FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2012; 24(1); 142-147; doi: 10.1177/1040638711434138

Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. from horses: a retrospective study (2000-2010).

Abstract: The goal of this retrospective study was to have a comprehensive picture of the β-hemolytic streptococci of horses including tissue/organ distributions and susceptibility patterns against specific antimicrobials between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010. A total of 2,497 β-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 2,391 cases, of which Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus was the most frequent isolate (72.0%). Other species isolated were Streptococcus dysgalactia subsp. equisimilis (21.3%), Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (5.8%), and unidentified β-hemolytic streptococci (0.9%). As expected, S. equi was mostly isolated from lymph node abscesses and the respiratory tract in foals and adult horses. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and S. equisimilis were mostly isolated from placenta, fetal tissues, and genital tract of horses; S. zooepidemicus and S. equisimilis were also recovered in significant numbers from a number of other organs including lung, liver, brain, kidney, and joints, indicating a much broader tissue tropism than S. equi. In addition, more than 1 Streptococcus spp. was recovered in 106 cases, indicating the co-existence of these bacteria in some horses. This data also suggested that S. equisimilis is a major bacterial agent of horses, contrary to present knowledge. Based on Kirby-Bauer antimicrobial susceptibility data, streptococci were found to be generally susceptible to cephalothin, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, penicillin, and ticarcillin and clavulanate. Resistance to antimicrobials has not developed over the years, except for gentamicin and tetracycline against S. equisimilis.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2012-03-01 PubMed ID: 22362945DOI: 10.1177/1040638711434138Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

The retrospective study focused on understanding the distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of β-hemolytic streptococci in horses between the years 2000 and 2010. The study collected data from 2,391 cases and identified four main streptococci species.

Streptococcus Species Identification

  • The study included a total of 2,497 β-hemolytic streptococci isolated from horses. The species were categorized into four types: Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, S. dysgalactia subsp. equisimilis, S. equi subsp. equi and unidentified β-hemolytic streptococci.
  • The majority of the isolations (72.0%) were identified as S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, which was the most frequently found strain in the study.
  • Other species were isolated at lesser frequencies with S. dysgalactia subsp. equisimilis at 21.3%, S. equi subsp. equi at 5.8% and unidentified β-hemolytic streptococci made up the smallest proportion at 0.9%.

Distribution of Streptococcus Species in Horses

  • The study looked at the distribution of the streptococci species in different organs and tissues of the horses. S. equi was primarily isolated from lymph node abscesses and the respiratory tract in both younger and adult horses.
  • S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus and S. equisimilis were mostly found in the placenta, fetal tissues, and the genital tract of horses. They were also commonly discovered in other organs including the lung, liver, brain, kidney, and joints.
  • The research found that more than one streptococcus species was present in 106 of the cases, suggesting that different species of these bacteria can co-exist in the same horse.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Streptococcus Species

  • Streptococci in horses were generally susceptible to specific antimicrobials such as cephalothin, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, penicillin, and ticarcillin and clavulanate, based on Kirby-Bauer antimicrobial susceptibility data.
  • There has been no development of resistance to these antimicrobials over the ten-year study period, except for gentamicin and tetracycline specifically against the S. equisimilis species.

Cite This Article

APA
Erol E, Locke SJ, Donahoe JK, Mackin MA, Carter CN. (2012). Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. from horses: a retrospective study (2000-2010). J Vet Diagn Invest, 24(1), 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638711434138

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: 24
Issue: 1
Pages: 142-147

Researcher Affiliations

Erol, Erdal
  • University of Kentucky, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, PO Box 14125, Lexington, KY 40512-4125, USA. erdal.erol@uky.edu
Locke, Stephan J
    Donahoe, Judy K
      Mackin, Mary A
        Carter, Craig N

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
          • Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horses / microbiology
          • Retrospective Studies
          • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
          • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
          • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
          • Streptococcus / drug effects
          • Streptococcus / isolation & purification
          • Streptococcus equi / drug effects
          • Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification

