FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J S Afr Vet Assoc / Seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi in horses in Israel.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association2017; 88; e1-e6; doi: 10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1508

Seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi in horses in Israel.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is a common cause of pneumonia in foals and has extensive clinical, economic and possibly zoonotic consequences. This bacterium survives well in the environment and may be considered as normal flora of adult horses. Certain strains of this bacterium are extremely virulent in foals, and early identification and intervention is crucial for prognosis. Rhodococcus equi is endemic in many parts of the world and occasionally isolated in Israel. This study was designed to evaluate R. equi seroprevalence in adult horses in Israel to indirectly indicate the potential level of exposure of susceptible foals. Sera were collected from 144 horses during spring 2011 and from 293 horses during fall 2014, and the presence of antibodies against virulent R. equi was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Equine seroprevalence of R. equi was found to be 7.6% in 2011 and 5.1% in 2014. Only one farm had seropositive horses in 2011, whereas several farms had seropositive horses in 2014. No significant risk factors for seropositivity were found. Rhodococcus equi appears to be endemic in Israel. This is the first survey of R. equi in Israel that provides information on the epidemiology of this important bacterium.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2017-06-26 PubMed ID: 28697612PubMed Central: PMC6138172DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1508Google 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.

The research article discusses a study conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium causing pneumonia in foals, in adult horses in Israel. The study indirectly hints at the potential exposure risk to susceptible foals and denotes the endemic presence of the bacterium in the country.

Purpose of the Research

  • The primary goal of the study was to measure the seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi in adult horses in Israel. Determining the seroprevalence allowed the researchers to evaluate the potential exposure level of susceptible foals to this bacterium.
  • The bacterium can cause significant health issues in foals, including pneumonia, potentially leading to serious clinical and economic consequences. Therefore, it is essential to understand the level of exposure to initiate timely prevention and treatment measures.

Methodology of the Research

  • The study collected serum from 144 horses in spring 2011 and 293 horses in fall 2014. The samples were then tested for the presence of antibodies against virulent R. equi using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  • ELISA is a common diagnostic tool used to detect the presence of antibodies that would indicate past or present infection with the bacterium. It provides a reliable and accurate measure of seroprevalence in the horse population.

Findings of the Research

  • The study found that the seroprevalence of R. equi in horses was 7.6% in 2011 and 5.1% in 2014, suggesting an ongoing presence of the bacterium in the horse population in Israel.
  • The research also noted that only one farm had seropositive horses in 2011, while there were several farms with seropositive horses in 2014. This suggests an increase in the spread of the bacterium across multiple sites over the period.
  • However, the study did not identify any significant risk factors for seropositivity, indicating the need for further research into the contributing factors and conditions that may favor the bacterium’s prevalence and proliferation.

Significance of the Research

  • This study is the first to provide information on the epidemiology of R. equi in Israel, indicating that the bacterium appears to be endemic in the region.
  • The findings underscore the important role of monitoring R. equi seroprevalence in preventing and controlling the disease that it causes, especially in foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Tirosh-Levy S, Gürbilek SE, Tel OY, Keskin O, Steinman A. (2017). Seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi in horses in Israel. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 88, e1-e6. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1508

Publication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
ISSN: 2224-9435
NlmUniqueID: 7503122
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 88
Pages: e1-e6
PII: 1508

Researcher Affiliations

Tirosh-Levy, Sharon
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. sharontirosh@gmail.com.
Gürbilek, Sevil E
    Tel, Osman Y
      Keskin, Oktay
        Steinman, Amir

          MeSH Terms

          • Actinomycetales Infections / epidemiology
          • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horses
          • Israel / epidemiology
          • Male
          • Rhodococcus equi / immunology
          • Seroepidemiologic Studies

