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Retamar GC, Bustos CP, Guillemi EC, Becú T, Ivanissevich A, Mesplet M, Muñoz AJ. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus: High molecular diversity of Argentinian strains isolated from mares with endometritis. Res Vet Sci 2024; 173:105242. [PMID: 38640833 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is a mucosal commensal of the lower genital tract in horses and is the most isolated bacterium causing endometritis in mares. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular diversity of S. zooepidemicus obtained from endometritis in mares in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Thirty isolates obtained from the uterus of mares in 2005 and 2017 were studied. The MLST scheme was applied to identify the Argentinian genotypes and the clonal relationships and patterns of evolutionary descent were identified using the eBURST algorithm - goeBURST. Twenty six different Sequence types (STs) were identified, being only 11 of them previously reported in horses and also, from several host species and tissues. The other 15 STs were reported in Argentinian reproductive strains of mares in our study for the first time. The genotypes obtained from uterus in Argentina were not evenly distributed when all the published S. zooepidemicus STs were analysed, thus, it was not possible to establish that the same lineage circulates in our equine population. The fact that the identified genotypes were also reported in other countries, diverse samples and host species suggest that there is not a host, and an anatomical niche adaptation. Finally, the isolation of the same genotype in the vagina/clitoris and the uterus of the same mare highlights the versatility of S. zooepidemicus and its role as an opportunistic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela C Retamar
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carla P Bustos
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eliana C Guillemi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Maria Mesplet
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra J Muñoz
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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2
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Liu J, Tang X, Chen L, Zhang Y, Gao J, Wang A. Microbiome dysbiosis in patients with chronic endometritis and Clostridium tyrobutyricum ameliorates chronic endometritis in mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12455. [PMID: 38816643 PMCID: PMC11139922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic endometritis is associated with the imbalance of female reproductive tract microbiota and pathogenic microbial infection. This study aimed to identify the specific changes in the endometrial microbiome in patients with endometritis and to explore how Clostridium tyrobutyricum (C.t) influences the progression of endometritis in mice for further elucidating endometritis pathogenesis. For this purpose, endometrial tissues from 100 participants were collected and divided into positive, weakly positive, and negative groups based on CD138 levels, while endometrial microbiome differences were detected and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-induced endometritis mouse model was established, followed by treatment with C.t, and inflammatory response, epithelial barrier, and TLR4/NF-κB pathway were evaluated. Results showed that α- and β-diversity was significantly lower in the positive group compared with the weakly positive or negative groups, where the negative group had more unique operational taxonomic units. The abundance of Proteobacteria was found to be increased, while that of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes was found to be reduced in the positive group, while the area under the curve value was found to be 0.664. Furthermore, C.t treatment resulted in the alleviation of S. aureus-induced inflammatory response, epithelial barrier damage, and activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in mice. Clinical samples analysis revealed that the diversity and abundance of microbiota were altered in patients with endometritis having positive CD138 levels, while mechanistic investigations revealed C.t alleviated S. aureus-induced endometritis by inactivating TLR4/NF-κB pathway. The findings of this study are envisaged to provide a diagnostic and therapeutic potential of microbiota in endometritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiujiu Liu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 6 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100000, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jiyuan People's Hospital, Jiyuan, 454650, China
| | - Xiaorong Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 6 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 6 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 6 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Jinfang Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 6 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Aiming Wang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 6 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100000, China.
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Nocera FP, Capozzi L, Simone D, Pizzano F, Iovane V, Bianco A, Parisi A, De Martino L. Multi-locus sequence typing and in vitro antimicrobial resistance of equine Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus strains. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:215-224. [PMID: 37626228 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10165-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is one of the most important pathogens frequently associated with the main causes of equine infertility. In this study, we surveyed 22 strains of S. zooepidemicus collected during 2021 from cervico-uterine swabs of mares with endometritis. The genetic variability of the isolated strains was studied by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. The average length of reconstructed genomes was 2,088,286 bp (95% CI: 2,061,569 bp-2,114,967 bp), which was expected for S. zooepidemicus genomes. The assembled genomes were assigned to sequence types (STs) using the S. zooepidemicus scheme targeting seven loci (arcC, nrdE, proS, spi, tdk, tpi, yqiL) available in PubMLST database. MLST revealed a wide variability of STs with two (9.1%) novel STs identified in this study, precisely ST521 with two isolates and ST522 with one isolate. Furthermore, 4/22 (18.2%) isolates were assigned to ST92, 3/22 (13.6%) to ST205, 2/22 (9.1%) to ST475, and one strain (4.5%) for each of the following STs: ST10, ST30, ST39, ST49, ST101, ST132, ST147, ST314, ST369, ST467. Isolates were also tested for antimicrobial resistance using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin, amikacin, gentamicin, streptomycin, enrofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, tetracycline, oxytetracycline represented the most common resistance profile (13/22, 59.1%). No correlation between specific ST and antimicrobial resistance profile was found. Our study provides a comprehensive insight into the epidemiology, ST diversity and antimicrobial resistance profile of S. zooepidemicus strains, isolated in Italy, causing subfertility problems in mares.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Paola Nocera
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, 80137, Italy.
