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Home / Equine Research Bank / Lett Appl Microbiol / Isolation of Rhodococcus equi from the gastrointestinal cont...
Letters in applied microbiology2021; 74(1); 27-31; doi: 10.1111/lam.13577

Isolation of Rhodococcus equi from the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms (family Megascolecidae).

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi was isolated from the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms (family Megascolecidae) and their surrounding soil collected from pastures of two horse-breeding farms in Aomori Prefecture, outdoor pig pens, forest in Towada campus, orange groves and forest where wild boars (Sus scrofa) are established in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture. The number of R. equi in the lower gastrointestinal contents of 23 earthworms collected from our campus was significantly larger than that of the upper gastrointestinal content. The mean numbers of R. equi from the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms collected from the various places were 2·3-fold to 39·7-fold more than those of the surrounding soil samples. In all, 1771 isolates from the earthworms and 489 isolates from the soil samples were tested for the presence of vapA and vapB genes using polymerase chain reaction. At the horse-breeding farm N, 9 of the 109 isolates (8·3%) from the earthworms and 7 of the 106 isolates (6·6%) from the soil samples were positive for the vapA gene. At the University's forest, one of the 250 isolates (0·4%) from the gastrointestinal contents of the earthworm was positive for the vapB gene. These results revealed that R. equi can be found in significant quantities in the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms, suggesting that they act as an accumulator of R. equi in the soil environment and as a source or reservoir of animal infection.
© 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.
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Publication Date: 2021-10-20 PubMed ID: 34608644DOI: 10.1111/lam.13577Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This study found that the bacteria Rhodococcus equi is present in significantly higher quantities in the gut contents of earthworms compared to the surrounding soil. These findings suggest that earthworms could contribute to the dispersion of this particular bacteria in their environment, acting as a potential source of infection for animals.

Research Objective and Methods

  • This research aimed to understand the presence and concentration of the bacteria Rhodococcus equi in the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms and in their surrounding soil. The researchers collected samples from various locations, including horse-breeding farms, pig pens, forests, as well as orange grooves where wild boars are established.
  • The research team measured the number of Rhodococcus equi in the earthworms’ lower gastrointestinal tract and compared these to the bacteria’s count in the upper part of the digestive system.
  • The researchers used a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of particular genes (vapA and vapB) in the bacteria isolates from both soil and earthworm samples. These genes are specific to Rhodococcus equi and indicate its presence.

Main Results

  • The study found that Rhodococcus equi is present in significantly larger quantities in the earthworms’ digestional systems than in the surrounding soil. The bacteria were 2.3-fold to 39.7-fold more prevalent in the gut contents of earthworms depending on the collection site.
  • When examining the vapA and vapB genes, the researchers found that 8.3% of earthworm samples from a horse-breeding farm, and 6.6% of similar soil samples contained the vapA gene. Meanwhile, only 0.4% of earthworm samples collected in the University’s forest contained the vapB gene.

Implications and Conclusion

  • The results suggest that earthworms might behave as carriers, or ‘accumulators’, of Rhodococcus equi in the environment. This significantly increases the concentration of this potentially pathogenic bacteria in the environment, which is essential for disease epidemiology.
  • Therefore, earthworms could also act as a source or reservoir of animal infection since they can carry and disperse the bacteria in environments frequented by animals, such as farms, and even forests.
  • The study provides valuable insights into the role of earthworms in carrying and spreading Rhodococcus equi, which may inform future studies or interventions aimed at controlling the spread of this bacteria.

Cite This Article

APA
Takai S, Sudo M, Sakai M, Suzuki K, Sasaki Y, Kakuda T, Suzuki Y. (2021). Isolation of Rhodococcus equi from the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms (family Megascolecidae). Lett Appl Microbiol, 74(1), 27-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.13577

Publication

Letters in applied microbiology
ISSN: 1472-765X
NlmUniqueID: 8510094
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 74
Issue: 1
Pages: 27-31

Researcher Affiliations

Takai, S
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Sudo, M
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Sakai, M
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Suzuki, K
  • Hikiiwa Park Center, Tanabe, Japan.
Sasaki, Y
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Kakuda, T
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Suzuki, Y
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections
  • Animals
  • Gastrointestinal Contents
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Oligochaeta
  • Rhodococcus equi
  • Soil Microbiology

Grant Funding

  • JP18H02351 / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Nielsen SS, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Alvarez J. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial-resistant Rhodococcus equi in horses.. EFSA J 2022 Feb;20(2):e07081.
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