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PloS one2016; 11(4); e0152887; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152887

Plasmid Profiles of Virulent Rhodococcus equi Strains Isolated from Infected Foals in Poland.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is an important bacterial pathogen in foals up to 6 months old, widespread in horse farms all over the world. It was found that only virulent R. equi strains expressing 15-17 kDa virulence-associated protein (VapA) and having large virulence plasmid of 85-90 kb containing vapA gene are pathogenic for horses. To date, 12 plasmid types have been reported in VapA positive strains from horses. There are no data concerning plasmid types of Polish field R. equi strains isolated from horses and horse farm environment. The aim of the study is to determine plasmid profiles of virulent R. equi strains isolated in Poland from dead foals as well as from soil samples taken from horse breeding farms. Plasmid profiles of 10 clinical strains derived from 8 farms and 11 environmental strains from 3 farms, confirmed as virulent by PCR, were compared with 12 reference strains containing the known plasmid size and type. Plasmid DNAs were analysed by digestion with the restriction endonucleases BamHI, EcoRI, EcoT22I, and HindIII for detailed comparison and estimation of plasmid sizes. The results of RFLP analysis revealed that all except one isolates used in the study are classified as VapA 85 kb type I plasmid. One strain harboured VapA 87 kb type I plasmid. This is the first report of plasmid types of Polish field R. equi strains. The results of our preliminary investigations on horse farms located in central and eastern Poland indicate that the virulent R. equi strains thus far isolated from diseased foals and horse farms environment represent a highly uniform plasmid pattern.
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Publication Date: 2016-04-13 PubMed ID: 27074033PubMed Central: PMC4830601DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152887Google 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 observes the plasmid profiles of a harmful bacteria called Rhodococcus equi found in foals in Poland. The study found that the majority of the bacteria carry a specific type of plasmid, which plays a crucial role in the bacteria’s virulence.

Introduction to Rhodococcus equi

  • Rhodococcus equi is a dangerous bacterial pathogen that affects foals less than 6 months old.
  • The bacteria is commonplace in horse farms worldwide.
  • It is specifically pathogenic to horses if it expresses 15-17 kDa virulence-associated protein (VapA) and carries a large virulence plasmid (small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule) of 85-90 kb that holds the vapA gene.

Objective of the Research

  • The study seeks to establish the varying plasmid profiles of virulent R. equi strains that were isolated in Poland from deceased foals and from soil samples collected from horse breeding farms.
  • This is because there is no existing data relating to the plasmid types of Polish field R. equi strains extracted from horses and their environments.

Methodology

  • Researchers assembled the plasmid profiles of 10 clinical strains from 8 farms. They also studied 11 environmental strains from 3 other farms.
  • These were all validated as virulent through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.
  • The strains were then compared with 12 reference strains that were known to contain specific plasmid size and type.
  • The plasmid DNA was studied using the restriction endonucleases (enzymes that cut DNA at specific sites) BamHI, EcoRI, EcoT22I, and HindIII to estimate the plasmid sizes and elicit a more detailed comparison.

Results

  • The Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis indicated that almost all the isolates used in the test were classified as the VapA 85 kb type I plasmid. There was an exception in one strain, which carried the VapA 87 kb type I plasmid.
  • This was the first case of identifying the plasmid types of Polish field R. equi strains.
  • The preliminary results show that the virulent R. equi strains thus far isolated from diseased foals and horse farms environment across central and eastern Poland were found to represent a highly uniform plasmid pattern.

Cite This Article

APA
Kalinowski M, Grądzki Z, Jarosz Ł, Kato K, Hieda Y, Kakuda T, Takai S. (2016). Plasmid Profiles of Virulent Rhodococcus equi Strains Isolated from Infected Foals in Poland. PLoS One, 11(4), e0152887. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152887

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 4
Pages: e0152887
PII: e0152887

Researcher Affiliations

Kalinowski, Marcin
  • Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Grądzki, Zbigniew
  • Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Jarosz, Łukasz
  • Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Kato, Kiyoko
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Hieda, Yu
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Kakuda, Tsutomu
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Takai, Shinji
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
  • Animals
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Poland
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Rhodococcus equi / isolation & purification
  • Virulence Factors / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Kalinowski M, Grądzki Z, Jarosz Ł, Adaszek Ł. Molecular analysis of the chromosomal 16S rRNA gene and vapA plasmid gene of Polish field strains of R. equi. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0204024.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204024pubmed: 30252885google scholar: lookup
  2. Yerlikaya Z, Karagülle B, Otlu B, Muz A. From Paddock to Foal: Prevalence and Genotypic Diversity of Rhodococcus equi on Stud Farms in Türkiye. Vet Sci 2026 Jan 10;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci13010072pubmed: 41600728google scholar: lookup
  3. Ghielmetti G, Stevens MJA, Schmitt S, Kittl S, Cernela N, Biggel M, Schulthess B, Keller PM, Schrenzel J, Stephan R. Multi-host distribution of Rhodococcus equi (Prescottella equi) strains and their phylogenomic clustering. BMC Microbiol 2025 Jul 21;25(1):447.
    doi: 10.1186/s12866-025-04152-8pubmed: 40691552google scholar: lookup
  4. da Silveira BP, Cohen ND, Lawhon SD, Watson RO, Bordin AI. Protective immune response against Rhodococcus equi: An innate immunity-focused review. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):563-586.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14214pubmed: 39258739google scholar: lookup
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