| | - Loredana Capozzi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata, Contrada San Pietro Piturno, Putignano-Bari, 70017, Italy
| | - Domenico Simone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata, Contrada San Pietro Piturno, Putignano-Bari, 70017, Italy
| | - Francesca Pizzano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - Valentina Iovane
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, 80055, Italy
| | - Angelica Bianco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata, Contrada San Pietro Piturno, Putignano-Bari, 70017, Italy
| | - Antonio Parisi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Puglia e Basilicata, Contrada San Pietro Piturno, Putignano-Bari, 70017, Italy
| | - Luisa De Martino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, 80137, Italy
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Bergmann R, Schroedl W, Müller U, Baums CG. A distinct variant of the SzM protein of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus recruits C1q independent of IgG binding and inhibits activation of the classical complement pathway. Virulence 2023; 14:2235461. [PMID: 37450582 PMCID: PMC10351459 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2235461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a major equine pathogen that causes pneumonia, abortion, and polyarthritis. It can also cause invasive infections in humans. SEZ expresses the M-like protein SzM, which recruits host proteins such as fibrinogen to the bacterial surface. Equine SEZ strain C2, which binds only comparably low amounts of human fibrinogen in comparison to human SEZ strain C33, was previously shown to proliferate in equine and human blood. As the expression of SzM_C2 was necessary for survival in blood, this study investigated the working hypothesis that SzM_C2 inhibits complement activation through a mechanism other than fibrinogen and non-immune immunoglobulin binding. Loss-of-function experiments showed that SEZ C2, but not C33, binds C1q via SzM in IgG-free human plasma. Furthermore, SzM C2 expression is necessary for recruiting purified human or equine C1q to the bacterial surface. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that SzM expression in SEZ C2 is crucial for the significant reduction of C3b labelling in human plasma. Addition of human plasma to immobilized rSzM_C2 and immobilized aggregated IgG led to binding of C1q, but only the latter activated the complement system, as shown by the detection of C4 deposition. Complement activation induced by aggregated IgG was significantly reduced if human plasma was pre-incubated with rSzM_C2. Furthermore, rSzM_C2, but not rSzM_C33, inhibited the activation of the classical complement pathway in human plasma, as determined in an erythrocyte lysis experiment. In conclusion, the immunoglobulin-independent binding of C1q to SzM_C2 is associated with complement inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Bergmann
- Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Schroedl
- Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Müller
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Georg Baums
- Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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5
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Heil BA, van Heule M, Thompson SK, Kearns TA, Oberhaus EL, King G, Daels P, Dini P, Sones JL. Effect of Sampling Method on Detection of the Equine Uterine Microbiome during Estrus. Vet Sci 2023; 10:644. [PMID: 37999467 PMCID: PMC10675083 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10110644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial endometritis is among the most common causes of subfertility in mares. It has a major economic impact on the equine breeding industry. The sensitivity of detecting uterine microbes using culture-based methods, irrespective of the sample collection method, double-guarded endometrial swab, endometrial biopsy, or uterine low-volume lavage (LVL), is low. Therefore, equine bacterial endometritis often goes undiagnosed. Sixteen individual mares were enrolled, and an endometrial sample was obtained using each method from all mares. After trimming, quality control and decontamination, 3824 amplicon sequence variants were detected in the dataset. We found using 16S rRNA sequencing that the equine uterus harbors a distinct resident microbiome during estrus. All three sampling methods used yielded similar results in composition as well as relative abundance at phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota) and genus (Klebsiella, Mycoplasma, and Aeromonas) levels. A significant difference was found in alpha diversity (Chao1) between LVL and endometrial biopsy, suggesting that LVL is superior at detecting the low-abundant (rare) taxa. These new data could pave the way for innovative treatment methods for endometrial disease and subfertility in mares. This, in turn, could lead to more judicious antimicrobial use in the equine breeding industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. A. Heil
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA;
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - M. van Heule
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction (PHR), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA (P.D.)
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium;
| | - S. K. Thompson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (S.K.T.); (T.A.K.); (G.K.)
| | - T. A. Kearns
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (S.K.T.); (T.A.K.); (G.K.)
| | - E. L. Oberhaus
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA;
| | - G. King
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (S.K.T.); (T.A.K.); (G.K.)
| | - P. Daels
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium;
| | - P. Dini
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction (PHR), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA (P.D.)
