Molecular epidemiology of virulent Rhodococcus equi from foals in Brazil: virulence plasmids of 85-kb type I, 87-kb type I, and a new variant, 87-kb type III.
Abstract: We investigated the prevalence of virulent Rhodococcus equi in clinical isolates from 41 foals (19 sporadic and seven endemic cases) in Brazil between 1991 and 2003. Of the 41 virulent isolates, six contained an 85-kb type I plasmid, 33 contained an 87-kb type I plasmid, both of which have been found in isolates from the Americas, and the remaining two contained a new variant, which did not display the EcoRI, EcoT22I and BamHI digestion patterns of the 11 representative plasmids already reported (85-kb types I-IV; 87-kb types I and II; 90-kb types I-V). We tentatively designated the new variant as the '87-kb type III' plasmid, because its BamHI digestion pattern is similar to that of the 87-kb type I plasmid. This is the first report of the molecular epidemiology surveillance of virulent R. equi in clinical isolates from Brazilian foals.
Publication Date: 2004-11-27 PubMed ID: 15563953DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2004.07.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the different types of the bacteria Rhodococcus equi found in horse foals in Brazil, including previously known types and a newly discovered variant.
Introduction
- Researchers conducted a study on the bacteria Rhodococcus equi, which affects horse foals. In particular, they focused on clinical samples taken from foals in Brazil between 1991 and 2003.
- The bacteria, which is known to cause pneumonia in foals, has several different types, which differ in the size and pattern of their plasmids, DNA structures found within bacterial cells.
Key Findings
- Out of the 41 virulent Rhodococcus equi samples studied, six had an 85-kb type I plasmid, while 33 had an 87-kb type I plasmid. Both strains have been identified in North and South America before.
- Interestingly, the team discovered a completely new variant present in two samples. This variant contained an 87-kb plasmid, but it did not match the usual patterns identified through enzymatic digestion using EcoRI, EcoT22I, and BamHI.
- The researchers tentatively classified this new variant as 87-kb type III due to the similarity of its BamHI digestion pattern to that of the 87-kb type I plasmid.
Conclusion
- This research is the first report of its kind, investigating the molecular epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi in foals in Brazil.
- The discovery of the new variant 87-kb type III could open up new paths of research and potentially lead to the development of new treatments and preventative measures for pneumonia in foals caused by Rhodococcus equi.
Cite This Article
APA
Ribeiro MG, Seki I, Yasuoka K, Kakuda T, Sasaki Y, Tsubaki S, Takai S.
(2004).
Molecular epidemiology of virulent Rhodococcus equi from foals in Brazil: virulence plasmids of 85-kb type I, 87-kb type I, and a new variant, 87-kb type III.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 28(1), 53-61.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2004.07.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Infectious Diseases of the Domestic Animals, FMVZ-UNESP/Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / epidemiology
- Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Female
- Genetic Variation
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Lung Diseases / epidemiology
- Lung Diseases / microbiology
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Plasmids / classification
- Plasmids / genetics
- Rhodococcus equi / genetics
- Virulence / genetics
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- de Almeida Campos AC, Cicolo S, de Oliveira CM, Molina CV, Navas-Suárez PE, Poltronieri Dos Santos T, da Silveira VB, Barbosa CM, Baccarin RYA, Durigon EL, Góes LGB, Belli CB, Oliveira DBL. Potential outbreak by herpesvirus in equines: detection, clinical, and genetic analysis of equid gammaherpesvirus 2 (EHV-2). Braz J Microbiol 2023 Jun;54(2):1137-1143.
- Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Takai S, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Feret M, Gawryś M, Witkowski M, Kita J. Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates from horses in Poland: pVapA characteristics and plasmid new variant, 85-kb type V. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jan 26;13(1):35.
- Olivo G, Lucas TM, Borges AS, Silva RO, Lobato FC, Siqueira AK, da Silva Leite D, Brandão PE, Gregori F, de Oliveira-Filho JP, Takai S, Ribeiro MG. Enteric Pathogens and Coinfections in Foals with and without Diarrhea. Biomed Res Int 2016;2016:1512690.
- Kalinowski M, Grądzki Z, Jarosz Ł, Kato K, Hieda Y, Kakuda T, Takai S. Plasmid Profiles of Virulent Rhodococcus equi Strains Isolated from Infected Foals in Poland. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0152887.
- Gressler LT, de Vargas AC, da Costa MM, Pötter L, da Silveira BP, Sangioni LA, de Avila Botton S. Genotypic and phenotypic detection of efflux pump in Rhodococcus equi. Braz J Microbiol 2014;45(2):661-5.
- Fernandes MC, Takai S, Leite DS, Pinto JP, Brandão PE, Santarém VA, Listoni FJ, Da Silva AV, Ribeiro MG. Identification of pathogens and virulence profile of Rhodococcus equi and Escherichia coli strains obtained from sand of parks. Braz J Microbiol 2013;44(2):485-91.
- de Vargas AC, Monego F, Gressler LT, de Avila Botton S, Lazzari AM, da Costa MM, Ecco R, Ribeiro MG, Lara GH, Takai S. Bronchopneumonia in wild boar (Sus scrofa) caused by Rhodococcus equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid. BMC Res Notes 2013 Mar 25;6:111.
- Ribeiro MG, Takai S, de Vargas AC, Mattos-Guaraldi AL, Ferreira Camello TC, Ohno R, Okano H, Silva AV. Short report: Identification of virulence-associated plasmids in Rhodococcus equi in humans with and without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011 Sep;85(3):510-3.
- Poolkhet C, Chumsing S, Wajjwalku W, Minato C, Otsu Y, Takai S. Plasmid Profiles and Prevalence of Intermediately Virulent Rhodococcus equi from Pigs in Nakhonpathom Province, Thailand: Identification of a New Variant of the 70-kb Virulence Plasmid, Type 18. Vet Med Int 2010;2010:491624.
- Monego F, Maboni F, Krewer C, Vargas A, Costa M, Loreto E. Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi from horse-breeding farms by means of multiplex PCR for the vap gene family. Curr Microbiol 2009 Apr;58(4):399-403.
- 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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