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Topic:Streptococcus
Streptococcus spp. are a genus of bacteria that can affect horses, leading to various infections and health conditions. These bacteria are known for causing respiratory and systemic diseases, including strangles, which is primarily caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. Streptococcal infections in horses can result in symptoms such as fever, nasal discharge, and lymph node abscessation. The transmission typically occurs through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. Diagnosis often involves bacterial culture or PCR testing. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of Streptococcus infections in equine populations.
Streptococci and Pasteurella spp. associated with disease of the equine lower respiratory tract. The likelihood of finding evidence of inflammation in 551 tracheal washes collected endoscopically from 278 Thoroughbred racehorses increased with the number of bacterial colony forming units (cfu) per ml of wash (P < 0.001). The aerobic bacteria Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Pasteurella/Actinobacillus-like species and Streptococcus pneumoniae were significantly associated with lower airway inflammation whereas coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., alpha-haemolytic Streptococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, non-haemolytic Streptococcus ...
An occurrence of equine transport pneumonia caused by mixed infection with Pasteurella caballi, Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. An acute death occurred in a racehorse with pneumonia after long-distance transportation in December, 1990. Pasteurella caballi, Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were isolated from the lung at high rate. Specific antigens of these bacteria were also demonstrated immunohistologically in the pneumonic lesion. These findings indicated that the disease is equine transport pneumonia caused by a mixed infection of the three bacterial species. This is the first report on the isolation of P. caballi and S. suis from a racehorse in Japan.
An outbreak of strangles in young ponies. A natural outbreak of strangles occurred in a group of 19 young experimental ponies. The disease was diagnosed in 11 of them within two days of their arrival at Glasgow University veterinary school and five others developed clinical signs within a further four days, a morbidity rate of 84 per cent. All of the affected ponies had typical signs of strangles including dullness, anorexia, pyrexia, regional lymphadenitis, occasionally with rupture of the lymph node, conjunctivitis and a mucopurulent nasal discharge. Nine of the affected ponies were destroyed during the clinical phase of the disease...
Correlations between histologic endometrial lesions in mares and clinical response to intrauterine exposure with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The relationship between histologic lesions in endometrial biopsy specimens and susceptibility to chronic uterine infection (CUI) in mares was investigated. Mares were allotted to 4 groups on the basis of degree of endometrial lesions. Mares in group 1 (n = 6) had no pathologic changes, mares in group 2 (n = 5) had only mild pathologic changes, group-3 mares (n = 7) had moderate changes, and group-4 mares (n = 7) had severe inflammatory and fibrotic endometrial changes. Susceptibility to CUI was determined by the inflammatory response to intrauterine inoculation of 5 x 10(6) Streptococcus zooe...
Eosinophilic synovitis following the intra-articular injection of bacterial antigen in horses. Purified streptococcal M protein was injected into one intercarpal joint in three horses hyperimmunised with Streptococcus equi M protein vaccine. The contralateral joints were injected with pH adjusted polyionic solution. All antigen-injected joints developed a severe suppurative synovitis (mean synovial fluid nucleated cell count = 102,200 x 10(6) cells litre-1). Eosinophils were found in the synovial fluid and in synovial membrane biopsy specimens of two of the horses. Immune complexes were not demonstrated in the synovial membrane. Two horses are described that developed synovial fluid eos...
Evaluation of progesterone treatment to create a model for equine endometritis. To investigate a model for equine endometritis, 12 mares with normal reproductive tracts were divided into 2 groups. All mares received progesterone in oil, 250 mg im, daily. At 5 days after initiation of progesterone administration, the uteri were inoculated with 10(6) colony forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The day of inoculation was designated Day 0. On Day 6, endometrial swab samples yielded P. aeruginosa in 5 mares; samples from the other 7 mares yielded heavy growth of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter diversus, S...
