MacArthur I, Cohen ND, Roberts MC, Vazquez-Boland JA. Novel transferable erm(46) determinant responsible for emerging macrolide resistance in Rhodococcus equi. J Antimicrob Chemother 2015; 70:3184-90. [PMID: 26377866 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkv279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to identify the molecular mechanism of macrolide resistance in the actinomycete Rhodococcus equi, a major equine pathogen and zoonotic agent causing opportunistic infections in people. METHODS Macrolide-resistant (n = 62) and macrolide-susceptible (n = 62) clinical isolates of R. equi from foals in the USA were studied. WGS of 18 macrolide-resistant and 6 macrolide-susceptible R. equi was performed. Representative sequences of all known macrolide resistance genes identified to date were used to search the genome assemblies for putative homologues. PCR was used to screen for the presence of the identified resistance determinant in the rest of the isolates. Mating experiments were performed to verify mobility of the gene. RESULTS A novel erm gene, erm(46), was identified in all sequenced resistant isolates, but not in susceptible isolates. There was complete association between macrolide resistance and the presence of erm(46) as detected by PCR screening of all 124 clinical isolates of R. equi. Expression of erm(46) in a macrolide-susceptible strain of R. equi induced high-level resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins B, but not to other classes of antimicrobial agents. Transfer of erm(46) to macrolide-susceptible R. equi was confirmed. The transfer frequency ranged from 3 × 10(-3) to 1 × 10(-2). CONCLUSIONS This is the first molecular characterization of resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins B in R. equi. Resistance was due to the presence of a novel erm(46) gene mobilizable likely by conjugation, which has spread among equine isolates of R. equi in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Anastasi
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Steeve Giguère
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Londa J Berghaus
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Mary K Hondalus
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Iain MacArthur
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Noah D Cohen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Marilyn C Roberts
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jose A Vazquez-Boland
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Grupo de Patogenómica Bacteriana, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Léon, Léon, Spain
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McQueen CM, Dindot SV, Foster MJ, Cohen ND. Genetic Susceptibility to Rhodococcus equi. J Vet Intern Med 2015; 29:1648-59. [PMID: 26340305 PMCID: PMC4895676 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal foals. Much effort has been made to identify preventative measures and new treatments for R. equi with limited success. With a growing focus in the medical community on understanding the genetic basis of disease susceptibility, investigators have begun to evaluate the interaction of the genetics of the foal with R. equi. This review describes past efforts to understand the genetic basis underlying R. equi susceptibility and tolerance. It also highlights the genetic technology available to study horses and describes the use of this technology in investigating R. equi. This review provides readers with a foundational understanding of candidate gene approaches, single nucleotide polymorphism‐based, and copy number variant‐based genome‐wide association studies, and next generation sequencing (both DNA and RNA).
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Affiliation(s)
- C M McQueen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - S V Dindot
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - M J Foster
- Medical Sciences Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - N D Cohen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Cisek AA, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Czopowicz M, Welz M, Kita J. Prevalence and genetic diversity of Rhodococcus equi in wild boars (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Poland. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:110. [PMID: 25997952 PMCID: PMC4440313 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0445-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhodococcus equi is now considered an emerging zoonotic pathogen. Sources and routes of human infection remain unclear but foodborne transmission seems to be the most probable way. Strains of pig or bovine type are most often isolated from human cases and moreover R. equi is present in submaxillary lymph nodes of apparently healthy pigs and wild boars intended for human consumption. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of R. equi in submaxillary lymph nodes in wild boars, roe deer and red deer. RESULTS Samples were collected from 936 animals and 27 R. equi strains were isolated, from 5.1 % of wild boars (23/452), 0.7 % of red deer (2/272) and 0.9 % of roe deer (2/212). Genetic diversity of all 27 isolates was studied using VspI-PFGE method, resulting in the detection of 25 PFGE patterns and four PFGE clusters. PFGE patterns of the isolates were compared with virulence plasmid types and no concordance was observed. CONCLUSIONS R. equi was present in wild animal tissues and consumption of the game may be a potential source of R. equi infection for humans. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first epidemiological report of R. equi prevalence in tissues of roe deer and red deer. However, risk associated with wild ruminant consumption seems marginal. Investigation of R. equi transmission between animals and humans based exclusively on types of virulence plasmids seems to be insufficient to identify sources of R. equi infection for people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucjan Witkowski
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska, 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Rzewuska
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Agata Anna Cisek
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Dorota Chrobak-Chmiel
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Kizerwetter-Świda
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Michał Czopowicz
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska, 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Mirosław Welz
- Voivodeship Veterinary Inspectorate in Krosno, ks. Piotra Ściegiennego 6 A, 38-400, Krosno, Poland.
| | - Jerzy Kita
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska, 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
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Reuss SM, Cohen ND. Update on Bacterial Pneumonia in the Foal and Weanling. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2015; 31:121-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Stoughton W, Poole T, Kuskie K, Liu M, Bishop K, Morrissey A, Takai S, Cohen N. Transfer of the Virulence-Associated Protein A-Bearing Plasmid between Field Strains of Virulent and Avirulent Rhodococcus equi. J Vet Intern Med 2013; 27:1555-62. [DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- W. Stoughton
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station TX
| | - T. Poole
- Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center; Agricultural Research Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; College Station TX
| | - K. Kuskie
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station TX
| | - M. Liu
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station TX
| | - K. Bishop
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station TX
| | - A. Morrissey
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station TX
| | - S. Takai
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences; Kitasoto University; Towada Aomori Japan
| | - N. Cohen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station TX
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Burton AJ, Giguère S, Sturgill TL, Berghaus LJ, Slovis NM, Whitman JL, Levering C, Kuskie KR, Cohen ND. Macrolide- and rifampin-resistant Rhodococcus equi on a horse breeding farm, Kentucky, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2013; 19:282-5. [PMID: 23347878 PMCID: PMC3559061 DOI: 10.3201/eid1902.121210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrolide and rifampin resistance developed on a horse breeding farm after widespread use was instituted for treatment of subclinical pulmonary lesions in foals. Resistance occurred in 6 (24%) of 25 pretreatment and 8 (62%) of 13 (62%) posttreatment isolates from affected foals. Drug-resistant isolates formed 2 distinct genotypic clusters.
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