| | - J. L. Sones
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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6
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Asif S, Umar T, Umar Z, Jamil H, Feng H, Zhang P, Umer S. MicroRNAs in equine Endometritis: A review of pathophysiology and molecular insights for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110949. [PMID: 37725848 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Endometritis plays an important role in mare infertility. Certain infectious agents interfere with the innate immune system of endometrium, causing a systemic inflammatory response that lasts for a long time and circulates via the blood or cellular degeneration, leading to endometritis due to bacterial endotoxins. Different small, non-coding RNA molecules are involved in many biological functions. For instance, microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. These miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, primarily via inhibiting transcription and translation processes. This manuscript reviews: (1) pathomorphological findings in equine endometritis, (2) the expression and effects of eca-miR-17, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-200a, eca-miR-155, and eca-miR-205 in endometritis and (3) the therapeutic role of miRNA in equine endometritis. The miRNAs have a vital regulatory role in a wide range of inflammatory diseases by regulating the molecular mechanism of cytokines that cause inflammation through signal pathways. This review emphasizes the demand for cutting-edge genetic technologies and the development of novel pharmaceutical preparations to improve our understanding of the genes encoding by these miRNAs. It also focuses on the efficacy of miRNAs for control, early diagnosis, and prevention of endometritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Asif
- Department of Theriogenology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Talha Umar
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zaima Umar
- Department of Anatomy, The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000 Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Huma Jamil
- Department of Theriogenology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Huili Feng
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Henan Vocational College of Agriculture, Zhengzhou City 451450, China
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Saqib Umer
- Department of Theriogenology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Punjab, Pakistan.
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Ding X, Cui X, Shi J, Cheng X, Yao D, Gao Y, Zhang Y. Construction of a model of endometritis in domestic rabbits using equine-derived pathogens and evaluation of therapeutic effect of sensitive drugs. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1064522. [PMID: 36846263 PMCID: PMC9948609 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1064522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the uterine lavage fluid of a mare with endometritis. After identification and purification, the pathogenic bacteria were injected into the uterus of rabbits to induce endometritis. Then, anatomical, blood routine, chemical examination, and histopathological examinations were performed on the rabbits. Rabbit uterus was collected, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the rabbit uterus. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the uterine concentrations of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Western Blot was used to detect the protein expressions of NF-kB, IkBα, and TNF-α in the NF-kB pathway. An antibiotic treatment group was also set up to verify the accuracy of the results. The clinical examination results showed that there was a significant increase of leukocytes in the blood of the rabbits in the model group (P < 0.01). The uterus was congested, enlarged, and purulent. The integrity of the uterine lining was destroyed, and there was a significant increase of lymphocytes in the uterus (P < 0.01). The qPCR and ELISA results showed that the expressions of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the uterus of rabbits were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Western blot results showed that the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α play a role in promoting inflammation through the NF-kB pathway. The results of the test provide a simple, economical, and reliable means of studying the occurrence, development, prevention, and treatment of equine endometritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanpan Ding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiao Cui
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinlian Shi
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Cheng
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Yao
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yujin Gao
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Yong Zhang ✉
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Garner C, Stephen C, Pant SD, Ghorashi SA. Comparison of PCR-HRM, colorimetric LAMP and culture based diagnostic assays in the detection of endometritis caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in mares. Vet Res Commun 2022; 47:495-509. [PMID: 36538151 PMCID: PMC9765344 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-10047-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is one of the causative agents of equine endometritis. In this study, a panel of different bacterial species, and colonies derived from bacteriological cultures of 38 clinical samples, were subjected to Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay and PCR, followed by high-resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis. All clinical samples were genotyped into three distinct groups based on HRM curve analysis. Differences in melting curve profiles were a reflection of DNA variation in sorD gene which was confirmed by DNA sequencing. A mathematical model based on Genetic Confidence Percentage (GCP) was used in HRM curve analysis and a cut-off point value was established which differentiated S. zooepidemicus isolates without requiring visual interpretation of curve profiles. The accuracy of PCR-HRM and bacterial culture in detection of S. zooepidemicus were identical with 100% sensitivity and specificity, while LAMP assay had similar specificity but a lower sensitivity (89.5%). PCR-HRM and LAMP assay provided an effective detection method with a turn-around time of six hours for PCR-HRM and 120 min for LAMP assay, compared to a minimum three days that was required when routine bacteriological culture method was used. In summary, results indicate that LAMP had the quickest turnaround, and HRM curve analysis could potentially be used for genotyping without DNA sequencing. Any mare suspected of endometritis will benefit from developed rapid diagnostic tests for detection of S. zooepidemicus and proper treatment prior to being bred and will mitigate unnecessary treatment and antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Garner
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678 Australia
| | - Cyril Stephen
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678 Australia ,Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Wagga Wagga, Australia
| | - Sameer Dinkar Pant
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678 Australia ,Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Wagga Wagga, Australia
| | - Seyed Ali Ghorashi
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678 Australia ,Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Wagga Wagga, Australia
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Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 11:antibiotics11010025. [PMID: 35052902 PMCID: PMC8773361 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus), is a β-hemolytic Streptococcus belonging to the Lancefield group C; it is a rare human pathogen, but in horses, it is frequently associated with endometritis. This study aimed to isolate S. zooepidemicus strains, associated with bacterial endometritis in mares, and to define their antimicrobial resistance profile. Twenty-three isolates were recovered from one hundred ninety-six equine uterine swabs (11.7%). Bacterial identification was carried out by Api 20 Strep and confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), while antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar plates. The antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates revealed a high percentage of resistance to amikacin (95.6%), ampicillin (73.9%) and tetracycline (69.6%), while ceftiofur and ceftriaxone were highly effective with 82.6% and 78.3% of the isolates inhibited, respectively. An intriguing value of resistance to penicillin (34.8%), which represents the first-choice antibiotic in equine S. zooepidemicus infections, was observed. Furthermore, a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains (82.6%) was recorded. Continuous surveillance of this potential zoonotic pathogen and an appropriate antimicrobial stewardship program with the promotion of correct use of antimicrobials, after a proper diagnosis, are needed to allow an effective therapy.