The effect of transcervical uterine manipulations on establishment of uterine infection in mares under the influence of progesterone. Four pony mares were used in a cross-over study to investigate the effect of different treatments on experimentally-induced endometritis. The mares were treated with progesterone to facilitate establishment of uterine infections. They received an intrauterine infusion of Streptococcus zooepidemicus 5 days after the start of progesterone therapy. Five days later, they were treated by intrauterine infusions of 2 g ampicillin in 50 ml sterile water or by sterile water without antibiotic for 3 consecutive days. Prior to infusion of Strep. zooepidemicus, no bacteria were cultured from the uteri of ...
Measurement of total volume and protein concentration of intrauterine secretion after intrauterine inoculation of bacteria in mares that were either resistant or susceptible to chronic uterine infection. Undiluted uterine secretion was used to determine the concentration of total protein and the accumulated volume of uterine secretion after a bacterial inoculation in mares susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infection (CUI). The uterus of 6 susceptible and 5 resistant mares was inoculated with 5 x 10(6) Streptococcus zooepidemicus on the third day of estrus. Using a tampon inserted in the uterus, secretions were sampled at 5, 12, 24, and 36 hours after inoculation, followed by intrauterine lavage with phosphate buffered saline solution. The concentration of protein was determined in t...
Identification of eNAP-1, an antimicrobial peptide from equine neutrophils. Endogenous, cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides known as defensins are prominent components of human, rabbit, and rat neutrophils, yet little is known about their occurrence in other mammalian species. Although we did not detect mature (i.e., processed) defensins in equine neutrophil granules, we found that these granules contained small amounts of other cysteine-rich peptides with antimicrobial activity. One of these, eNAP-1, was purified by a combination of gel permeation and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography from acid extracts prepared from the cytoplasmic granules of e...
Tracheal obstruction from tracheal collapse associated with pneumonia in a horse. A 20-month-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for evaluation of labored breathing, honking cough, and bilateral epistaxis that were caused by pneumonia and collapsed trachea. A transtracheal aspiration revealed highly cellular, serosanguineous fluid. Radiography revealed a patchy alveolar pattern and a narrowed tracheal lumen. Endoscopy confirmed narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated on culture of the transtracheal aspirate. The horse responded to penicillin treatment, and the tracheal collapse improved endoscopically after 4 days, with complete recover...
Equine glomerulonephritis and renal failure associated with complexes of group-C streptococcal antigen and IgG antibody. A 12-year-old thoroughbred gelding died from diffuse global glomerulonephritis, 3 months after a lower respiratory infection from which Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated. Immunopathological studies (immunofluorescence, immunodiffusion, immunoperoxidase testing and immunoblotting) indicated the presence of an immune reactant renal disease associated with IgG antibody and streptococcal antigens.
Influence of age on neutrophil function in foals. Functional activities (phagocytosis and killing) of neutrophil leucocytes (NL) and immunoglobulin G concentrations were evaluated in six healthy foals from birth to 6 months of age. Peripheral blood NL were reacted with Streptococcus equisimilis in 20 per cent pooled equine serum for 30, 60 and 90 mins and functional activities of NL were determined using a fluorochrome microassay. Values for foal NL function were compared with those of healthy adult horses (n = 28). Foal neutrophil function was influenced by age. Killing capacity of NL decreased, whereas phagocytic capacity increased, until 1...
Evaluation of a guarded bronchoscopic method for microbial sampling of the lower airways in foals. A novel method to reduce contamination of the bronchoscope during microbial sampling of the lower airways of foals was evaluated. Methylene blue (MB) was used as a nasopharyngeal dye marker to assess the relative contamination from the upper airways of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens obtained by standard bronchoscopy (SB) and a "guarded" bronchoscopic method (GB). For GB, a clear sterile cellulose sheath was fitted over the bronchoscope in an effort to protect the endoscope tip and channel from contamination. Methylene blue was detected visually in seven of eight BAL samples from foals ...
