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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(10); 1351; doi: 10.3390/ani15101351

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus: Epidemiological and Genomic Findings of an Emerging Pathogen in Central Italy.

Abstract: subsp. (SEZ) is a major problem in equine veterinary medicine. Typically, a commensal in horses, SEZ can cause severe disease including respiratory infections, septicaemia and reproductive tract infections under certain conditions. Recent evidence suggests that humans can also develop severe disease infection through direct contact with infected animals or the consumption of contaminated unpasteurised milk and milk products. This study investigates SEZ strains isolated from nasal swabs of equidae in central Italy in 2023 to describe the epidemiology and genomic characteristics of circulating strains. A sampling plan was implemented to randomly collect nasal swabs from equid farms in the Abruzzo and Molise regions. In addition, a sampling form was designed to collect information on risk factors related to the presence of the bacterium and the potential development of respiratory disease. Relative risk was used to measure the association between the presence of SEZ in the samples and various variables. The swabs were analysed by real-time PCR and isolation. To confirm the identification and characterise the strains, the isolates were fully sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the Illumina platform. A total of 478 animals from 99 farms were sampled and 30% of the animals tested positive for SEZ (79% horses, 20% donkeys, 1% mules). Forty-five percent of the farms tested positive for SEZ. Monitoring the clonal spread of SEZ is essential to understand the ecology of this emerging zoonotic pathogen, to assess the risk, and to implement effective control measures. In addition, genomic assessments are recommended to investigate the pathogenicity of circulating strains. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology and genomic diversity of SEZ strains isolated in central Italy.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-08 PubMed ID: 40427230PubMed Central: PMC12108151DOI: 10.3390/ani15101351Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 paper is a study on the bacterial strain Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ), which is usually found in horses, but can also infect humans. The study, specifically conducted in Central Italy, investigates the prevalence of this strain in horses and identifies its genomic characteristics.

Study Objective and Method

  • The purpose of this study was to understand the prevalence, epidemiology, and genomic characteristics of SEZ strains in horses in Central Italy.
  • This was done through random collection of nasal swabs from horses in Abruzzo and Molise regions.
  • The team used a questionnaire to collect information about specific risk factors regarding the presence of this bacterium and potential development of respiratory disease.
  • The association between the prevalence of SEZ and various variables was measured using relative risk.

Data Collection and Analysis

  • Swabs were analysed using real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and isolation methods.
  • To confirm the bacterial identity and study the characteristics of the strains, the researchers sequenced the isolated strains using next-generation sequencing on the Illumina platform.

Findings of the Study

  • The study included 478 animals from 99 farms, and found that 30% of the animals tested positive for SEZ.
  • This included 79% horses, 20% donkeys, and 1% mules.
  • Approximately 45% of the farms tested had cases of SEZ.

Implications of the Study

  • Understanding the spread of SEZ is crucial from both an ecological and a public health point of view. This is due to its zoonotic potential – its ability to transmit from animals to humans, and cause disease.
  • The study supports the need for rigorous monitoring of SEZ spread, risk assessment, and the implementation of control measures to prevent and manage the disease.
  • It also recommends genomic assessments to better understand the pathogenicity of the circulating strains.
  • This research adds to the understanding of the epidemiology and genomic diversity of SEZ strains in central Italy.

Cite This Article

APA
Cito F, Di Francesco CE, Averaimo D, Chiaverini A, Alessiani A, Di Domenico M, Cresci M, Rulli M, Cantelmi MC, Di Bernardo MD, Giammarino A, Vincifori G, Petrini A. (2025). Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus: Epidemiological and Genomic Findings of an Emerging Pathogen in Central Italy. Animals (Basel), 15(10), 1351. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101351

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 10
PII: 1351

Researcher Affiliations

Cito, Francesca
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Di Francesco, Cristina Esmeralda
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Averaimo, Daniela
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Chiaverini, Alexandra
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Alessiani, Alessandra
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Di Domenico, Marco
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Cresci, Marta
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Rulli, Marco
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Cantelmi, Maria Chiara
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Di Bernardo, Maria Daniela
  • Freelance Veterinary Practitioner, 66023 Chieti, Italy.
Giammarino, Angelo
  • Unità Operativa Complessa Servizio di Sanità Animale, Azienda USL di Pescara, 65124, Pescara, Italy.
Vincifori, Giacomo
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Petrini, Antonio
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise-IZSAM, 64100 Teramo, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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