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Development and Application of a Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Simultaneous Detection of Bacterial Aetiologic Agents Associated With Equine Venereal Diseases. J Equine Vet Sci 2021; 105:103721. [PMID: 34607681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Venereal diseases caused by bacteria are important to the equine industry due to economic losses caused by decline of conception rate in breeding horses. Therefore, identification of infected animals as well as the implementation of appropriate managerial procedures based on accurate diagnosis is critical. In this study, two types of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction with high sensitivity and specificity were developed for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of five commonly associated bacterial pathogens of venereal diseases in horses, consisting of Taylorella equigenitalis, Taylorella asinigenitalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The assay was applied to samples collected as part of the surveillance of T.equigenitalis infection in South Korea. Swab samples collected from horses in 2015 were tested. T. equigenitalis and K. pneumoniae was detected in 21 (21.0%) and two (2.0%) samples, respectively. No samples were positive for T. asinigenitalis, P. aeruginosa, and S. zooepidemicus. Application of this assay to an existing surveillance program has allowed for an enhanced surveillance for a wider range of venereal diseases of equine to be implemented in South Korea.
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11
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Wasissa M, Lestari FB, Salasia SIO. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus finding in confirmed feline infectious peritonitis cat patient. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07268. [PMID: 34189311 PMCID: PMC8219751 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal immune-mediated disease in cat, caused by mutated feline coronavirus (FCoV). Due to its difficulties in diagnosis, FIP is sometimes underdiagnosed. Therefore, several laboratory procedures were performed to gain high index suspicion of FIP. However, through several laboratory findings, not only FIP but also SEZ infection was confirmed in this case. CASE DESCRIPTION A-year-old male, domestic cat was admitted to Veterinary Medicine Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Universitas Gadjah Mada, for further effusion examination due to its high suspicion of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Further examination using molecular and post-mortem analysis resulted on confirmed SEZ infection and FIP. This study informed the manifestation and pathological changes in patient with SEZ and FIP in the same time. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that viral infection followed by bacterial infection could be fatal and untreatable. After these findings, clinicians may consider SEZ infection in cat with respiratory disorder followed by thoracic effusion besides FIP. Companion animal, especially outdoor-kept animal, possibly become infected from its contact to another human or animal in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madarina Wasissa
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Fajar Budi Lestari
- Department of Bioresources Technology and Veterinary, Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Inter-Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Siti Isrina Oktavia Salasia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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12
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Ebani VV, Nardoni S, Bertelloni F, Pollera C, Pistelli L, Mancianti F. In vitro antimicrobial activity of selected essential oils against bacteria and yeasts isolated from the genital tract of mares. Nat Prod Res 2021; 36:2648-2653. [PMID: 33949251 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1915307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study, the first to test clinical equine isolates, was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of commercial essential oils (EOs) obtained from Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cymbopogon citratus, Aloysia triphylla and Syzygium aromaticum against Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Candida albicans and Rhodotorula spp. previously isolated from uteri of mares with reproductive disorders. T. vulgaris showed the best antibacterial activity against all the selected agents, with MICs ranging from 0.07 mg/mL for S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus to 0.29 mg/mL versus Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus spp. isolates and versus C. albicans and Rhodotorula spp., with MICs of 0.46 mg/mL and 1.86 mg/mL, respectively. O. vulgare, S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum EOs showed good antibacterial activity with MICs ranging from 0.07 mg/mL to 0.29 mg/mL, 0.16 mg/mL to 0.32 mg/mL, 0.07 mg/mL to 0.63 mg/mL, respectively; A. triphylla was the most active EO against Rhodotorula spp. (0.43 mg/mL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center 'Nutraceuticals and Food for Health', University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Nardoni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Pollera
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Luisa Pistelli
- Interdepartmental Research Center 'Nutraceuticals and Food for Health', University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Interdepartmental Research Center 'Nutraceuticals and Food for Health', University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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13
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Uchida-Fujii E, Niwa H, Kinoshita Y, Nukada T. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for Identification of Bacterial Isolates From Horses. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 95:103276. [PMID: 33276932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is used for bacterial identification by analyzing the spectra of isolates and comparing them against a database of reference spectra; it is known for its rapidity and accuracy. Although MALDI-TOF MS is used for identification of bacterial isolates from animals, not all animal pathogens are identified correctly. In this study, we used a commercial MALDI-TOF MS identification system to examine 3724 bacterial isolates from horses and their environments. Isolates that could not be identified with MALDI-TOF MS were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence taxonomic analysis. MALDI-TOF MS could identify 86.2% of the isolates from horses to the species level, showing that this method could be successfully applied for bacterial identification in horses. However, some species known to be equine pathogenic agents including Taylorella equigenitalis and Rhodococcus equi were difficult to identify with MALDI-TOF MS, which might be the result of an inadequate reference database. Some Prevotella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus isolates, which could not be identified with either MALDI-TOF MS or 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis, formed clusters in the 16S rRNA phylogenic tree, and might be unknown species isolated from horses. Adding the spectra of isolates identified in this study to an in-house database might make MALDI-TOF MS a more useful tool for identifying equine isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eri Uchida-Fujii
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
