Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates in equines.
Abstract: The aim was to determine the occurrence of in equines and their environment in Jammu (R.S. Pura, Katra), molecular characterization and to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of . Methods: A total of 96 nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from equines. The organism was isolated on Columbia nalidixic acid agar containing 5% sheep blood as well as on sheep blood agar and was later confirmed by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Molecular detection of isolates was done by gene amplification followed by virulence associated protein A () gene amplification. Antibiogram was performed against five antibiotics, ., amoxicillin, penicillin G, streptomycin, rifampicin, and methicillin. Results: During the study, 9 isolates were identified on the basis of cultural and biochemical tests. In the polymerase chain reaction based detection, 3 among the 9 rhodococcal isolates were positive for species-specific gene and revealed amplicon of 450 bp for confirmation of gene. None of the sample was found positive for gene. In antibiogram, isolates were found sensitive for amoxicillin, while some isolates were also found resistant to the most conventional antibiotic penicillin G. Conclusions: From this study, it was concluded that infection is prevalent in equines in Jammu region of India and the indiscriminate use of the antibiotics is leading toward the development of resistant strains of .
Publication Date: 2017-01-05 PubMed ID: 28246441PubMed Central: PMC5301179DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.6-10Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study focuses on assessing the occurrence of Rhodococcus equi bacteria in horses and their environment in Jammu, India, including the bacteria’s molecular characteristics and its resistance to various antibiotics.
Methods of Research
- The researchers collected 96 nasopharyngeal swab samples from horses for the study.
- Then, they isolated the bacteria on Columbia nalidixic acid agar containing 5% sheep blood and also on sheep blood agar.
- The isolated organism was later confirmed by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests.
- The molecular detection of Rhodococcus equi isolates was done by 16S rRNA gene amplification followed by virulence associated protein A (vapA) gene amplification.
- The antibiogram, a test to determine antibiotic resistance, was performed against five antibiotics which are amoxicillin, penicillin G, streptomycin, rifampicin, and methicillin.
Research Findings
- Nine Rhodococcus equi isolates were identified through cultural and biochemical tests conducted on the samples.
- Among the nine identified isolates, three were found positive for the species-specific 16S rRNA gene, which is used to confirm the presence of Rhodococcus equi.
- The researchers found no evidence of the virulence associated protein A (vapA) gene in the samples. This particular gene is associated with the pathogenicity, or the capability to cause disease, in this bacteria.
- In terms of antibiotic resistance, the Rhodococcus equi isolates were found to be sensitive to amoxicillin, but some isolates exhibited resistance to penicillin G, a commonly used antibiotic.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that Rhodococcus equi infection is prevalent in horses in the Jammu region of India.
- The study also indicates that the indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of Rhodococcus equi, highlighting the importance of judicious use of these medications.
Cite This Article
APA
Javed R, Taku AK, Sharma RK, Badroo GA.
(2017).
Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates in equines.
Vet World, 10(1), 6-10.
https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.6-10 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Godoi APDS, Sobral GG, da Silva Vieira JC, Carneiro GF, Conceição FR, da Silva ER, Mendonça M. Phenotypical and molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolated from foals in the Agreste region of Pernambuco - Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2025 Jun;56(2):1321-1331.
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