Rapid and accurate identification of Streptococcus equi subspecies by MALDI-TOF MS.
Abstract: Streptococcus equi includes very important animal and human pathogens. S. equi subsp. equi (SEE) is a highly pathogenic equine specific subspecies, while S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) and S. equi subsp. ruminatorum are opportunistic pathogens of various animal species and humans. Due to great phenotypic and sequence similarity between three subspecies their discrimination remains difficult. In this study, we aimed to design and validate a novel, Superspectra based, MALDI-TOF MS approach for reliable, rapid and cost-effective identification of SEE and SEZ, the most frequent S. equi subspecies in horses. Superspectra created in this study enabled correct identification of 86 strains belonging to different subspecies of S. equi, isolated from various hosts, infection sites and years. In general, higher average identification accuracy was achieved for SEE (99.0±3.0%) than for SEZ (93.3±7.5%). This result may be attributed to the highly clonal population structure of SEE, as opposed to the diversity of SEZ seen in horses. Importantly strains with atypical colony appearance both within SEE and SEZ did not affect correct identification of the strains by MALDI-TOF MS. Atypical colony variants are often associated with a higher persistence or virulence of S. equi, thus their correct identification using the current method strengthens its potential use in routine clinical diagnostics. In conclusion, reliable identification of S. equi subspecies was achieved by combining a MALDI-TOF MS method with spectra analyses using the SARAMIS database. Additionally, first results on subtyping of SEZ indicated that a more refined discrimination, for example for epidemiological surveys, may be possible.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2015-04-23 PubMed ID: 25944783DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2015.02.010Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Validation Study
Summary
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This research article discusses the development and validation of a new method, using Superspectra and MALDI-TOF MS, to quickly, reliably, and affordably identify the different subspecies of Streptococcus equi, a bacteria responsible for various animal and human diseases. The accuracy of this method was comparatively higher for the S. equi equi subspecies compared to the S. equi zooepidemicus subspecies due to genetic differences between the two.
Identification of Streptococcus equi Subspecies
- Streptococcus equi is a bacterium species that includes pathogenic strains affecting both animals and humans. Among these are the subspecies S. equi subsp. equi (SEE), a highly pathogenic horse-specific subspecies, and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ), a subspecies that opportunistically affects various animal species and humans.
- The categorization of these subspecies has been challenging due to apparent phenotypic and sequence similarities. This study aimed to create a system to readily and accurately identify these subspecies, with a particular focus on SEE and SEZ, the most frequently observed strains in horses.
Superspectra Based MALDI-TOF MS Approach
- The study designed and validated a novel approach using Superspectra and MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization – Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry) for the identification process.
- The Superspectra created in this research perfectly identified 86 strains of different S. equi subspecies, collected from various hosts, infection locations, and years.
- The average identification accuracy was higher for SEE at 99.0±3.0% versus SEZ at 93.3±7.5%. The greater accuracy for SEE identification might be due to its highly clonal population structure, as opposed to the diversity seen in SEZ in horses.
Advanced Clinical Diagnostics
- The research confirmed the new method’s ability to correctly identify strains with atypical colony appearances within both SEE and SEZ. These variants are often associated with elevated persistence or virulence, so their correct identification is critical in clinical diagnostics.
- By combining the MALDI-TOF MS method with spectral analyses using the SARAMIS database, reliable identification of S. equi subspecies was achieved in the study.
- Also, the initial SEZ subtyping results showed promise for a more refined discrimination capability, potentially valuable for broader epidemiological purposes.
Cite This Article
APA
Kudirkiene E, Welker M, Knudsen NR, Bojesen AM.
(2015).
Rapid and accurate identification of Streptococcus equi subspecies by MALDI-TOF MS.
Syst Appl Microbiol, 38(5), 315-322.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2015.02.010 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
- BioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes 38390, France.
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Electronic address: miki@sund.ku.dk.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteriological Techniques / methods
- Horses
- Humans
- Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / chemistry
- Streptococcus equi / classification
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Nocera FP, Capozzi L, Simone D, Pizzano F, Iovane V, Bianco A, Parisi A, De Martino L. Multi-locus sequence typing and in vitro antimicrobial resistance of equine Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus strains.. Vet Res Commun 2023 Aug 26;.
- Waśniewska-Włodarczyk A, Pepaś R, Janowicz R, Konopka W. Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in Retropharyngeal Abscess: Case Report and Review of Literature.. Microorganisms 2022 Oct 14;10(10).
- Nocera FP, D'Eletto E, Ambrosio M, Fiorito F, Pagnini U, De Martino L. Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems.. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Dec 27;11(1).
- Wang C, Pors SE, Christensen JP, Bojesen AM, Thøfner I. Comparison and assessment of necropsy lesions in end-of-lay laying hens from different housing systems in Denmark.. Poult Sci 2020 Jan;99(1):119-128.
- Piamsomboon P, Jaresitthikunchai J, Hung TQ, Roytrakul S, Wongtavatchai J. Identification of bacterial pathogens in cultured fish with a custom peptide database constructed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).. BMC Vet Res 2020 Feb 11;16(1):52.
- Pérez-Sancho M, Vela AI, Horcajo P, Ugarte-Ruiz M, Domínguez L, Fernández-Garayzábal JF, de la Fuente R. Rapid differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus subspecies based on MALDI-TOF MS profiles.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Nov;30(6):813-820.
- Lindgren Å, Karami N, Karlsson R, Åhrén C, Welker M, Moore ERB, Stadler LS. Development of a rapid MALDI-TOF MS based epidemiological screening method using MRSA as a model organism.. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Jan;37(1):57-68.
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