          Citations

          This article has been cited 28 times.
          1. Rotinsulu DA, Ewers C, Kerner K, Amrozi A, Soejoedono RD, Semmler T, Bauerfeind R. Molecular Features and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi Isolates from Strangles Cases in Indonesia. Vet Sci 2023 Jan 10;10(1).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci10010049pubmed: 36669050google scholar: lookup
          2. Lord J, Carter C, Smith J, Locke S, Phillips E, Odoi A. Antimicrobial resistance among Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus and Rhodococcus equi isolated from equine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Kentucky, USA. PeerJ 2022;10:e13682.
            doi: 10.7717/peerj.13682pubmed: 36164606google scholar: lookup
          3. Nielsen SS, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortazar Schmidt C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MA, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Sihvonen LH, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Dewulf J, Guardabassi L, Hilbert F, Mader R, Baldinelli F, Alvarez J. Assessment of animal diseases caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials: Horses. EFSA J 2021 Dec;19(12):e07112.
            doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.7112pubmed: 34987627google scholar: lookup
          4. Arafa AA, Hedia RH, Ata NS, Ibrahim ES. Vancomycin resistant Streptococcus equi subsp. equi isolated from equines suffering from respiratory manifestation in Egypt. Vet World 2021 Jul;14(7):1808-1814.
            doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.1808-1814pubmed: 34475702google scholar: lookup
          5. Pye J, Galuppo L, Whitcomb MB, Clothier K, Byrne B. Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus from an abdominal abscess in an adult mare. Can Vet J 2020 Dec;61(12):1307-1311.
            pubmed: 33299249
          6. Yuen KY, Gibson JS, Hinrichsen S, Medina-Torres CE, Bertin FR, Stewart AJ. Cumulative antibiogram and multidrug-resistant organisms in a regional equine referral hospital. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jan;33(1):149-155.
            doi: 10.1177/1040638720977478pubmed: 33252023google scholar: lookup
          7. Sitthicharoenchai P, Derscheid R, Schwartz K, Macedo N, Sahin O, Chen X, Li G, Main R, Burrough E. Cases of high mortality in cull sows and feeder pigs associated with Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus septicemia. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 Jul;32(4):565-571.
            doi: 10.1177/1040638720927669pubmed: 32532177google scholar: lookup
          8. Awosile BB, Heider LC, Saab ME, McClure JT. Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from horses from the Atlantic Provinces, Canada (1994 to 2013). Can Vet J 2018 Sep;59(9):951-957.
            pubmed: 30197437
          9. 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 Jul 5;60(1):43.
            doi: 10.1186/s13028-018-0394-4pubmed: 29976217google scholar: lookup
          10. Boyle AG, Timoney JF, Newton JR, Hines MT, Waller AS, Buchanan BR. Streptococcus equi Infections in Horses: Guidelines for Treatment, Control, and Prevention of Strangles-Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):633-647.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.15043pubmed: 29424487google scholar: lookup
          11. Junkkari R, Simojoki H, Heiskanen ML, Pelkonen S, Sankari S, Tulamo RM, Mykkänen A. A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the respiratory health of weaned-foals in cold winter conditions: an observational field-study. Acta Vet Scand 2017 Oct 26;59(1):73.
            doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0339-3pubmed: 29073941google scholar: lookup
          12. Sadaka C, Kanellos T, Guardabassi L, Boucher J, Watts JL. Evaluation of Veterinary-Specific Interpretive Criteria for Susceptibility Testing of Streptococcus equi Subspecies with Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim-Sulfadiazine. J Clin Microbiol 2017 Jan;55(1):326-330.
            doi: 10.1128/JCM.01610-16pubmed: 27847375google scholar: lookup
          13. Pinho MD, Erol E, Ribeiro-Gonçalves B, Mendes CI, Carriço JA, Matos SC, Preziuso S, Luebke-Becker A, Wieler LH, Melo-Cristino J, Ramirez M. Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae strains isolated from horses are a genetically distinct population within the Streptococcus dysgalactiae taxon. Sci Rep 2016 Aug 17;6:31736.
