Streptococcus equi: a pathogen restricted to one host.
Abstract: Strangles caused by the host adapted Lancefield group C Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) is a frequently diagnosed infectious disease of horses worldwide. Critical to the global success of S. equi is its ability to establish persistent infections within the guttural pouches of recovered apparently healthy horses that can result in transmission to in-contact animals. Recent research has identified key events in the S. equi genome, which occurred during its evolution from an ancestral strain of S. equi subspecies zooepidemicus, that may enhance its ability to evade host innate immune responses and rapidly multiply in the tonsillar complex and draining lymph nodes. This review discusses the role of these genetic events on the evolution and emergence of this important host-restricted pathogen.
Publication Date: 2011-07-14 PubMed ID: 21757503DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.028233-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
Summary
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The research article focuses on the Studying Strangles disease in horses caused by the Streptococcus equi bacteria. It discusses how this bacteria establishes persistent infections and explores the key genetic events in the evolution of the bacteria which help it avoid immune responses.
Understanding the Streptococcus equi Pathogen
- The Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) is the bacteria that causes Strangles disease, which is one of the most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases in horses across the world. The study thoroughly examines this bacteria and the disease that it causes.
- The analysis suggests that an essential characteristic of S. equi is its capability of developing enduring infections within the guttural pouches of horses, which have apparently recovered, leading to subsequent transmission of the disease to other horses.
Evolution of Streptococcus equi
- The article analyses the critical developments in the S. equi genome during the bacteria’s evolution from an ancestral strain of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus. These specific changes are suggested to boost its potential to bypass host innate immune responses and reproduce swiftly in the tonsillar complex and draining lymph nodes.
- The evolution of the bacteria and these genetic adaptations are specifically interesting because they contribute to the pathogenic characteristics of the S. equi bacteria and their ability to exclusively infect horses.
Implication of the Findings
- The review emphasizes on the implications of these genetic events on the evolution and manifestation of S. equi, which is an important host-restricted pathogen. The insights revealed help in understanding the mechanisms by which S. equi has evolved to evade the immune system, and could potentially provide valuable clues towards employing strategies to control the spread of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Waller AS, Paillot R, Timoney JF.
(2011).
Streptococcus equi: a pathogen restricted to one host.
J Med Microbiol, 60(Pt 9), 1231-1240.
https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.028233-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Evolution, Molecular
- Genome, Bacterial
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / transmission
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / genetics
- Streptococcus equi / pathogenicity
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- He L, Khine NO, Song J, Loubière C, Butaye P. Geographic diversity of the Streptococcus equi subsp. equi accessory genome: implications for vaccines and global surveillance. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1721958.
- Seeger MG, de Vargas APC, Vogel FSF, Cargnelutti JF. Streptococcus equi subsp. equi isolated from horses in Southern Brazil: molecular and phenotypic analyses. Braz J Microbiol 2025 Dec;56(4):2987-2996.
- Mohamed E, Van Cleemput J, Şahin B, Van den Broeck W, Boyen F, Nauwynck H. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Supernatant Containing Streptolysin S Alters the Equine Nasal and Vaginal Mucosa, Modulating Equine Herpesvirus 1, 3 and 4 Infections. Viruses 2025 Jul 14;17(7).
- Emiru AY, Regassa F, Endebu Duguma B, Kassaye A, Desyebelew B. Invitro antibacterial activity of bark, leaf and root extracts of combretum molle plant against streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles in donkeys and horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 Mar 13;20(1):102.
- Rotinsulu DA, Ewers C, Kerner K, Amrozi A, Soejoedono RD, Semmler T, Bauerfeind R. Molecular Features and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi Isolates from Strangles Cases in Indonesia. Vet Sci 2023 Jan 10;10(1).
- 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).
- Morris ERA, Wu J, Bordin AI, Lawhon SD, Cohen ND. Differences in the Accessory Genomes and Methylomes of Strains of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Obtained from the Respiratory Tract of Horses from Texas. Microbiol Spectr 2022 Feb 23;10(1):e0076421.
- Morris ERA, Boyle AG, Riihimäki M, Aspán A, Anis E, Hillhouse AE, Ivanov I, Bordin AI, Pringle J, Cohen ND. Differences in the genome, methylome, and transcriptome do not differentiate isolates of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi from horses with acute clinical signs from isolates of inapparent carriers. PLoS One 2021;16(6):e0252804.
- Cohen ND, Cywes-Bentley C, Kahn SM, Bordin AI, Bray JM, Wehmeyer SG, Pier GB. Vaccination of yearling horses against poly-N-acetyl glucosamine fails to protect against infection with Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. PLoS One 2020;15(10):e0240479.
- Torpiano P, Nestorova N, Vella C. Streptococcus equi subsp. equi meningitis, septicemia and subdural empyema in a child. IDCases 2020;21:e00808.
- Bergmann R, Jentsch MC, Uhlig A, Müller U, van der Linden M, Rasmussen M, Waller A, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Baums CG. Prominent Binding of Human and Equine Fibrinogen to Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Is Mediated by Specific SzM Types and Is a Distinct Phenotype of Zoonotic Isolates. Infect Immun 2019 Dec 17;88(1).
- Javed R, Taku AK, Gangil R, Sharma RK. Molecular characterization of virulence genes of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in equines. Vet World 2016 Aug;9(8):875-81.
- Gerhardts A, Henze SV, Bockmühl D, Höfer D. Fabric-skin models to assess infection transfer for impetigo contagiosa in a kindergarten scenario. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2015 Jun;34(6):1153-60.
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