Severe amoebic placentitis in a horse caused by an Acanthamoeba hatchetti isolate identified using next-generation sequencing.
Abstract: A case of amoebic placentitis in a mare from eastern Australia was diagnosed postpartum by histopathological examination of the placenta. The identity of the etiological agent was confirmed as Acanthamoeba hatchetti by use of diversity profiling based on a next-generation sequencing approach.
Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-05-14 PubMed ID: 24829227PubMed Central: PMC4136155DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01071-14Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The researchers reported a case of extreme amoebic placentitis in a horse, identified as having been caused by the Acanthamoeba hatchetti, an amoeba, using a modern DNA sequencing method.
Objective of the Research
- The purpose of this study was to diagnose a case of severe amoebic placentitis in a mare from eastern Australia using histopathological analysis of the placenta.
- The researchers also aimed to identify the cause of the disease using a new generation DNA profiling technique.
Methods Employed
- The scientific team conducted a postpartum examination of the mare’s placenta, applying histopathological methods. Histopathology involves the microscopic examination of biological tissues to observe the appearance of diseased cells and tissues in very fine detail.
- They confirmed the identity of the causing agent, the Acanthamoeba hatchetti, by deploying Advanced DNA sequencing technique, also known as “next-generation sequencing”.
Findings of the Research
- The histopathological examination revealed signs of severe amoebic placentitis in the mare. Placentitis is an inflammation of the placenta, which during pregnancy can lead to severe complications such as abortion, fetal death, or the birth of a non-viable foal.
- The Acanthamoeba hatchetti was identified as the causative organism for the observed placentitis. Acanthamoeba is a genus of amoebae, one of the most common protozoans in soil, and also frequently found in fresh water and other habitats. Certain species of Acanthamoeba can cause disease in humans and other animals.
- Next-generation sequencing was critical in confirming the identity of Acanthamoeba hatchetti. It is a highly accurate method that enables rapid sequencing of the base pairs in DNA or RNA samples, making it easier to analyze complex mixtures of sequences and identify specific pathogens.
Significance of the Study
- This case study brings attention to the risk that various amoebic species present to reproductive health in horses, a dimension that needs more research for the formulation of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.
- The successful application of next-generation sequencing showcases its potential in accurate pathogen identification and diagnostics in veterinary medicine.
Cite This Article
APA
Begg AP, Todhunter K, Donahoe SL, Krockenberger M, Slapeta J.
(2014).
Severe amoebic placentitis in a horse caused by an Acanthamoeba hatchetti isolate identified using next-generation sequencing.
J Clin Microbiol, 52(8), 3101-3104.
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01071-14 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Vetnostics, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.
- Vetnostics, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia jan.slapeta@sydney.edu.au.
MeSH Terms
- Acanthamoeba / genetics
- Acanthamoeba / isolation & purification
- Amebiasis / diagnosis
- Amebiasis / parasitology
- Amebiasis / pathology
- Amebiasis / veterinary
- Animals
- Australia
- DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
- DNA, Protozoan / genetics
- Female
- High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Placenta Diseases / diagnosis
- Placenta Diseases / parasitology
- Placenta Diseases / pathology
- Placenta Diseases / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / diagnosis
- Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology
- Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / pathology
- Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / veterinary
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Tuska-Szalay B, Kelly H, Takács N, Kontschán J, Votýpka J, Hornok S. Molecular evidence of Monocercomonas and Acanthamoeba in the feces of captive reptiles.. Parasitol Res 2022 Dec;121(12):3681-3687.
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