Genetic structure of populations of beta-haemolytic Lancefield group C streptococci from horses and their association with disease.
Abstract: The genetic structure of beta-haemolytic Lancefield group C streptococci isolated from horses in Australia was examined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. The 249 isolates comprised 70 classified phenotypically as Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, 177 classified as S equi subspecies zooepidemicus and two which were unclassifiable. Forty-one electrophoretic types were identified which could be classified into three major clusters, A, B and C. Of the isolates, 178 fell into cluster B (types 4 to 22) and lay within a genetic distance of 0.36. Sixty-nine of the 70 S equi subspecies equi isolates fell into type 12, which suggests that they were members of a single clone, and the isolates from abscesses were significantly more likely to belong to type 12 than those from horses with no clinical signs (P < 0.001). There were no other significant associations between electrophoretic types or clusters and the isolation of the organism from particular sites. These data suggested that S zooepidemicus may be the archetypal species from which the clone designated subspecies equi has been derived. If isolates of the subspecies equi from other geographical regions also prove to be members of electrophoretic type 12, this hypothesis would be strengthened.
Publication Date: 1994-11-01 PubMed ID: 7871247DOI: 10.1016/0034-5288(94)90120-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research conducted a genetic analysis of a bacterial species often found in horses, with a particular focus on its relation to diseases. The study found common genetic markers across numerous bacterial samples, suggesting the existence of a core strain that may be responsible for specific horse health issues.
Analysis of Beta-Haemolytic Lancefield Group C Streptococci
This study revolves around a scientific examination of the genetic structure of beta-haemolytic Lancefield group C streptococci, a bacterium commonly found in horses. The researchers collected 249 various bacterial isolates from Australian horse populations.
- Their examinations were done through a procedure known as multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, which is a methodology commonly used to differentiate species based on their genetic structure.
- Of these isolates, 70 were phenotypically classified as Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, 177 as S equi subspecies zooepidemicus, while there were two which were unable to be classified.
Genetic Clustering
Upon investigation, these isolates were found to be made up of 41 different electrophoretic types, a method used for distinguishing molecular structures.
- The isolates could be further organised into three primary genetic clusters, labeled as A, B, and C.
- The majority of the isolates, amounting to 178, fell into cluster B. The types 4-22 within this cluster were found to be within a genetic distance of 0.36, suggesting close genetic relationships.
Implications for Health and Disease
The genetic analysis of these bacterium revealed important implications for equine health and disease.
- Most specifically, 69 out of 70 S equi subspecies equi were found to be type 12, indicating that these isolates may belong to a single clone.
- It was also found that isolates from abscessed horses were significantly more likely to belong to this type, suggesting a potential link to this health condition.
Origins and Evolution of the Bacteria
The research findings pointed towards a proposal about the origins and evolution of these bacteria.
- S zooepidemicus, it was suggested, might be the archetypal species from which the clone designated subspecies equi has been derived.
- This hypothesis, according to the researchers, would strengthen if similar isolates of the subspecies equi from other regions also prove to be members of electrophoretic type 12.
Cite This Article
APA
Jorm LR, Love DN, Bailey GD, McKay GM, Briscoe DA.
(1994).
Genetic structure of populations of beta-haemolytic Lancefield group C streptococci from horses and their association with disease.
Res Vet Sci, 57(3), 292-299.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-5288(94)90120-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Statistics as Topic
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / enzymology
- Streptococcus equi / genetics
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Morris ERA, Wu J, Bordin AI, Lawhon SD, Cohen ND. Differences in the Accessory Genomes and Methylomes of Strains of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Obtained from the Respiratory Tract of Horses from Texas. Microbiol Spectr 2022 Feb 23;10(1):e0076421.
- Dominguez-Medina CC, Rash NL, Robillard S, Robinson C, Efstratiou A, Broughton K, Parkhill J, Holden MTG, Lopez-Alvarez MR, Paillot R, Waller AS. SpeS: A Novel Superantigen and Its Potential as a Vaccine Adjuvant against Strangles. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jun 23;21(12).
- Spoerry C, Hessle P, Lewis MJ, Paton L, Woof JM, von Pawel-Rammingen U. Novel IgG-Degrading Enzymes of the IgdE Protease Family Link Substrate Specificity to Host Tropism of Streptococcus Species. PLoS One 2016;11(10):e0164809.
- Paillot R, Darby AC, Robinson C, Wright NL, Steward KF, Anderson E, Webb K, Holden MT, Efstratiou A, Broughton K, Jolley KA, Priestnall SL, Marotti Campi MC, Hughes MA, Radford A, Erles K, Waller AS. Identification of three novel superantigen-encoding genes in Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, szeF, szeN, and szeP. Infect Immun 2010 Nov;78(11):4817-27.
- Holden MT, Heather Z, Paillot R, Steward KF, Webb K, Ainslie F, Jourdan T, Bason NC, Holroyd NE, Mungall K, Quail MA, Sanders M, Simmonds M, Willey D, Brooks K, Aanensen DM, Spratt BG, Jolley KA, Maiden MC, Kehoe M, Chanter N, Bentley SD, Robinson C, Maskell DJ, Parkhill J, Waller AS. Genomic evidence for the evolution of Streptococcus equi: host restriction, increased virulence, and genetic exchange with human pathogens. PLoS Pathog 2009 Mar;5(3):e1000346.
- Heather Z, Holden MT, Steward KF, Parkhill J, Song L, Challis GL, Robinson C, Davis-Poynter N, Waller AS. A novel streptococcal integrative conjugative element involved in iron acquisition. Mol Microbiol 2008 Dec;70(5):1274-92.
- Sá e Silva M, da Costa MM, de Avila Botton S, Barretta C, Groff AC, de Vargas AC. Phenotypical assays and partial sequencing of the hsp60 gene for identification of Streptococcus equi. Curr Microbiol 2007 May;54(5):331-4.
- Ladlow J, Scase T, Waller A. Canine strangles case reveals a new host susceptible to infection with Streptococcus equi. J Clin Microbiol 2006 Jul;44(7):2664-5.
- Kelly C, Bugg M, Robinson C, Mitchell Z, Davis-Poynter N, Newton JR, Jolley KA, Maiden MC, Waller AS. Sequence variation of the SeM gene of Streptococcus equi allows discrimination of the source of strangles outbreaks. J Clin Microbiol 2006 Feb;44(2):480-6.
- Lindmark H, Nilsson M, Guss B. Comparison of the fibronectin-binding protein FNE from Streptococcus equi subspecies equi with FNZ from S. equi subspecies zooepidemicus reveals a major and conserved difference. Infect Immun 2001 May;69(5):3159-63.
- Lindmark H, Guss B. SFS, a novel fibronectin-binding protein from Streptococcus equi, inhibits the binding between fibronectin and collagen. Infect Immun 1999 May;67(5):2383-8.
- Timoney JF, Artiushin SC, Boschwitz JS. Comparison of the sequences and functions of Streptococcus equi M-like proteins SeM and SzPSe. Infect Immun 1997 Sep;65(9):3600-5.
- Wan J, Weldon E, Ganser G, Morris ERA, Hughes EV, Bordin AI, Heine PA, Hust M, Cohen ND, Gill JJ, Liu M. Immunogenic Streptococcus equi cell surface proteins identified by ORFeome phage display. mSphere 2025 Dec 23;10(12):e0062625.
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