            doi: 10.1038/srep31736pubmed: 27530432google scholar: lookup
          14. Malo A, Cluzel C, Labrecque O, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP, Leclere M. Evolution of in vitro antimicrobial resistance in an equine hospital over 3 decades. Can Vet J 2016 Jul;57(7):747-51.
            pubmed: 27429463
          15. Toombs-Ruane LJ, Riley CB, Kendall AT, Bolwell CF, Benschop J, Rosanowski SM. Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1700-6.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.13600pubmed: 26289293google scholar: lookup
          16. Gilday R, Lewis D, Lohmann KL. Mastitis in a neonatal filly. Can Vet J 2015 Jan;56(1):63-5.
            pubmed: 25565717
          17. Daubié AS, Defrance C, Renvoisé A, Barreda E, D'Alessandro C, Brossier F, Jarlier V, Aubry A. Illustration of the difficulty of identifying Streptococcus equi strains at the subspecies level through a case of endocarditis in an immunocompetent man. J Clin Microbiol 2014 Feb;52(2):688-91.
            doi: 10.1128/JCM.01447-13pubmed: 24478515google scholar: lookup
          18. Pınar O, Çelik Doğan C, Aktaran Bala D, Kumaş C, Mete A. Analysis of the presence of Beta-hemolytic streptococci and cytological profiles in horse tracheal lavage samples with diverse clinical respiratory symptoms. BMC Vet Res 2025 Oct 2;21(1):558.
            doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-05011-4pubmed: 41039541google scholar: lookup
          19. Symoens A, Gauthier ML, Paillette L, Allano M, Lavoie JP, Leclère M. Evolution of in vitro antimicrobial resistance at an equine hospital over 4 decades. Can Vet J 2025 Aug;66(8):903-910.
            pubmed: 40786736
          20. Hartmann G, Lopes CE, de Dos Reis Paula A, Paz MC, Tres GZ, Silva VGC, de Moraes JTR, Araújo MD, Machado REH, Terra JA, Sonne L. Septicemic omphalophlebitis by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in a southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis). Vet Res Commun 2025 Jan 18;49(2):84.
            doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10650-xpubmed: 39826022google scholar: lookup
          21. 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
          22. Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
            doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13080713pubmed: 39200013google scholar: lookup
          23. Bekele D, Dessalegn B, Tadesse B, Abey SL. Streptococcus equi subspecies equi from strangles suspected equines: molecular detection, antibiogram profiles and risk factors. BMC Vet Res 2024 Aug 23;20(1):377.
            doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04236-zpubmed: 39180060google scholar: lookup
          24. Nakajima K, Kasuya K, Senba H, Tagami K, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H. Genetic analysis based on next generation sequencing of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi isolated from horses imported into Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Aug 2;86(8):828-832.
            doi: 10.1292/jvms.23-0342pubmed: 38897953google scholar: lookup
          25. Xie O, Davies MR, Tong SYC. Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis infection and its intersection with Streptococcus pyogenes. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024 Sep 12;37(3):e0017523.
            doi: 10.1128/cmr.00175-23pubmed: 38856686google scholar: lookup
          26. İncili CA, Eröksüz Y, Otlu B, Kara E, Tanrıverdi ES, Timurkan MÖ, Kalender H, Eröksüz H. Moelerella wisconsensis: first isolation from lungs and spleen of a horse infected with Streptococcus dysgalactia subsp. equisimilis. Vet Res Forum 2023;14(12):685-688.
            doi: 10.30466/vrf.2023.1987898.3760pubmed: 38174095google scholar: lookup
          27. Moghaddam S, Lotfollahzadeh S, Salehi TZ, Hassanpour A, Manesh HT, Tamai IA. Molecular and sequencing study and identification of novel SeM-type in beta-hemolytic streptococci involving the upper respiratory tract in Iran. BMC Vet Res 2023 Oct 17;19(1):210.
            doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03772-4pubmed: 37848882google scholar: lookup
          28. Guardabassi L, Apley M, Olsen JE, Toutain PL, Weese S. Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistance Selection. Microbiol Spectr 2018 May;6(3).
            doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ARBA-0018-2017pubmed: 29932044google scholar: lookup
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,970 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.