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BMC veterinary research2017; 13(1); 35; doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-0954-2

Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates from horses in Poland: pVapA characteristics and plasmid new variant, 85-kb type V.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is one of the most significant bacterial pathogens affecting foals up to 6 months of age worldwide. Rhodococcosis is present in Poland however information about molecular characterization of R. equi isolates is scarce. This study describes molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi infection on 13 horse breeding farms in Poland between 2001 and 2012. Samples were collected by tracheobronchial aspiration from pneumonic foals or during necropsy. The R. equi isolates were genotyped by plasmid profiling and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results: Totally, 58 R. equi isolates were investigated. One isolate lost its plasmid. Among the 57 VapA-positive isolates, 48 contained 85-kb type I plasmid (82.8%), 8 contained 87-kb type I plasmid (13.8%). One isolate (1.7%) had a unique restriction cleavage pattern and the 2nd fragment of EcoRI digests of this plasmid DNA was about 2600 bases smaller than that of the 85 kb type I. This new plasmid variant was designated as the "85-kb type V". Among the 58 isolates typeable with VspI-PFGE, ten PFGE clusters were detected. The majority of foals were infected mostly with isolates of low genetic diversity. Conclusions: Most of clinical isolates of R. equi from foals in Poland contain pVapA 85-kb type I and 87-kb type I similarly to the other European countries and the United States. However, the new variant of pVapA 85-kb type V was identified. The chromosomal variability was detected among some of the investigated isolates and the presence of farm-specific isolates might be possible.
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Publication Date: 2017-01-26 PubMed ID: 28122544PubMed Central: PMC5267371DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-0954-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study is about the molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi – a bacteria causing infections in foals, from Poland. It provides valuable insights on the genetic diversity amongst these strains and identifies a new variant of the bacteria.

Overview of the Study

  • The study aims to thoroughly investigate and understand the molecular characteristics of Rhodococcus equi, a bacterial pathogen causing infections in young foals, isolated from Polish horse breeding farms.
  • The research was carried out across 13 horse breeding farms in Poland, between the years 2001 and 2012.
  • The bacteria strains were collected either from foals showing symptoms of pneumonia through tracheobronchial aspiration, or during post-mortem examinations.
  • These strains were then analyzed using plasmid profiling and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, both are powerful genotyping techniques used for genetic mapping and studying the DNA of microbes.

Key Findings

  • A total of 58 R. equi strains were examined in the study. Among them, a plasmid was lost in one of the isolates.
  • Among the remaining 57 VapA-positive samples, 48 contained the 85-kb type I plasmid, representing about 82.8% of the strains, 8 samples contained the 87-kb type I plasmid, which is about 13.8% of the strains.
  • Interestingly, one of the isolates had a unique restriction cleavage pattern and was found to be around 2600 bases smaller than the 85 kb type I. This new, unique plasmid was named as the “85-kb type V”.
  • A total of ten different PFGE clusters were identified among the 58 isolates that were typed using VspI-PFGE.
  • The study also showed that the majority of foals were infected with isolates showing low genetic diversity and that there might be farm-specific isolates.

Conclusions

  • Like most European countries and the United States, the clinical isolates of R. equi from foals in Poland mostly contain pVapA 85-kb type I and 87-kb type I. However, the presence of a new variant, the pVapA 85-kb type V was identified.
  • The study also observed chromosomal variability across some of the investigated strains and suggested the possibility of the existence of farm-specific isolates.

Cite This Article

APA
Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Takai S, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Feret M, Gawryś M, Witkowski M, Kita J. (2017). Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates from horses in Poland: pVapA characteristics and plasmid new variant, 85-kb type V. BMC Vet Res, 13(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-0954-2

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 35
PII: 35

Researcher Affiliations

Witkowski, Lucjan
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland. lucjan_witkowski@sggw.pl.
Rzewuska, Magdalena
  • Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
Takai, Shinji
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Higashi 23-35-1, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan.
Chrobak-Chmiel, Dorota
  • Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
Kizerwetter-Świda, Magdalena
  • Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
Feret, Małgorzata
  • Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
Gawryś, Marta
  • Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
Witkowski, Maciej
  • University Center of Veterinary Medicine UJ-UR, Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059, Cracow, Poland.
Kita, Jerzy
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / epidemiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genetic Variation
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Poland
  • Rhodococcus equi / genetics
  • Rhodococcus equi / metabolism

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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  5. Ganbaatar O, Ganzorig S, Tseren-Ochir EO, Suzuki Y, Takai S. Isolation of vapA-positive Rhodococcus equi from soil and fecal samples in Mongolia. J Vet Med Sci 2025 Oct 1;87(10):1112-1115.
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  6. Rakowska A, Czopowicz M, Bereznowski A, Witkowski L. Investigation of the relationship between pulmonary lesions based on lung ultrasound and respiratory clinical signs in foals with suspected pulmonary rhodococcosis. Sci Rep 2023 Nov 8;13(1):19401.
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