| | - Hidekazu Niwa
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yuta Kinoshita
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Toshio Nukada
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
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14
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Multiorgan Disease and Death Associated With Streptococcus equi spp. zooepidemicus in a 2-Month-Old Foal. J Equine Vet Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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15
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Gergeleit H, Verspohl J, Rohde J, Rohn K, Ohnesorge B, Bienert-Zeit A. A prospective study on the microbiological examination of secretions from the paranasal sinuses in horses in health and disease. Acta Vet Scand 2018; 60:43. [PMID: 29976217 PMCID: PMC6034245 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-018-0394-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnostics in equine sinusitis can be challenging and often require a combination of different imaging tools to ascertain its underlying aetiology. The bacterial flora of healthy and diseased paranasal sinuses, respectively, has only sporadically been assessed in horses. The objectives of this study were to determine whether assessment of microbiological features of secretions from the paranasal sinuses displays a useful diagnostic tool in equine sinusitis to distinguish between different aetiologies. Secretion samples from 50 horses with sinusitis and from 10 healthy horses were taken transendoscopically from the drainage angle of the nasomaxillary aperture using a guidable Swing Tip catheter. Bacteria found in healthy and diseased equine sinuses were compared. Endoscopic samples in all healthy and 19 diseased horses were compared with samples taken directly from the affected sinus after trephination. RESULTS Eleven of the 14 horses with primary sinusitis revealed growth of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus, with three samples yielding pure cultures. Anaerobes were found in 15 out of 26 samples from horses with dental sinusitis. Healthy sinuses revealed mainly α-haemolytic streptococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci or showed no growth. Enterobacteriaceae were found more frequently in secondary sinusitis. There were significant differences in the bacterial composition and diversity (P < 0.05) between primary sinusitis, dental sinusitis and healthy controls. The correlation between endoscopic and trephination samples was satisfying. CONCLUSIONS Microbiological examination of secretions from horses with sinusitis collected transendoscopically can help to distinguish between primary and dental sinusitis. Therefore, it may display a feasible ancillary diagnostic tool, but does not replace a meticulous examination procedure including diagnostic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hauke Gergeleit
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jutta Verspohl
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Judith Rohde
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Karl Rohn
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 2, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ohnesorge
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Astrid Bienert-Zeit
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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16
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Minocycline Resistance in Streptococcus equi Subsp. zooepidemicus Isolated From Thoroughbred Racehorses With Respiratory Disease in Japan. J Equine Vet Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Fu Q, Xiao P, Chen Y, Wei Z, Liu X. CD44 deficiency enhanced Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus dissemination and inflammation response in a mouse model. Res Vet Sci 2017; 115:96-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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18
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Skive B, Rohde M, Molinari G, Braunstein TH, Bojesen AM. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Invades and Survives in Epithelial Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:465. [PMID: 29164073 PMCID: PMC5681531 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is an opportunistic pathogen of several species including humans. S. zooepidemicus is found on mucus membranes of healthy horses, but can cause acute and chronic endometritis. Recently S. zooepidemicus was found able to reside in the endometrium for prolonged periods of time. Thus, we hypothesized that an intracellular phase may be part of the S. zooepidemicus pathogenesis and investigated if S. zooepidemicus was able to invade and survive inside epithelial cells. HEp-2 and HeLa cell lines were co-cultured with two S. zooepidemicus strains (1-4a and S31A1) both originating from the uterus of mares suffering from endometritis. Cells were fixed at different time points during the 23 h infection assay and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to characterize adhesion and invasion mechanisms. The FESEM images showed three morphologically different types of invasion for both bacterial strains. The main port of entry was through large invaginations in the epithelial cell membrane. Pili-like bacterial appendages were observed when the S. zooepidemicus cells were in close proximity to the epithelial cells indicating that attachment and invasion were active processes. Adherent and intracellular S. zooepidemicus, and bacteria in association with lysosomes was determined by immunofluorescence staining techniques and fluorescence microscopy. Quantification of intracellular bacteria was determined in penicillin protection assays. Both S. zooepidemicus strains investigated were able to invade epithelial cells although at different magnitudes. The immunofluorescence data showed significantly higher adhesion and invasion rates for strain 1-4a when compared to strain S31A1. S. zooepidemicus was able to survive intracellularly, but the survival rate decreased over time in the cell culture system. Phagosome-like compartments containing S. zooepidemicus at some stages fused with lysosomes to form a phagolysosome. The results indicate that an intracellular phase may be one way S. zooepidemicus survives in the host, and could in part explain how S. zooepidemicus can cause recurrent/persistent infections. Future studies should reveal the ability of S. zooepidemicus to internalize and survive in primary equine endometrial cells and during in vivo conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolette Skive
- Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gabriella Molinari
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Hartig Braunstein
- Core Facility for Integrated Microscopy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders M Bojesen
- Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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19
