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New Zealand veterinary journal2015; 63(5); 265-271; doi: 10.1080/00480169.2015.1016133

Prevalence of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus in a sample of healthy dogs, cats and horses.

Abstract: To estimate the prevalence of β-haemolytic Lancefield group C streptococci in healthy dogs, cats and horses; to determine if frequent contact with horses was associated with isolation of these species from dogs and cats; and to characterise recovered S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates by multilocus sequence typing. Methods: Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 197 dogs and 72 cats, and nasopharyngeal swabs from 93 horses. Sampling was carried out at the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, on sheep and beef farms or on premises where horses were present. All animals were healthy and were categorised as Urban dogs and cats (minimal contact with horses or farm livestock), Farm dogs (minimal contact with horses) and Stable dogs and cats (frequent contact with horses). Swabs were cultured for β-haemolytic Streptococcus spp. and Lancefield group C streptococcal subspecies were confirmed by phenotypic and molecular techniques. Results: Of the 197 dogs sampled, 21 (10.7 (95% CI= 4.0-25.4)%) tested positive for S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and 4 (2.0 (95% CI=0.7-5.5)%) tested positive for S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus. All these isolates, except for one S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis isolate in an Urban dog, were from Stable dogs. S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis was isolated from one Stable cat. Of the 93 horses, 22 (23.7 (95% CI=12.3-40.6)%) and 6 (6.5 (95% CI=2.8-14.1)%) had confirmed S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolation respectively. Isolation of S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis from dogs was associated with frequent contact with horses (OR=9.8 (95% CI=2.6-72.8)). Three different multilocus sequence type profiles of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus that have not been previously reported in dogs were recovered. Conclusions: Subclinical infection or colonisation by S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus and S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis occurs in dogs and further research on inter-species transmission and the pathogenic potential of these Lancefield group C streptococci is needed. Complete speciation of β-haemolytic streptococci should be recommended in clinical cases and the possible exposure to horses and their environment should be considered in epidemiological investigations.
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Publication Date: 2015-06-18 PubMed ID: 25695401DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2015.1016133Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article seeks to determine the prevalence of two particular types of streptococcus bacteria, S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, in healthy cats, dogs and horses. It further investigates whether contact with horses influences the presence of these bacteria in cats and dogs.

Methodology

  • The research was carried out by collecting oropharyngeal swabs from 197 dogs and 72 cats, as well as nasopharyngeal swabs from 93 horses.
  • These animals were all healthy and were tested at the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
  • The domestic animals were categorized into three groups: Urban dogs and cats (with minimal contact with horses or farm livestock), Farm dogs (minimal contact with horses) and Stable dogs and cats (regular contact with horses).
  • The swabs were then cultured to identify the presence of β-haemolytic Streptococcus spp. Subspecies of Lancefield group C streptococci were confirmed using phenotypic and molecular techniques.

Results

  • Out of the 197 dogs sampled, 10.7% tested positive for S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and 2.0% tested positive for S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus.
  • All these bacterial strains except for one were found in ‘Stable dogs’ those in regular contact with horses.
  • One Stable cat tested positive for S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis.
  • Among the horses, 23.7% had confirmed presence of S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and 6.5% had S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus.
  • The study also noticed a significant correlation between the presence of S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis in dogs and their frequent contact with horses.
  • Multilocus sequence typing helped identify three S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus profiles that were previously not reported in dogs.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that subclinical infection or colonisation by S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus does occur in dogs.
  • It suggests further research on the pathogenic potential of these bacteria and how they transmit between species.
  • The study also recommends complete speciation of β-haemolytic streptococci in clinical cases and considerations of possible horse exposure during epidemiological investigations.

Cite This Article

APA
Acke E, Midwinter AC, Lawrence K, Gordon SJ, Moore S, Rasiah I, Steward K, French N, Waller A. (2015). Prevalence of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus in a sample of healthy dogs, cats and horses. N Z Vet J, 63(5), 265-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2015.1016133

Publication

New Zealand veterinary journal
ISSN: 0048-0169
NlmUniqueID: 0021406
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 5
Pages: 265-271

Researcher Affiliations

Acke, E
  • a Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , Palmerston North , New Zealand.
Midwinter, A C
    Lawrence, K
      Gordon, S J G
        Moore, S
          Rasiah, I
            Steward, K
              French, N
                Waller, A

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Animals
                  • Carrier State
                  • Cats / microbiology
                  • Dogs / microbiology
                  • Horses / microbiology
                  • Oropharynx / microbiology
                  • Streptococcus / classification
                  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification

                  Citations

                  This article has been cited 12 times.
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                  10. Kittang BR, Pettersen VK, Oppegaard O, Skutlaberg DH, Dale H, Wiker HG, Skrede S. Zoonotic necrotizing myositis caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in a farmer. BMC Infect Dis 2017 Feb 15;17(1):147.
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