Unusual patterns of serum antibodies to Streptococcus equi in two horses with purpura hemorrhagica. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for use in horses to determine serum titers of antibodies of the immunoglobulin classes IgA, IgG, and IgM to Streptococcus equi M-like protein and culture supernatant protein antigens. Serum antibodies were determined in 28 adult horses, including 9 horses with recent S. equi infections, 17 horses without known exposure to S. equi, but without a history of respiratory disease in the preceding 4 months, and 2 horses with clinical purpura hemorrhagica. Serum IgA titers to culture supernatant protein antigen were highest in recently infec...
Streptokinases produced by pathogenic group C streptococci demonstrate species-specific plasminogen activation. The species specificities of plasminogen activation and binding of plasmin by pathogenic group C streptococci isolated from humans, horses, and pigs were examined. Of 56 streptococcal isolates, 52 elaborated plasminogen activator activity and 49 of these had specificity for plasminogen of the homologous host. Analysis of supernatants from 13 isolates indicated that the plasminogen activator activity resulted from secreted streptokinases. These 13 streptokinases were antigenically related and bound all three plasminogens, indicating that the binding recognition sites were conserved despite the ...
Protection against Streptococcus equi infection by monoclonal antibodies against an M-like protein. We have developed an in vivo passive transfer assay using mice to identify monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which offer protection against Streptococcus equi infection. The assay was developed using serum antibodies collected from horses convalescing from strangles. In this study, we show that a preparation of M-like protein, acid-extracted from S. equi, affords 80% protection to mice immunized with it. A number of mouse mAbs directed against a preparation of M-like protein were then assessed for their ability to passively protect mice against challenge with a lethal dose of the bacteria. Two mAbs...
Two-dimensional echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis in a horse with traumatic pericarditis. Two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) examination was performed on a horse with clinical signs of pericardial effusion. Thickening of the pericardium, excess amount of pericardial fluid, elevation of the cardiac apex, and right ventricular compression, characteristic of cardiac tamponade, could be seen on 2DE recordings. Fibrinous pericarditis was suspected by observation of fibrinous strands in the pericardial fluid and epicardial fibrin deposits. Echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis was performed, and 4 L of fluid was removed from the pericardial sac. Streptococcus zooepidemicus...
Aerobic bacterial isolates in horses in a university hospital, 1986-1988. Bacterial isolations were reviewed from equine trachea, guttural pouch, uterus, wounds, abscesses, blood, synovial fluid, and abdominal fluid submitted to the Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal for aerobic bacterial culture from 1986 to 1988. Of the 733 samples submitted, 324 (44%) were positive for bacterial growth, and 233 antimicrobial sensitivity tests were performed. Seventy-six percent of all positive samples yielded one bacterial species and two were isolated from 22% of positive samples. Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Esche...
Field evaluation of a commercial M-protein vaccine against Streptococcus equi infection in foals. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was undertaken to determine the value of parenterally administered Streptococcus equi M-protein vaccine in foals during an epizootic of strangles. Weaned mixed-breed foals (n = 664) housed on 2 adjacent feed-lots (A and B) arrived over a 5-day period, 2 weeks before primary vaccination. Foals in lot B (n = 114) were randomly administered vaccine (n = 59) or saline solution (placebo; n = 55) on 3 occasions at biweekly intervals. Foals in lot A (n = 450) were given 1 dose of vaccine (n = 225) or placebo. The following clinical observations were scored bli...
Uterine clearance of non-antigenic markers (51Cr) in response to a bacterial challenge in mares potentially susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical ability of the mare's uterus to eliminate non-antigenic 51Cr microspheres during an infectious challenge. Mares both potentially susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infections were used in this study. The procedure described serves as a model of the uterine capacity to clear physically infectious agents and inflammatory products during the acute phase of an infection. Based on the results from intra-uterine bacterial challenges, reproductive history, examination per rectum and endometrial biopsies, mares were classified as pote...
