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Letters in applied microbiology2022; 75(4); 908-912; doi: 10.1111/lam.13769

Virulence plasmids in clinical isolates of Rhodococcus equi from sick foals in the Netherlands.

Abstract: Clinical samples from 123 foals with suspected rhodococcosis submitted to the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Centre of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine between 1993 and 2006 were tested for the presence of the virulence gene vapA. Of the 123 samples, 120 were vapA-positive and 3 vapA-negative Rhodococcus equi were isolated. The 120 vapA-positive R. equi were isolated from 70 tracheal wash, 19 lung tissues, 7 lymph nodes, 6 synovial fluids, 13 abscesses or pus and single isolates from the uterus, gut, cerebrospinal fluid, abdomen fluid and faeces. Of the 120 isolates, 46 were from Dutch warmblood horses, 23 from Friesian horses, 14 from Trotters, 4 from Holsteiners, 3 from Arab breed, 2 from ponies, 1 from a Welsh pony and 27 from undefined breed horses. Using plasmid profile analysis of the 120 isolates, 117 isolates contained the 85-kb type I plasmid, 2 contained the 87-kb type I plasmid and 1 contained the novel 52-kb non-mobilizable virulence plasmid reported recently. These results showed that the virulent R. equi strains harbouring a virulence plasmid of 85-kb type I or 87-kb type I, which have been detected in clinical isolates from five European countries, are widespread in the Netherlands. This is the first report of plasmid types of clinical R. equi isolates in the Netherlands.
© 2022 Society for Applied Microbiology.
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Publication Date: 2022-06-24 PubMed ID: 35707941DOI: 10.1111/lam.13769Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research focused on identifying strains of the Rhodococcus equi bacteria, which causes illness in foals, found within clinical samples taken from sick foals in the Netherlands. It was discovered that common virulent strains, identified by a certain type of plasmid, were prevalent, indicating this bacteria is widespread in the country.

Study Background and Rationale

  • The study was carried out between 1993 and 2006 due to reports of sick foals showing symptoms of rhodococcosis, an infection caused by Rhodococcus equi.
  • The research was aimed at identifying the particular strains of R. equi present in these foals, focusing on the virulence gene vapA and the types of plasmids a bacterium harbors.
  • The virulence gene vapA, when present, can indicate a more dangerous strain of the bacteria, while different types of plasmids (DNA molecules separate from the bacterial chromosome) can also offer insight into the bacterium’s mobility and virulence.

Sample Collection and Analysis

  • 123 clinical samples were collected from foals suspected to have rhodococcosis and tested for the presence of the vapA gene.
  • These samples included tracheal wash, lung tissues, lymph nodes, synovial fluids, abscesses or pus, and single isolates from various organs.
  • Foals from different horse breeds were included in the study to give a more comprehensive view of the bacteria’s prevalence.

Major Findings

  • Out of 123 samples, 120 were positive for vapA, indicating a high prevalence of virulent R. equi.
  • Different types of plasmids were found in these bacteria: most harbored the 85-kb type I plasmid and a small number had the 87-kb type I plasmid or a newly reported 52-kb non-mobilizable virulence plasmid.
  • This finding indicates that virulent R. equi strains, carrying either 85-kb type I or 87-kb type I plasmids, are widespread in the Netherlands.
  • This study is the first of its kind reporting these plasmid types among clinical R. equi isolates in the Netherlands.

Implications of the Study

  • Understanding the virulence and mobility of R. equi strains can help in the development of more effective treatments and preventative measures for rhodococcosis in foals.
  • The study underscores the need for continued and widespread testing, particularly in countries like the Netherlands where the prevalence of virulent R. equi strains is high.

Cite This Article

APA
Takai S, Ohashi M, Suzuki Y, Sasaki Y, Kakuda T, Broens EM, Wagenaar JA, van Duijkeren E. (2022). Virulence plasmids in clinical isolates of Rhodococcus equi from sick foals in the Netherlands. Lett Appl Microbiol, 75(4), 908-912. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.13769

Publication

Letters in applied microbiology
ISSN: 1472-765X
NlmUniqueID: 8510094
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 75
Issue: 4
Pages: 908-912

Researcher Affiliations

Takai, S
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Ohashi, M
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Suzuki, Y
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Sasaki, Y
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Kakuda, T
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Broens, E M
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Wagenaar, J A
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
van Duijkeren, E
  • National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / epidemiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses / genetics
  • Netherlands
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Rhodococcus equi / genetics
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Virulence / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / genetics

Grant Funding

  • Racehorse Production and Breeding Research Grant Programme

References

This article includes 26 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Ganbaatar O, Ganzorig S, Tseren-Ochir EO, Suzuki Y, Takai S. Isolation of vapA-positive Rhodococcus equi from soil and fecal samples in Mongolia. J Vet Med Sci 2025 Oct 1;87(10):1112-1115.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.25-0267pubmed: 40754416google scholar: lookup
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