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Velineni S, Sheoran AS, Breathnach CC, Rash NL, Paillot R, Timoney JF. Mitogenic Equine Isolates of Streptococcus zooepidemicus From North America Host Superantigen Genes Similar to Those Hosted in Europe. J Equine Vet Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Fu Q, Wei Z, Xiao P, Chen Y, Liu X. CD44 enhances macrophage phagocytosis and plays a protective role in Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infection. Vet Microbiol 2016; 198:121-126. [PMID: 28062002 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is an important pathogen associated with a wide range of diseases in many mammalian species. CD44 is a transmembrane adhesion molecule involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. The aim of this study was to determine the protective role of CD44 during S. zooepidemicus infection. CD44-deficient mice exhibited reduced macrophage accumulation in the bronchoalveolar space and enhanced bacterial outgrowth and dissemination, which resulted in reduced mouse survival. An in vitro analysis revealed that CD44 can directly bind to S. zooepidemicus. Additionally, S. zooepidemicus interacted with macrophage-associated CD44, as reflected by the reduced uptake of S. zooepidemicus by CD44-deficient macrophages. These data suggest that CD44 contributes to effective antibacterial defense during S. zooepidemicus infection, thereby limiting the accompanying injury and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Fu
- School of Life Science, Foshan University, Guangdong 528231, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Zigong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Pingping Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yaosheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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21
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Yarnell K, Le Bon M, Turton N, Savova M, McGlennon A, Forsythe S. Reducing exposure to pathogens in the horse: a preliminary study into the survival of bacteria on a range of equine bedding types. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 122:23-29. [PMID: 27659898 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To compare the rate of growth of four microbial strains that cause disease in the horse, on four commonly used types of bedding. The moisture-holding capacity of each bedding type was also tested. METHODS AND RESULTS Microbial strains included Streptococcus equi, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Dichelobacter nodosus and Dermatophilus congolensis. The bedding types tested were Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine shavings), Pinus nigra (Corsican pine shavings), Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce shavings), Cannabis sativa (hemp) and chopped wheat straw. A suspension of each microbial strain was spread in triplicate on agar media and incubated in its optimal growth conditions. The viable count (colony-forming unit per ml) was determined for each bacterial strain for the five different bedding types. Pinus sylvestris bedding resulted in significantly less (P = 0·001) bacterial growth of all strains tested. CONCLUSIONS Factors resulting in the inhibition of bacterial growth include the antibacterial effects reported in the Pinacea family and the physical properties of the bedding substrate. Research is currently focussed on the diagnosis and management of disease. Prevention of disease is also important for matters of biosecurity. Strategies should include the provision of a hygienic environment and the use of specific types of bedding. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Bedding choice has implications for global equine health and disease prevention as well as potential benefits in other animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Yarnell
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottingham, UK
| | - M Le Bon
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottingham, UK
| | - N Turton
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - M Savova
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - A McGlennon
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottingham, UK
| | - S Forsythe
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
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22
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Javed R, Taku AK, Gangil R, Sharma RK. Molecular characterization of virulence genes of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in equines. Vet World 2016; 9:875-81. [PMID: 27651677 PMCID: PMC5021838 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.875-881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The aim was to determine the occurrence of streptococci in equines in Jammu (R. S. Pura, Katra), characterization of Streptococci equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus with respect to their virulence traits and to determine antibiotic sensitivity pattern of virulent Streptococcus isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 96 samples were collected from both clinically affected animals (exhibiting signs of respiratory tract disease) and apparently healthy animals and were sent to laboratory. The organisms were isolated on Columbia nalidixic acid agar containing 5% sheep blood as well as on sheep blood agar and confirmed by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Molecular detection of Streptococcus was done directly from cultures using sodA and seM gene-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiogram was performed against five antibiotics such as amoxicillin, penicillin G, streptomycin, rifampicin, and methicillin. RESULTS During this study, a total 40 streptococcal isolates were obtained out of which 2 isolates were of S. equi subsp. equi, 12 isolates were from S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus. In the PCR-based detection, we revealed amplicons of 235 bp and 679 bp for confirmation of sodA and seM gene, respectively. In antibiogram, two isolates of S. equi subsp. equi were found resistant to penicillin G, and all other isolates were found sensitive to amoxicillin and streptomycin. CONCLUSION The majority of streptococcal infections was due to S. equi subsp. Zooepidemicus, and thus was recognized as a potential pathogen of diseases of equines besides S. equi subsp. equi.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Javed
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - A K Taku
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Rakhi Gangil
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - R K Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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23
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Activation of persistent Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in mares with subclinical endometritis. Vet Microbiol 2015; 179:119-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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24
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Christoffersen M, Söderlind M, Rudefalk SR, Pedersen HG, Allen J, Krekeler N. Risk factors associated with uterine fluid after breeding caused by Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Theriogenology 2015; 84:1283-90. [PMID: 26300275 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Infectious endometritis is a major cause of infertility in the mare and inflicts major losses on the equine breeding industry. The ability of the mare to eliminate uterine infections has been studied intensively for decades; however, despite identification of several factors contributing to the multifactorial pathogenesis and improved treatment, infectious endometritis remains a significant problem in a subpopulation of broodmares. