Detection and molecular characterization of Actinomyces denticolens causing lymph node abscessation in horses.
Abstract: Abscessation of equine head lymph nodes can be caused by various bacteria, but Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is mainly involved. At our laboratory, samples of three unrelated horses with submandibular abscesses were found negative for S. equi, and further testing proved the presence of another genus. This raised the question for the exact identity of this pathogen and whether these isolates were epidemiologically related and it warranted further characterization with regards of virulence and resistance factors.
Copyright © 2023 van den Wollenberg, van Maanen, Buter, Janszen, Rey and van Engelen.
Publication Date: 2023-07-20 PubMed ID: 37546341PubMed Central: PMC10399742DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1225528Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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Abscesses in the lymph nodes of horse heads can be caused by various bacteria. One primary culprit is Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. However, in three unrelated horses with submandibular abscesses at the research lab, samples tested negative for this bacteria.
Instead, they found another type of bacteria. This led to questions about the identity of this new pathogen, its origin, and its characteristics in terms of virulence and resistance.
Methods:
- Culture: The samples were grown in a controlled environment to observe the bacteria.
- Identification using MALDI-TOF MS: A type of mass spectrometry was used to identify the bacteria.
- MIC testing: This determined the minimum amount of antibiotic needed to inhibit bacterial growth.
- Whole genome sequencing (WGS): This provided a complete genetic makeup of the bacteria.
Results:
- Bacterial Identification: The bacteria were initially identified as A. denticolens in two of the three cases using the culture and MALDI-TOF MS method. Further confirmation of this identification for all three samples came from analyzing the WGS data, which was also supported by multilocus sequence typing (MLST).
- Genetic Findings: The three bacterial samples shared a 95% similarity in their nucleotide sequences. However, the significant number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (variations in DNA) indicated that the bacteria in the three samples were not clones of one another. This suggests that the three horses got the infection from different sources, not a single outbreak.
- Virulence and Resistance: Only four genes related to virulence (the ability to cause disease) were found in the bacteria. No known antibiotic resistance genes were detected, which was consistent with tests showing the bacteria were highly susceptible to antibiotics.
Conclusion:
A. denticolens is a potential cause of lymph node abscesses in horses, especially when traditional culprits like strangles are ruled out through lab tests. This discovery is significant as it adds to our knowledge of potential pathogens in horses. Moreover, the first draft genome of A. denticolens from horses was reported, adding to scientific knowledge about this bacteria’s genetics.
Cite This Article
APA
van den Wollenberg L, van Maanen C, Buter R, Janszen P, Rey F, van Engelen E.
(2023).
Detection and molecular characterization of Actinomyces denticolens causing lymph node abscessation in horses.
Front Vet Sci, 10.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1225528 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Royal GD (Animal Health Service), Deventer, Netherlands.
- Royal GD (Animal Health Service), Deventer, Netherlands.
- Royal GD (Animal Health Service), Deventer, Netherlands.
- Equine Clinic De Raaphorst, Wassenaar, Netherlands.
- Veterinary Clinic Winsum, Equine Division, Winsum, Netherlands.
- Royal GD (Animal Health Service), Deventer, Netherlands.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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