FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Clin Microbiol / Prevalence of the virulence-associated gene of Rhodococcus e...
Journal of clinical microbiology1997; 35(6); 1642-1644; doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.6.1642-1644.1997

Prevalence of the virulence-associated gene of Rhodococcus equi in isolates from infected foals.

Abstract: The prevalence of the plasmid-encoded virulence-associated gene (vapA) of Rhodococcus equi, as determined by PCR, was found to be 98% in isolates from 154 foals with pneumonia, confirming the strong association of vapA with virulence. The vapA genes from 60 representative isolates were compared by digestion with the restriction endonuclease HinfI, and no evidence of sequence variation was detected.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1997-06-01 PubMed ID: 9163507PubMed Central: PMC229812DOI: 10.1128/jcm.35.6.1642-1644.1997Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

This research investigated the prevalence of a certain virulence gene (vapA) in a bacteria called Rhodococcus equi, which commonly causes pneumonia in foals. The study found that 98% of the infected samples had this gene, emphasizing its role in disease virulence.

Understanding the Research

  • The research paper focuses on studying the relationship between the virulence-associated gene (vapA) in Rhodococcus equi bacteria and its prevalence in causing pneumonia among foals.
  • Rhodococcus equi is a bacteria usually found in the soil that is capable of causing a serious lung infection, specifically pneumonia, in young foals. It carries a plasmid-encoded virulence-associated gene (vapA), which has been suggested to be a key factor in the bacteria’s ability to cause disease.

Study Methodology and Results

  • Using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay, a standard technique in molecular biology for amplifying specific DNA sequences, the researchers were able to determine the frequency of the vapA gene in samples from 154 foals diagnosed with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia.
  • After this procedure, it was found that the vapA gene was present in about 98% of the isolates. This high percentage indicates the pervasiveness of this gene in diseased samples, which further emphasizes its strong association with virulence.
  • The researchers also studied the vapA genes from representative isolates by utilizing restriction endonuclease HinfI, which is a type of enzyme that cleaves DNA into fragments at specific sites. The aim here was to also determine if there was any variation in the vapA gene sequence among the different isolates.
  • No evidence of sequence variation was detected, which means that the vapA gene was conserved across different samples. This could imply that it possibly plays a crucial role in the bacteria’s pathogenicity, stability, and adaptability.

Importance and Implications of the Study

  • The results from this study could be instrumental in understanding the pathogenesis of Rhodococcus equi, which might help in developing more effective treatments or prevention strategies against this bacterial infection in foals.
  • The findings might also have implications for managing the health of horses and may open up further research opportunities in equine disease and genetics.

Cite This Article

APA
Haites RE, Muscatello G, Begg AP, Browning GF. (1997). Prevalence of the virulence-associated gene of Rhodococcus equi in isolates from infected foals. J Clin Microbiol, 35(6), 1642-1644. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.35.6.1642-1644.1997

Publication

Journal of clinical microbiology
ISSN: 0095-1137
NlmUniqueID: 7505564
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 6
Pages: 1642-1644

Researcher Affiliations

Haites, R E
  • Veterinary Preclinical Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Muscatello, G
    Begg, A P
      Browning, G F

        MeSH Terms

        • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
        • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
        • Animals
        • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
        • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
        • Genetic Variation
        • Horse Diseases / microbiology
        • Horses
        • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
        • Molecular Weight
        • Plasmids / analysis
        • Plasmids / chemistry
        • Pneumonia, Bacterial / microbiology
        • Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
        • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
        • Rhodococcus equi / genetics
        • Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
        • Virulence / genetics
        • Virulence Factors

        References

        This article includes 10 references
        1. Infect Immun. 1994 Oct;62(10):4167-75
          pubmed: 7927672
        2. Gene. 1995 Mar 21;155(1):135-6
          pubmed: 7698659
        3. Can J Vet Res. 1995 Jan;59(1):51-9
          pubmed: 7704843
        4. J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Jun;33(6):1624-7
          pubmed: 7650199
        5. Vet Microbiol. 1994 Mar;39(1-2):187-92
          pubmed: 8203124
        6. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Mar;29(3):439-43
          pubmed: 2037660
        7. Infect Immun. 1991 Nov;59(11):4056-60
          pubmed: 1937765
        8. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Dec;29(12):2696-700
          pubmed: 1757535
        9. J Clin Microbiol. 1994 Feb;32(2):457-60
          pubmed: 8150957
        10. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 1980;3(4):433-45
          pubmed: 7009050
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.