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is one of the most commonly isolated pathogens from the uterus of mares, suffering from infectious endometritis. Its ability to cause chronic latent infection by residing deep within the endometrial tissue has previously been described. The aim of the present study was to correlate different mare risk factors to infectious endometritis and pregnancy rates in broodmares and to investigate whether clonal or genetically distinct S. zooepidemicus strains isolated from mares with endometritis were associated with mare risk factors and the outcome of insemination. Mares (N = 152) were examined after natural cover, and 20% (31 mares) had intrauterine fluid (IUF) accumulation. Fifty-five percent (16 of 29) of the mares with IUF had infectious endometritis, and S. zooepidemicus was isolated in 81% (13 of 16) of these mares. Significantly more resting mares had IUF compared with foaling mares, and the foaling mares had the highest prevalence of positive bacterial growth from the uterine swab. The per-cycle pregnancy rate for the study was 63%. Pregnancy rate was significantly negatively affected by increased age (>12 years) and increased parity (>4), and the lowest pregnancy rate was observed in resting mares compared with foaling, barren, and maiden mares. Up to four S. zooepidemicus isolates were selected from each mare with growth of S. zooepidemicus from the uterine swab sample and further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. In total, S. zooepidemicus isolates from 18 mares were analyzed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. In 13 mares, the isolates selected from each mare showed a high genetic relatedness within each individual mare, whereas two genetically distinct strains were isolated in five mares. A clonal S. zooepidemicus infection was associated with increased age, high parity, and poor vulvar conformation. Mares with clonal infection had a low pregnancy rate (38%) compared with mares with two strains isolated (80%). In conclusion, the results indicate that clonal S. zooepidemicus endometritis is associated with increased age, parity, and poor vulvar conformation in the broodmare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Christoffersen
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, Section of Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Maja Söderlind
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, Section of Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Sofia Rydemann Rudefalk
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, Section of Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Hanne Gervi Pedersen
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, Section of Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Joanne Allen
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Natali Krekeler
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
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25
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Kudirkiene E, Welker M, Knudsen NR, Bojesen AM. Rapid and accurate identification of Streptococcus equi subspecies by MALDI-TOF MS. Syst Appl Microbiol 2015; 38:315-22. [PMID: 25944783 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus equi includes very important animal and human pathogens. S. equi subsp. equi (SEE) is a highly pathogenic equine specific subspecies, while S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) and S. equi subsp. ruminatorum are opportunistic pathogens of various animal species and humans. Due to great phenotypic and sequence similarity between three subspecies their discrimination remains difficult. In this study, we aimed to design and validate a novel, Superspectra based, MALDI-TOF MS approach for reliable, rapid and cost-effective identification of SEE and SEZ, the most frequent S. equi subspecies in horses. Superspectra created in this study enabled correct identification of 86 strains belonging to different subspecies of S. equi, isolated from various hosts, infection sites and years. In general, higher average identification accuracy was achieved for SEE (99.0±3.0%) than for SEZ (93.3±7.5%). This result may be attributed to the highly clonal population structure of SEE, as opposed to the diversity of SEZ seen in horses. Importantly strains with atypical colony appearance both within SEE and SEZ did not affect correct identification of the strains by MALDI-TOF MS. Atypical colony variants are often associated with a higher persistence or virulence of S. equi, thus their correct identification using the current method strengthens its potential use in routine clinical diagnostics. In conclusion, reliable identification of S. equi subspecies was achieved by combining a MALDI-TOF MS method with spectra analyses using the SARAMIS database. Additionally, first results on subtyping of SEZ indicated that a more refined discrimination, for example for epidemiological surveys, may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egle Kudirkiene
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Martin Welker
- BioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes 38390, France
| | - Nanna R Knudsen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anders M Bojesen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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Occurrence of bacteria and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in fetal compartments at parturition; relationships with foal and mare health in the peripartum period. Theriogenology 2015; 84:163-9. [PMID: 25850610 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship of the health of the newborn foal and (1) number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) in the amniotic fluid, (2) bacteria present in the amniotic fluid and the venous umbilical blood, and (3) bacteria present in the uterus of the newly foaled mare. A further aim was to investigate relationships between the bacteriologic findings in the amniotic fluid, umbilical blood, and uterus postpartum. Samples were taken from 50 Standardbred trotter foaling mares from a well-managed stud in Sweden. Parturition was spontaneous in all cases. Length of pregnancy, parturition and postpartum complications, health status of the foal, the time between foaling and the expulsion of the placenta, and the number of postfoaling mares becoming pregnant after insemination were recorded. Amniotic fluid was collected when the amniotic vesicle was clearly visible; it was analyzed for bacteriology and occurrence of PMNLs. Umbilical blood was analyzed for the presence of bacteria and the concentration of serum amyloid A. The uterus of the mare was swabbed for bacteriology 6 to 17 hours postpartum. A blood sample was taken from the foal before administering plasma. The foals were divided into two groups: group 1 required up to 2 hours to rise after birth (≤2 hours; 31 foals) and group 2 required more than two hours (>2 hours; 19 foals). The length of gestation varied between 332 and 356 days; there was no significant difference in gestation length between the two foal groups. Partus and postpartum complications occurred in a significantly higher proportion of mares giving birth to group 2 foals than group 1 foals (P = 0.02), although uterine culture postpartum and the subsequent pregnancy rate per season were not different between the groups. Compromised health status was significantly higher among foals belonging to group 2 than group 1 (P = 0.001). Most of the amniotic samples contained 5% or less PMNLs. Only three samples contained more than 30% PMNLs; group 2 foals had the highest percentage of PMNLs. Bacterial growth was found in both amniotic fluid (57%) and umbilical blood (35%) in mares irrespective of whether their foals were healthy or compromised. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent bacteria. There were no differences in bacterial occurrence in amniotic fluid or in umbilical blood between the two foal groups.
