Virulence plasmids in clinical isolates of Rhodococcus equi from sick foals in the Netherlands. (24th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takai, S.; Ohashi, M.; Suzuki, Y.; Sasaki, Y.; Kakuda, T.; Broens, E.M.; Wagenaar, J.A.; van Duijkeren, E.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 75:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 908
• Page End: 912
• Publication Date: 2022-06-24
• Subjects: foals -- Netherlands -- pVAPA -- Rhodococcus equi -- virulence plasmids; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.13769
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

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. Abstract : Significance and Impact of the Study: Rhodococcus equi is a bacterial pathogen well‐known to cause pyogranulomatous pneumonia and lung abscesses in foals aged less than 6 months. This study 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, and a new variant of pVAPA 52 kb was identified. This is the first report of plasmid types of clinical R. equi isolates in the Netherlands.