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Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2021; 33(5); 979-983; doi: 10.1177/10406387211027306

A novel Streptococcus species causing clinical mastitis in a pregnant donkey.

Abstract: An 8-y-old jenny was presented because of anorexia and mild depression. The jenny had weaned her colt 10 d before the admission. Upon arrival at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the heart rate was elevated, and the right udder was painful and swollen on palpation. Milk stripping of the affected side revealed purulent content; the contralateral udder had normal-appearing milk. Cytology of mammary gland secretions from the affected side revealed a large number of hypersegmented reactive neutrophils with phagocytized bacteria. Complete blood count, serum chemistry, and fibrinogen were within normal limits. A diagnosis of clinical mastitis was made, and the jenny was started on a 5-d course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, hydrotherapy, and milk stripping. Clinical signs reduced over time, and the cure was attained by 96 h post-admission. Aerobic culture and subsequent MALDI-TOF MS analysis identified a bacterium of the Streptococcus genus but not the species. Whole-genome analysis was performed, and 16S rDNA sequencing and analysis determined that our isolate 20-37394 clustered with 2 other Streptococcus strains (27284-01 and 28462). Single-nucleotide variations and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that Streptococcus 20-37394 had 96.8% and 94.9% identities to Streptococcus strains 27284-01 and 28462, respectively; therefore, the bacteria isolated in our case was deemed as a new Streptococcus species.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-10 PubMed ID: 34247559PubMed Central: PMC8366245DOI: 10.1177/10406387211027306Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study presents a case of mastitis in a donkey caused by a previously unidentified species of the Streptococcus bacterium.

Summary of the Research

A pregnant donkey of 8 years age was taken to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital due to symptoms of anorexia and slight depression. On examination, the donkey was found to have an abnormally high heart rate and a painful, swollen udder. The donkey had given birth 10 days prior to these symptoms appearing.

  • The secretion obtained from the affected udder contained a large population of hypersegmented reactive neutrophils and bacteria, confirming an infection. However, the bloodwork came back normal.
  • Based on these symptoms and results, a diagnosis of clinical mastitis was made. Treatment comprising broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, along with hydrotherapy and milk stripping, was started.
  • The donkey’s condition improved significantly and by the fourth day, she had completely recovered.

Bacterial Culture and Genome Analysis

The efforts to identify the bacterium causing the mastitis came to the conclusion that it was a member of the Streptococcus genus.

  • Aerobic culture was performed on the bacterium followed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis, which identified the bacterium within the Streptococcus genus but could not determine the species.
  • To gain further insights into the bacteria’s specific identity, whole genome analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing were performed. This process led to comparisons with other Streptococcus strains.
  • The bacterial strain obtained from the donkey, named 20-37394, showed similarities with two other strains (27284-01 and 28462), but single-nucleotide variations and phylogenetic tree analysis disclosed only 96.8% and 94.9% identity respectively.
  • This genetic divergence suggested that the bacterium discovered in this donkey was a new species within the Streptococcus genus.

This study thus reveals the potential for previously undiscovered bacteria to be responsible for clinical mastitis in livestock, expanding our understanding of this disease and raising considerations for future treatment strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Podico G, Gray SM, Wang L, Canisso IF. (2021). A novel Streptococcus species causing clinical mastitis in a pregnant donkey. J Vet Diagn Invest, 33(5), 979-983. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211027306

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
Pages: 979-983

Researcher Affiliations

Podico, Giorgia
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine (Podico, Gray, Canisso), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Gray, Sarah M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine (Podico, Gray, Canisso), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Wang, Leyi
  • Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Wang), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Canisso, Igor F
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine (Podico, Gray, Canisso), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Equidae
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Hospitals, Animal
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Male
  • Mammary Glands, Animal
  • Mastitis / veterinary
  • Milk
  • Phylogeny
  • Pregnancy
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification

Grant Funding

  • U18 FD006673 / FDA HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Albert E, Biksi I, Laczkó L, Miló L, Cseri K, Bőkényné Tóth R, Papp D, Halmay D, Bódai E, Bakos Z. Streptococcus hillyeri isolated from septic pleuritis in a horse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Mar;37(2):393-397.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387241306724pubmed: 39773117google scholar: lookup
  2. De Santis M, Seganfreddo S, Greco A, Normando S, Benedetti D, Mutinelli F, Contalbrigo L. Donkey Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability: A Scoping Review. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 25;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030408pubmed: 36766295google scholar: lookup
  3. Šarić L, Premović T, Šarić B, Čabarkapa I, Todorić O, Miljanić J, Lazarević J, Karabasil N. Microbiological Quality of Raw Donkey Milk from Serbia and Its Antibacterial Properties at Pre-Cooling Temperature. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 17;13(3).
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  4. Thompson JE. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry in veterinary medicine: Recent advances (2019-present). Vet World 2022 Nov;15(11):2623-2657.
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