Prevalence and Antibiogram study of Rhodococcus equi in equines of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Abstract: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Rhodococcus equi infection in equines of Jammu and Kashmir, India, and evaluate the zoonotic threat posed by this organism to equine owners and tourists. One hundred and forty-one samples (98 samples from adult animals ≥5 years old and 43 samples from foals less than 6 months old) were collected in duplicate from nasopharyngeal tract of equines for isolation and direct PCR. A total of 12 isolates of R. equi were recovered, of which 9 were from foals and 3 from adult animals. Therefore, the present study recorded prevalence rates of 20.93% and 3.06% among foals and adult equines respectively. The prevalence rates were found to be 25.58% and 4.08% by 16S rRNA species-specific PCR among foals and adult animals respectively. Thus, the PCR-based assay was found to be more sensitive and helped in quick detection of R. equi than the culture based method which is time consuming and laborious. However, the culture-based method is still preferred due to some limitations of PCR. The antibiogram of the isolates revealed that erythromycin and rifampicin were the most effective antimicrobials with 100% sensitivity, followed by amoxicillin (66.67%), lincomycin (58.3%) and kanamycin (58.3%). The results also revealed that resistance was highest for penicillin G (50%), followed by kanamycin (25%) and streptomycin (25%).
Publication Date: 2015-03-31 PubMed ID: 25829867PubMed Central: PMC4379329DOI: 10.1294/jes.26.21Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study examines the occurrence of Rhodococcus equi infection in horses and foals in Jammu and Kashmir, India, and its potential risk to humans. Furthermore, it identifies the most effective antimicrobials against the bacteria and highlights the effectiveness of direct PCR for quick detection of R. equi.
Methodology and Findings
- The study was conducted using 141 nasopharyngeal tract samples from horses; 98 were from adults (5 years and older), and 43 from foals (less than 6 months old).
- These samples were tested for the presence of R. equi, a bacteria known to cause respiratory infections in young foals and other mammals, including humans.
- Of these, 12 R. equi isolates were discovered; 9 from foals and 3 from adults. As a result, the prevalence rate of the infection was 20.93% among foals, but only 3.06% among adults.
- The use of a 16S rRNA species-specific PCR test increased the prevalence rates to 25.58% and 4.08% for foals and adults, respectively. This suggests that the PCR-based testing was more effective at identifying R. equi presence than traditional culture-based methods.
- However, despite its accuracy and speed, the limitations of the PCR technique mean that culture-based detections are often still preferred.
Antibiogram Study
- The researchers also analyzed the sensitivity of the 12 isolated R. equi strains to various antibiotics. This information is vital in determining the appropriate treatment for R. equi infections.
- Erythromycin and rifampicin were found to be the most effective, with a 100% sensitivity rate. Amoxicillin had a sensitivity of 66.67%, followed by lincomycin and kanamycin (both at 58.3%).
- Resistance was highest against penicillin G (50%), followed by kanamycin (25%) and streptomycin (25%), pointing to the potential difficulty in using these antimicrobials to treat R. equi infections.
Zoonotic Implications
- R. equi is zoonotic, meaning it can pass from animals to humans. Given the high prevalence rate in foals, the research indicates a potential zoonotic threat to horse owners and tourists in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
- The effective antimicrobials identified from the study could thus be used to mitigate this risk.
Cite This Article
APA
Mir IA, Kumar B, Taku A, Bhardwaj RK, Bhat MA, Badroo GA.
(2015).
Prevalence and Antibiogram study of Rhodococcus equi in equines of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
J Equine Sci, 26(1), 21-24.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.26.21 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner 334001, India.
- Division of Biological Products, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh 243122, India.
- Division of Veterinary Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu 181102, India.
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu 181102, India.
- Division of Veterinary Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu 181102, India.
- Division of Veterinary Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu 181102, India.
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