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Steward KF, Harrison T, Robinson C, Slater J, Maskell DJ, Harris SR, Holden MTG, Waller AS. PinR mediates the generation of reversible population diversity in Streptococcus zooepidemicus. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 161:1105-1112. [PMID: 25701732 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Opportunistic pathogens must adapt to and survive in a wide range of complex ecosystems. Streptococcus zooepidemicus is an opportunistic pathogen of horses and many other animals, including humans. The assembly of different surface architecture phenotypes from one genotype is likely to be crucial to the successful exploitation of such an opportunistic lifestyle. Construction of a series of mutants revealed that a serine recombinase, PinR, inverts 114 bp of the promoter of SZO_08560, which is bordered by GTAGACTTTA and TAAAGTCTAC inverted repeats. Inversion acts as a switch, controlling the transcription of this sortase-processed protein, which may enhance the attachment of S. zooepidemicus to equine trachea. The genome of a recently sequenced strain of S. zooepidemicus, 2329 (Sz2329), was found to contain a disruptive internal inversion of 7 kb of the FimIV pilus locus, which is bordered by TAGAAA and TTTCTA inverted repeats. This strain lacks pinR and this inversion may have become irreversible following the loss of this recombinase. Active inversion of FimIV was detected in three strains of S. zooepidemicus, 1770 (Sz1770), B260863 (SzB260863) and H050840501 (SzH050840501), all of which encoded pinR. A deletion mutant of Sz1770 that lacked pinR was no longer capable of inverting its internal region of FimIV. The data highlight redundancy in the PinR sequence recognition motif around a short TAGA consensus and suggest that PinR can reversibly influence the wider surface architecture of S. zooepidemicus, providing this organism with a bet-hedging solution to survival in fluctuating environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carl Robinson
- Animal Health Trust, Kentford, Newmarket CB8 7UU, UK
| | - Josh Slater
- Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Duncan J Maskell
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES, UK
| | - Simon R Harris
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Matthew T G Holden
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
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28
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Rash NL, Robinson C, DeSouza N, Nair S, Hodgson H, Steward K, Waller AS, Paillot R. Prevalence and disease associations of superantigens szeF, szeN and szeP in the S. zooepidemicus population and possible functional redundancy of szeF. Res Vet Sci 2014; 97:481-7. [PMID: 25267286 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) causes a variety of infections in a broad range of species. This study broadens prevalence data for three recently identified novel superantigens (szeF, szeN, and szeP) to define links between their presence and disease type. Screening of 437 strains across 190 sequence types (STs) revealed that 50% of strains contained superantigen genes. Results confirmed that the presence of S. zooepidemicus superantigen genes is significantly associated with non-Strangles lymph node abscessation in the horse (p-value = 0.003) and their absence is associated with uterine infection/abortion (p-value = 0.006). This study also investigated the lack of mitogenicity observed in szeF only. Results show that szeF is polymorphic, with 23 different alleles, and mutations altering the protein sequence. Gene expression differences are not responsible for lack of mitogenic activity in these strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that superantigens are important for S. zooepidemicus pathogenesis but SzeF probably has little involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L Rash
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - C Robinson
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - N DeSouza
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - S Nair
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - H Hodgson
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - K Steward
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - A S Waller
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - R Paillot
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
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Draft Genome Sequence of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strain S31A1, Isolated from Equine Infectious Endometritis. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2013; 1:1/5/e00683-13. [PMID: 24009118 PMCID: PMC3764413 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00683-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We present the draft genome sequence of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus S31A1, a strain isolated from equine infectious endometritis in Denmark. Comparative analyses of this genome were done with four published reference genomes: S. zooepidemicus strains MGCS10565, ATCC 35246, and H70 and S. equi subsp. equi strain 4047.
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