|
1
|
Cantelmi MC, Merola C, Averaimo D, Chiaverini A, Cito F, Cocco A, Di Teodoro G, De Angelis ME, Di Bernardo D, Auzino D, Petrini A. Identification of the Novel Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sequence Type 525 in Donkeys of Abruzzo Region, Italy. Pathogens 2023; 12:750. [PMID: 37375440 PMCID: PMC10305129 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi sub. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is described as a commensal bacterium of several animal species, including humans. Growing evidence supports the potential role of SEZ in the onset and progression of severe clinical manifestations of diseases in horses and other animals. In the present communication, we describe the diagnostic procedure applied to characterize the streptococcal infections caused by a novel SEZ sequence type (ST525) in donkeys raised on a farm in Abruzzo, Italy. The diagnostic process began with anamnesis and anatomopathological analysis, which revealed a severe bacterial suppurative bronchopneumonia associated with systemic vascular damage and haemorrhages. Then, SEZ infection was confirmed by applying an integrative diagnostic strategy that included standard bacterial isolation techniques, analytical tools for bacteria identification (MALDI-TOF MS), and molecular analysis (qPCR). Furthermore, the application of the whole-genome sequencing approach helped us to identify the bacterial strains and the virulence factors involved in animal diseases. The novel SEZ-ST525 was identified in two cases of the disease. This new sequence type was isolated from the lung, liver, and spleen in Case 1, and from retropharyngeal lymph nodes in Case 2. Moreover, the presence of the virulence gene mf2, a virulence factor carried by prophages in Streptococcus pyogenes, was also found for the first time in an SEZ strain. The results of the present study highlight the need to apply an integrated diagnostic approach for the identification and tracking of pathogenic strains of SEZ, shedding new light on the re-evaluation of these bacteria as a causative agent of disease in animals and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Cantelmi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Carmine Merola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Daniela Averaimo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Alexandra Chiaverini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Francesca Cito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Antonio Cocco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Giovanni Di Teodoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Elisabetta De Angelis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | | | - Davide Auzino
- Freelance Veterinary Practitioner, 65019 Pescara, Italy; (D.D.B.); (D.A.)
| | - Antonio Petrini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Uchida-Fujii E, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Maeda T, Nukada T, Ueno T. High prevalence of Mycoplasma equirhinis in Thoroughbred horses with respiratory symptoms in autumn 2018. J Vet Med Sci 2021; 83:1907-1912. [PMID: 34732605 PMCID: PMC8762419 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma species are often isolated from horses with respiratory symptoms; however, the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma is still unclear. In autumn of 2018, we encountered an increase in cases with respiratory symptoms, mainly coughing, in a group of Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan. We examined tracheal wash samples obtained from 40 of those cases. Bacteria and viruses that commonly cause respiratory symptoms were investigated, and anaerobes were detected in only 5 cases and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) was detected in only 1 case of 40 cases with loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay. S. zooepidemicus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated at a bacterial count of higher than 1.0 × 104 CFU/ml from 5 and 2 cases of 28 cases cultured, respectively. None of the viruses investigated was detected in 40 cases. Mycoplasma equirhinis (M. equirhinis) was isolated from 40.0% (16/40) of the cases, which was higher than previously reported isolation rates. The rate of M. equirhinis isolation in the cases from 2018 was significantly higher than the isolation rates in the other horses: clinical cases with respiratory symptoms in 2019-2020 (13.6%, 3/22) and healthy horses (13.5%, 5/37) in Japan. In this study, the isolation rate of M. equirhinis from horse group with cough symptoms in 2018 was high and no other common etiological agents were detected. The pathogenesis of M. equirhinis is still unclear, however, M. equirhinis might have been associated with respiratory symptoms in the Thoroughbred horse cases in 2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eri Uchida-Fujii
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association
| | - Yuta Kinoshita
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association
| | - Hidekazu Niwa
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association
| | - Tatsuya Maeda
- Research Planning and Coordination Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association
| | - Toshio Nukada
- Racehorse Clinic, Ritto Training Center, Japan Racing Association, Ritto
| | - Takanori Ueno
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association
| |
Collapse
|