          Conflict of Interest Statement

          The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

          References

          This article includes 24 references
          1. Attili AR, Kennerman E, Takai S, Or ME, Marenzoni ML, Torun S, Pieramati C, Kayar A, Golcu E, Parkan C, Yilmaz Z, Gonul R, Valente C, Cuteri V. Seroepidemiological survey of Rhodoccocus equi infection in asymptomatic horses from Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul provinces, Turkey.. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2006 Nov;29(5-6):323-33.
            doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2006.08.002pubmed: 17034856google scholar: lookup
          2. Cohen ND. Rhodococcus equi foal pneumonia.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2014 Dec;30(3):609-22.
            doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.08.010pubmed: 25282322google scholar: lookup
          3. Cuteri V, Takai S, Moscati L, Battistacci L, Pieramati C, Valente C. A serological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection in foals in central Italy: comparison of two antigens using an ELISA test.. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2003 Jan;26(1):17-23.
            doi: 10.1016/S0147-9571(02)00020-6pubmed: 12602683google scholar: lookup
          4. Giguère S, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Hines SA, Hondalus MK, Prescott JF, Slovis NM. Rhodococcus equi: clinical manifestations, virulence, and immunity.. J Vet Intern Med 2011 Nov-Dec;25(6):1221-30.
            doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00804.xpubmed: 22092609google scholar: lookup
          5. Giguère S, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Slovis NM, Hondalus MK, Hines SA, Prescott JF. Diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of infections caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2011 Nov-Dec;25(6):1209-20.
            doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00835.xpubmed: 22092608google scholar: lookup
          6. Giguère S, Hernandez J, Gaskin J, Prescott JF, Takai S, Miller C. Performance of five serological assays for diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2003 Mar;10(2):241-5.
            doi: 10.1128/cdli.10.2.241-245.2003pmc: PMC150531pubmed: 12626449google scholar: lookup
          7. Giguère S, Prescott JF. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Rhodococcus equi infections in foals.. Vet Microbiol 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):313-34.
            doi: 10.1016/S0378-1135(97)00099-0pubmed: 9226845google scholar: lookup
          8. Higuchi T, Hashikura S, Gojo C, Inui T, Satoh S, Yoshida M, Ishiyama T, Yamada H, Takai S. Clinical evaluation of the serodiagnostic value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Rhodococcus equi infection in foals.. Equine Vet J 1997 Jul;29(4):274-8.
            doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03123.xpubmed: 15338907google scholar: lookup
          9. Kaba J, Kutschke L, Gerlach GF. Development of an ELISA for the diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infections in goats.. Vet Microbiol 2001 Jan 26;78(2):155-63.
            doi: 10.1016/S0378-1135(00)00284-4pubmed: 11163705google scholar: lookup
          10. Martens RJ, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Takai S, Doherty CL, Angulo AB, Edwards RE. Evaluation of 5 serologic assays to detect Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002 Sep 15;221(6):825-33.
            doi: 10.2460/javma.2002.221.825pubmed: 12322921google scholar: lookup
          11. Morresey PR, Waldridge BM. Successful treatment of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in an adult horse.. J Vet Intern Med 2010 Mar-Apr;24(2):436-8.
            doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0472.xpubmed: 20136716google scholar: lookup
          12. Muscatello G. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in the foal--part 1: pathogenesis and epidemiology.. Vet J 2012 Apr;192(1):20-6.
            doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.08.014pubmed: 22015138google scholar: lookup
          13. Muscatello G. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in the foal--part 2: diagnostics, treatment and disease management.. Vet J 2012 Apr;192(1):27-33.
            doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.08.009pubmed: 22036870google scholar: lookup
          14. Ocampo-Sosa AA, Lewis DA, Navas J, Quigley F, Callejo R, Scortti M, Leadon DP, Fogarty U, Vazquez-Boland JA. Molecular epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi based on traA, vapA, and vapB virulence plasmid markers.. J Infect Dis 2007 Sep 1;196(5):763-9.
            doi: 10.1086/519688pubmed: 17674320google scholar: lookup
          15. Reuss SM, Cohen ND. Update on bacterial pneumonia in the foal and weanling.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2015 Apr;31(1):121-35.
            doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.11.004pubmed: 25600452google scholar: lookup
          16. Sanada Y, Noda H, Nagahata H. Serological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection in horses in Hokkaido.. J Vet Med Sci 1992 Aug;54(4):649-52.
            doi: 10.1292/jvms.54.649pubmed: 1391174google scholar: lookup
          17. Sanz MG, Oliveira AF, Loynachan A, Page A, Svansson V, Giguère S, Horohov DW. Validation and evaluation of VapA-specific IgG and IgG subclass enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to identify foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia.. Equine Vet J 2016 Jan;48(1):103-8.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.12363pubmed: 25257622google scholar: lookup
          18. Steinman A, Sutton GA, Elad D. Rhodococcus equi in foals: First report in Israel and it’s importance to human medicine. Ha’refua 137(5), 202–204.
          19. Tákai S, Hidaka D, Fujii M, Shindoh Y, Murata T, Nakanishi S, Sasaki Y, Tsubaki S, Kamada M. Serum antibody responses of foals to virulence-associated 15- to 17-kilodalton antigens of Rhodococcus equi.. Vet Microbiol 1996 Sep;52(1-2):63-71.
            doi: 10.1016/0378-1135(96)00042-9pubmed: 8914251google scholar: lookup
          20. Takai S, Kawazu S, Tsubaki S. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals.. Am J Vet Res 1985 Oct;46(10):2166-70.
            pubmed: 4062024
          21. Tel OY, Arserim NB, Keskin O. Seroepidemiological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection in asymptomatic horses and donkeys from southeast Turkey.. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2011 Dec;82(4):224-6.
            doi: 10.4102/jsava.v82i4.78pubmed: 22616436google scholar: lookup
          22. Vázquez-Boland JA, Giguère S, Hapeshi A, MacArthur I, Anastasi E, Valero-Rello A. Rhodococcus equi: the many facets of a pathogenic actinomycete.. Vet Microbiol 2013 Nov 29;167(1-2):9-33.
            doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.06.016pubmed: 23993705google scholar: lookup
          23. Weinstock DM, Brown AE. Rhodococcus equi: an emerging pathogen.. Clin Infect Dis 2002 May 15;34(10):1379-85.
            doi: 10.1086/340259pubmed: 11981734google scholar: lookup
          24. Witkowski L, Kaba J, Rzewuska M, Nowicki M, Szaluś-Jordanow O, Kita J. Development of ELISA test for determination of the level of antibodies against Rhodococcus equi in equine serum and colostrum.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012 Oct 15;149(3-4):280-5.
            doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.07.009pubmed: 22883938google scholar: lookup

          Citations

          This article has been cited 1 times.
          1. Nielsen SS, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Alvarez J. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial-resistant Rhodococcus equi in horses.. EFSA J 2022 Feb;20(2):e07081.
            doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7081pubmed: 35136423google scholar: lookup
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.