Discrimination of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Abstract: Accurate and timely identification of infectious etiologies is of great significance in veterinary microbiology, especially for critical diseases such as strangles, a highly contagious disease of horses caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. We evaluated a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) platform for use in species- and subspecies-level identification of S. equi isolates from horses and compared it with an automated biochemical system. We used 25 clinical isolates each of S. equi subsp. equi and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus. Using the MALDI-TOF MS platform, it was possible to correctly identify all 50 isolates to the species level. Unique mass peaks were identified in the bacterial peptide mass spectra generated by MALDI-TOF MS, which can be used for accurate subspecies-level identification of S. equi. Mass peaks (mass/charge, m/ z) 6,751.9 ± 1.4 (mean ± standard deviation) and 5,958.1 ± 1.3 were found to be unique to S. equi subsp. equi and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, respectively. The automated biochemical system correctly identified 47 of 50 of the isolates to the species level as S. equi, whereas at the subspecies level, 24 of 25 S. equi subsp. equi isolates and 22 of 25 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates were correctly identified. Our results indicate that MALDI-TOF MS can be used for accurate species- and subspecies-level identification of S. equi.
Publication Date: 2017-05-02 PubMed ID: 28460559DOI: 10.1177/1040638717702687Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in identifying two subspecies of the bacterium Streptococcus equi, which cause severe diseases in horses. The findings show that the method can accurately identify these subspecies and potentially improve disease diagnosis and treatment.
Background and Objective
- This research primarily aims to accurately and promptly identify Streptococcus equi subspecies: S. equi subsp. equi and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus which are responsible for a severe contagious disease in horses, known as strangles. The authors propose that the quality and speed of this identification process could greatly improve veterinary microbiology, disease diagnosis, and treatment.
Methods
- The authors utilized an advanced analytical technology called matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). They evaluated this technique by comparing it to an automated biochemical system.
- A total of 50 clinical isolates – 25 from each subspecies of S. equi – were analyzed using this MALDI-TOF MS platform.
Results and Findings
- The MALDI-TOF MS platform was capable of identifying all 50 isolates accurately to the species level. Moreover, unique mass peaks in the bacterial peptide mass spectra were observed, which could be used to accurately distinguish between the subspecies of S. equi.
- S. equi subsp. equi and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus had unique mass peaks at 6,751.9 ± 1.4 (mean ± standard deviation) and 5,958.1 ± 1.3, respectively.
- The automated biochemical system correctly identified 47 out of 50 isolates at the species level and 46 out of 50 at the subspecies level. It confirms MALDI-TOF MS’s superiority in terms of precision and reliability.
Conclusion
- Based on the research findings, the authors concluded that MALDI-TOF MS could be an effective method for identifying not only the S. equi species but also its subspecies. This accuracy is crucial for correct and fast diagnosis and treatment of equine diseases caused by these bacteria.
Cite This Article
APA
Mani RJ, Thachil AJ, Ramachandran A.
(2017).
Discrimination of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 29(5), 622-627.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638717702687 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK (Mani, Ramachandran).
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Thachil).
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK (Mani, Ramachandran).
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Thachil).
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK (Mani, Ramachandran).
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Thachil).
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Species Specificity
- Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / veterinary
- Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / classification
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Sher AA, VanAllen ME, Ahmed H, Whitehead-Tillery C, Rafique S, Bell JA, Zhang L, Mansfield LS. Conjugative RP4 Plasmid-Mediated Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes to Commensal and Multidrug-Resistant Enteric Bacteria In Vitro. Microorganisms 2023 Jan 12;11(1).
- Nocera FP, D'Eletto E, Ambrosio M, Fiorito F, Pagnini U, De Martino L. Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Dec 27;11(1).
- 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.
- Hille MM, Clawson ML, Dickey AM, Lowery JH, Loy JD. MALDI-TOF MS Biomarker Detection Models to Distinguish RTX Toxin Phenotypes of Moraxella bovoculi Strains Are Enhanced Using Calcium Chloride Supplemented Agar. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021;11:632647.
- Kuchipudi SV, Surendran Nair M, Yon M, Gontu A, Nissly RH, Barry R, Greenawalt D, Pierre T, Li L, Thirumalapura N, Tewari D, Jayarao B. A Novel Real-Time PCR Assay for the Rapid Detection of Virulent Streptococcus equi Subspecies zooepidemicus-An Emerging Pathogen of Swine. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:604675.
- Pérez-Sancho M, Vela AI, Horcajo P, Ugarte-Ruiz M, Domínguez L, Fernández-Garayzábal JF, de la Fuente R. Rapid differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus subspecies based on MALDI-TOF MS profiles. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Nov;30(6):813-820.
- Robbins K, Dickey AM, Clawson ML, Loy JD. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification of Moraxella bovoculi and Moraxella bovis isolates from cattle. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Sep;30(5):739-742.
- Cantelmi MC, Merola C, Averaimo D, Chiaverini A, Cito F, Cocco A, Di Teodoro G, De Angelis ME, Di Bernardo D, Auzino D, Petrini A. Identification of the Novel Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sequence Type 525 in Donkeys of Abruzzo Region, Italy. Pathogens 2023 May 23;12(6).
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