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Home / Equine Research Bank / Transbound Emerg Dis / Novel Streptococcus equi strains causing strangles outbreaks...
Transboundary and emerging diseases2020; 67(6); 2455-2466; doi: 10.1111/tbed.13584

Novel Streptococcus equi strains causing strangles outbreaks in Arabian horses in Egypt.

Abstract: Strangles displays a major challenge to veterinary medicine worldwide. However, no data on Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) M protein alleles have been reported so far from Arabian horses. We report here for the first time the S. equi SeM alleles causing strangles in Arabian horses, and the associated risk factors for the disease. Duplicate samples from one hundred Arabian horses with acute strangles in confirmed outbreaks and sporadic cases were analysed by phenotypic methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting streptokinase precursor, seeI and sodA genes. PCR and sequencing of S. equi SeM gene were employed for strains typing, and the four superantigens were determined among the allelic variants. Direct-sample PCR confirmed and highly positively correlated (r = .85) with the phenotypic results, and detected S. equi in five samples more than the conventional culture. A combination of multiplex PCR from samples and culture could successfully identify S. equi (92%), S. zooepidemicus (5%) and S. equisimilis (3%). SeM typing demonstrated five SeM alleles, including four previously unidentified alleles that were deposited in the PubMLST-SeM database. SeM-139 and SeM-141 are related to some strains that were recently recovered from donkeys in China. SeM-140 and SeM-199 are related to a group of alleles from horses in Europe. Variation in the presence of seeM, seeH and seeL superantigens was found across the four novel alleles without interference with the severity of strangles and clinical presentation seen in different outbreaks. Horse age was the most important factor in developing strangles, followed by seasonality and the diagnosis of strangles in the previous year. These new findings comprise a significant contribution to the horse industry through the identification of novel S. equi SeM types that may bolster measures for strangles control as the identified SeM alleles will certainly help in the development of SeM-containing vaccine.
© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2020-05-10 PubMed ID: 32304282DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13584Google 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 research article focuses on a new strain of the Streptococcus equi bacteria that causes strangles in Arabian horses, found for the first time in Egypt. The paper proposes novel techniques and results in identifying this dangerous pathogen.

Overview of Strangles in Horses

  • Strangles is a contagious disease in horses caused by the Streptococcus equi bacteria, posing significant challenges to veterinary medicine worldwide.
  • Despite these challenges, there has been little data on Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) M protein alleles in Arabian horses, an important factor in the study and prevention of the disease.

Identification of New S. equi Strains

  • The research examines samples from one hundred Arabian horses suffering from acute strangles.
  • Traditional phenotypic methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology were used to analyse these samples, targeting specific S. equi genes.

Findings of Novel Alleles

  • A combination of multiplex PCR and traditional culture techniques found the presence of S. equi in 92% of samples, significantly more accurate than culture alone.
  • The analysis uncovered four new S. equi M protein alleles, which are now registered in the publicly available PubMLST-SeM database.
  • These new alleles (SeM-139, SeM-140, SeM-141, and SeM-199) relate to strains of the bacteria found in both donkeys in China and horses in Europe.
  • The presence of superantigens varied across the four new alleles, but this variation did not affect the severity or presentation of the strangles disease in different outbreaks.

Factors Contributing to Strangles

  • The age of the horse was determined to be the most crucial factor in developing strangles, with seasonality and previous year diagnosis also having notable impacts.

Significance and Applications

  • The discovery of these new S. equi SeM types could provide a significant contribution to the equine industry, particularly for the Arabian horses.
  • This new knowledge may help in the development of a vaccine containing S. equi SeM to control the spread of strangles, a substantial step forward in combating the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Tartor YH, El-Naenaeey EY, Gharieb NM, Ali WS, Ammar AM. (2020). Novel Streptococcus equi strains causing strangles outbreaks in Arabian horses in Egypt. Transbound Emerg Dis, 67(6), 2455-2466. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13584

Publication

Transboundary and emerging diseases
ISSN: 1865-1682
NlmUniqueID: 101319538
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 67
Issue: 6
Pages: 2455-2466

Researcher Affiliations

Tartor, Yasmine H
  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt.
El-Naenaeey, El-Sayed Y
  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt.
Gharieb, Nesreen M
  • Department of Animal Management and Treatment, Kafr Saqr Veterinary Administration, Sharkia Governorate, Zagazig, Egypt.
Ali, Wessam S
  • Department of Animal Management and Treatment, Diarb Negm Veterinary Administration, Sharkia Governorate, Zagazig, Egypt.
Ammar, Ahmed M
  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt.

MeSH Terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotyping Techniques / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Phylogeny
  • Risk Factors
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
  • Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Streptococcus / genetics
  • Streptococcus / immunology
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus equi / genetics
  • Streptococcus equi / immunology
  • Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
  • Superantigens / genetics

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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  4. Khalid E, Tartor YH, Ammar AM, Abdelaziz R, Mahmmod Y, Abdelkhalek A. Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1609955.
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