Identification and opsonic activity of immunoglobulins recognizing Streptococcus zooepidemicus antigens in uterine fluids of mares. A direct ELISA was used to measure immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes G, Gt, A, and M recognizing Streptococcus zooepidemicus epitopes in uterine lavage fluids collected during the early post ovulatory period. A S. zooepidemicus isolate, used as the plate antigen in this assay, was inoculated into the uteri of 8 mares (3 resistant and 5 susceptible to endometritis) at oestrus prior to ovulation during Oestrous Cycles 1, 3 and 5. Resistant mares aged 2-5 years were nulliparous, with clinically normal reproductive tracts as determined by physical examination, bacteriological culture of the uterus, and...
Inflammatory components in uterine fluid from mares with experimentally induced bacterial endometritis. Exudate and uterine flushings were collected at either 30, 60, 120 or 240 mins after intrauterine infusions of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in genitally normal mares during oestrus. Uteri were also flushed without prior induction of endometritis. Protein concentrations in exudate and flushings increased with time and exudate pH decreased with time; the pH of flushings did not alter. Lysozyme and lactate dehydrogenase were present in flushings from non-infected uteri, but concentrations increased with time after infection. Immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 was undetectable before infection, but co...
Studies of antigenic components in acid extracts of group C streptococci with special reference to Streptococcus equi. For the determination of a species-specific antigen of Streptococcus (S.) equi, acid extracts of group C streptococcal strains from horses (S. equi, S. zooepidemicus, S. equisimilis) were investigated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the immunoblotting technique. Using sera of horses suffering from strangles as well as sera from horses with respiratory infection of unknown etiology, Western blotting yielded more or less multiple banding reactions with bands in the 70, 54, 42, 40, and 31-28 kd molecular weight ranges against extracts of all of the 3 different bacterial species. Howe...
Nutritionally variant streptococci associated with corneal ulcers in horses: 35 cases (1982-1988). Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are nutritionally deficient viridans streptococci that require pyridoxal for growth. Although NVS are pathogenic in human beings, they have not been considered to be pathogenic in domestic animals. In 1982 and 1983, 24 isolates of NVS were recovered from horses with ulcerative keratitis. A retrospective study was done to determine the incidence of NVS in horses with corneal disease. The medical records of 249 horses (259 eyes) examined for clinical signs of corneal disease were reviewed. Nutritionally variant streptococci were isolated from approximatel...
[Detection of streptococci from various serological groups in animals]. During the period from 1985 to 1988 we determined 228 strains of streptococci isolated from samples of various sorts of biomaterials, mainly animals. From this set of streptococci we classified 207 strains into serological groups according to the Lancefield classification and about 30% strains into species by means of serological and biochemical methods. Most of the strains were allocated to group C (37.28%) and group Q (17.39%). 89 streptococci strains originated from pigs, 40 strains from horses, 13 from cattle, 12 from dogs, 9 from poultry and 8 from coypu. The other streptococci strains or...
Influence of technical parameters on the in vitro motility of equine neutrophils in the presence of streptococcal culture supernatant. To identify the influence of technical factors on the in vitro motility of equine neutrophils towards streptococcus culture supernatant in an under-agarose assay, we studied the changes in eight cell migration parameters. The distances the phagocytes travelled by directed, random and spontaneous migration increased with incubation time, cell concentration and the gelatin and serum contents of the migration plates. The contribution of chemotaxis to the phagocyte migrations, however, decreased simultaneously. The directed and random, though not the spontaneous, migrations of the phagocytes incre...
Equine mastitis–a review of 28 cases. Mastitis was diagnosed in 28 mares. Cytological evaluation of milk samples showed large numbers of neutrophils in 72 per cent and bacteria in 33 per cent. Aerobic bacteria were cultured from 71 per cent of samples. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was the most common isolate (37 per cent). Gram-negative species accounted for 42 per cent. Determination of the probability for antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from mares with mastitis indicated that a trimethoprim-sulphonamide combination would be active against more than 75 per cent of isolates while penicillin would be active agains...
