Molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in nasal swabs samples from horses suffering respiratory infections in Iran.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the existence of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus as probable agents associated with naturally occurring infection of the equine upper respiratory disease in Mashhad area. Nasal swabs samples from thirty horses with upper respiratory tract infections were collected. The bacteria isolated and identified were Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (1 isolate), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (25 isolates), Pasteurella sp. (11 isolates), Staphylococcus sp. (17 isolates), Bacillus sp. (4 isolates), Pseudomonas sp. (4 isolates), Proteus sp. (1 isolate), Neisseria sp. (1 isolate) and E. coli (1 isolate). All 25 isolates of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and the isolate of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi were characterized by biochemical tests and molecular techniques. For molecular identification of the subspecies S. equi and S. zooepidemicus two genomic region SeM and sodA were amplified. This study is the first report of molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in Iran.
Publication Date: 2008-09-27 PubMed ID: 18817175DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.468.471Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the presence of two types of Streptococcus equi bacteria in horses with respiratory infections in the Mashhad area of Iran. Molecular techniques isolated several bacterial species, highlighting Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus as a particularly prevalent agent.
Identification of Infectious Agents
- The study sought to determine the presence of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus bacteria, which are both potential causes of equine upper respiratory disease.
- To do this, nasal swab samples were collected from thirty horses suffering from upper respiratory tract infections.
- The scientists cultured these samples to isolate and identify the bacterial species present.
- Several bacteria were identified, including Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Neisseria, E. coli, and two types of Streptococcus equi.
Characterization of Bacterial Isolates
- All isolated strains were then characterized using both biochemical tests and molecular techniques to confirm their identity.
- The molecular techniques involved amplifying two genomic regions, SeM and sodA, which are specific to the S. equi and S. zooepidemicus subspecies.
- Of the isolated strains, 25 were identified as S. zooepidemicus, and one as S. equi, making S. zooepidemicus the most frequent bacterium found in the nasal swab samples.
Implications for Future Research and Treatment
- This research forms the first report of molecular identification of these specific subspecies of Streptococcus equi in Iran.
- The high prevalence of S. zooepidemicus found in this study suggests that this bacterium may be a common cause of respiratory disease in horses in the Mashhad area.
- The identification of these bacteria could lead to more effective treatment plans for affected horses, as the specific pathogens causing disease are better understood.
Cite This Article
APA
Jannatabadi AA, Mohammadi GR, Rad M, Maleki M.
(2008).
Molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in nasal swabs samples from horses suffering respiratory infections in Iran.
Pak J Biol Sci, 11(3), 468-471.
https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2008.468.471 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- DNA Primers
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Iran
- Nose / microbiology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Species Specificity
- Streptococcus equi / genetics
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Hedayat K, Doroud D, Mohamadpour Dounighi N, Shokrgozar MA, Shahali M, Houshdar Tehrani MH. Enhanced Hyaluronic Acid Production in Streptococcus equi subsp. Streptococcus zooepidemicus Through Strain Mutagenesis and Optimized Purification. Iran J Pharm Res 2025 Jan-Dec;24(1):e164108.
- Xie H, Deng J, Yu J, Li S, Wang Y, Li Y, Huang Y, Sun Q, Liao J, Deng Z, Fu Q. miR-7002-5p targets caspase-1 to suppress the inflammatory response of macrophages induced by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus. Arch Microbiol 2025 Jul 31;207(9):211.
- Kuchipudi SV, Surendran Nair M, Yon M, Gontu A, Nissly RH, Barry R, Greenawalt D, Pierre T, Li L, Thirumalapura N, Tewari D, Jayarao B. A Novel Real-Time PCR Assay for the Rapid Detection of Virulent Streptococcus equi Subspecies zooepidemicus-An Emerging Pathogen of Swine. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:604675.
- Zakeri A, Rasaee MJ, Pourzardosht N. Enhanced hyluronic acid production in Streptococcus zooepidemicus by over expressing HasA and molecular weight control with Niscin and glucose. Biotechnol Rep (Amst) 2017 Dec;16:65-70.
- Javed R, Taku AK, Gangil R, Sharma RK. Molecular characterization of virulence genes of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in equines. Vet World 2016 Aug;9(8):875-81.
- Mir IA, Kumar B, Taku A, Faridi F, Bhat MA, Baba NA, Maqbool T. Bacteriological and Molecular Detection of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in Equines of Northern India. J Equine Sci 2013;24(3):53-5.
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