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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2023; 12(2); 224; doi: 10.3390/pathogens12020224

Pathological Features and Genomic Characterization of an Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli Bearing Unique Virulence-Associated Genes from an Adult Horse with Pleuropneumonia.

Abstract: subsp. is the etiological agent of sleepy foal disease, an acute form of fatal septicemia in newborn foals. is commonly found in the mucous membranes of healthy horses' respiratory and alimentary tracts and rarely causes disease in adult horses. In this study, we report a case of a 22-year-old American Paint gelding presenting clinical signs associated with an atypical pattern of pleuropneumonia subjected to necropsy. The gross and histopathological examinations revealed a unilateral fibrinosuppurative and hemorrhagic pleuropneumonia with an infrequent parenchymal distribution and heavy isolation of . The whole genome sequence analysis indicated that the isolate shared 95.9% homology with the only other complete genome of subsp. available in GenBank. Seven virulence-associated genes specific to the isolate were identified and categorized as iron acquisition proteins, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and capsule polysaccharides. Moreover, four genes (, , , and ) shared higher amino acid similarity with the invasive spp. than the reference subsp. genome. Availability of the whole genome sequence will allow a better characterization of virulence determinants of subsp. , which remain largely elusive.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-31 PubMed ID: 36839495PubMed Central: PMC9962156DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020224Google 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 is about a rare case of disease in an adult horse caused by Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli, a bacterium usually found in healthy horses. The case presented uncommon symptoms and unique virulence-associated genes that the scientists identified through genomic characterization.

Uncommon Disease Presentation

  • The study starts off by detailing an uncommon case of disease in an adult horse, specifically an American Paint gelding who was 22-years-old. Normally, Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli —usually found in healthy horses’ respiratory and alimentary tracts— is responsible for causing an acute form of fatal septicemia known as sleepy foal disease in newborn foals but is rare in adult horses.
  • In this unique case, the adult horse showed clinical signs associated with pleuropneumonia, a type of lung inflammation. Following necropsy, examinations revealed a prevalent occurrence of fibrinosuppurative and hemorrhagic pleuropneumonia with an unusual parenchymal distribution. This rare presentation triggered the scientists to further investigate the underlying genomic factors.

Genomic Characterization and Identification of Unique Genes

  • The researchers then performed whole-genome sequence analysis of the isolated bacterium. Findings indicated that the isolated Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli shared 95.9% homology with the only other complete genome of the same subclass available in GenBank, an open-access genetic sequence database.
  • Interestingly, the analysis also revealed seven virulence-associated genes that were unique to the isolated bacterium. These genes were grouped under categories such as iron acquisition proteins, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and capsule polysaccharides, which are known to play roles in the bacterial invasion and survival.
  • Further inspection revealed that four of these genes displayed a higher amino acid similarity with the invasive Actinobacillus spp., compared to the reference Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli genome. This might provide some explanation to the unusual disease manifestation in the adult horse.

Significance and Future Steps

  • The genomic sequence gathered from this study is suggested to be beneficial for future characterization of virulence determinants in Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli. For now, this understanding remains largely elusive.
  • The insights from this research could potentially illuminate the pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of this bacterium, hence offering new strategies for managing and preventing related diseases in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Kamali M, Carossino M, Del Piero F, Peak L, Mitchell MS, Willette J, Baker R, Li F, Kenéz Á, Balasuriya UBR, Go YY. (2023). Pathological Features and Genomic Characterization of an Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli Bearing Unique Virulence-Associated Genes from an Adult Horse with Pleuropneumonia. Pathogens, 12(2), 224. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020224

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
PII: 224

Researcher Affiliations

Kamali, Maedeh
  • Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Carossino, Mariano
  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
  • Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Del Piero, Fabio
  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
  • Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Peak, Laura
  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Mitchell, Maria S
  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Willette, Jackie
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Baker, Rose
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Li, Fuyong
  • Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kenéz, Ákos
  • Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Balasuriya, Udeni B R
  • Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
  • Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Go, Yun Young
  • Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Songsungthong W, Pornthanakasem W, Leartsakulpanich U, Srijuntongsiri G. In silico-derived Actinobacillus equuli-specific DNA markers and development of associated PCR assays. J Vet Diagn Invest 2026 Jan;38(1):59-65.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387251382186pubmed: 41063450google scholar: lookup
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