Lineages of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi in the Irish equine industry

Background

Streptococcus equi ssp. equi is the causative agent of ‘Strangles’ in horses. This is a debilitating condition leading to economic loss, yard closures and cancellation of equestrian events. There are multiple genotypes of S. equi ssp. equi which can cause disease, but to date there has been no systematic study of strains which are prevalent in Ireland. This study identified and classified Streptococcus equi ssp. equi strains isolated from within the Irish equine industry.

Results

Two hundred veterinary isolates were subjected to SLST (single locus sequence typing) based on an internal sequence from the seM gene of Streptococcus equi ssp equi. Of the 171 samples which successfully gave an amplicon, 162 samples (137 Irish and 24 UK strains) gave robust DNA sequence information. Analysis of the sequences allowed division of the isolates into 19 groups, 13 of which contain at least 2 isolates and 6 groups containing single isolates. There were 19 positions where a DNA SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) occurs, and one 3 bp insertion. All groups had multiple (2–8) SNPs. Of the SNPs 17 would result in an amino acid change in the encoded protein. Interestingly, the single isolate EI8, which has 6 SNPs, has the three base pair insertion which is not seen in any other isolate, this would result in the insertion of an Ile residue at position 62 in that protein sequence. Comparison of the relevant region in the determined sequences with the UK Streptococcus equi seM MLST database showed that Group B (15 isolates) and Group I (2 isolates), as well as the individual isolates EI3 and EI8, are unique to Ireland, and some groups are most likely of UK origin (Groups F and M), but many more probably passed back and forth between the two countries.

Conclusions

The strains occurring in Ireland are not clonal and there is a considerable degree of sequence variation seen in the seM gene. There are two major clades causing infection in Ireland and these strains are also common in the UK.     

First Report of Molecular Characterization of Argentine Isolates of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Strangles is one of the most frequently diagnosed equine respiratory infectious diseases in the world. It is caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi), and it is an acute infection characterized by pyrexia, nasal discharge, pharyngitis, and abscessation of lymph nodes. Frequently, healthy horses might continue to harbor S. equi after clinical recovery. Although the genetic distance between S. equi isolates is short, strains can be differentiated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and single locus sequence typing for epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to characterize by PFGE Argentine isolates of S. equi obtained from horses with acute strangles and those that had recovered. Bacterial isolation and identification of 80 S. equi isolates by phenotypic and genotypic tests were performed using samples from 29 horses with acute strangles and 95 from healthy animals. Also, the isolates were characterized by PFGE using Bsp120I and SmaI. Visual comparison of macrorestriction patterns generated with both enzymes revealed three different DNA fragment profiles with variations of one or two bands. Interestingly, an identical profile was found in isolates from the same horse and from horses that were infected at the same time, and the horses recovered from strangles continue to carry the same strain. Some vaccinated horses have been mild infected for a different strain from that of carriers suggesting other source of infection. This is the first molecular characterization of Argentine isolates of S. equi, which shows the presence of three strains between 2010 and 2013 in Buenos Aires.     

Streptococcus equi in Equine: Diagnostic and Healthy Performance Impacts

Although the strangles disease of Streptococcus equi was discovered many decades ago in 1,251 by Jordanus Ruffus, it has still remained a major frequently diagnosed infection in horses all over the world. The S. equi subspecies pathogen is known to be often resistant to antibiotic treatment, and it makes the antibiotics inefficient; hence, this review was conducted to study how the disease can be managed. The age-long sign of this infection is the oozing of pus through the mucous and skin membranes. Affected horses lose appetite, develop fever, and become depressed, which result in them losing weight and becoming lethargic, reducing their physical activity especially when they are being raised for athletic and sport purposes. This article reviews various solutions proffered by several researchers about the healthy performance impacts of S. equi in equine.     

新疆地区3株驴源马链球菌马亚种新SeM基因型的鉴定与进化分析

从新疆地区某驴养殖场获得了3株驴腺疫链球菌分离株HTP133、HTP123和HTP232.为了解这3株驴腺疫链球菌的生物学特性和确定其分子分型,本研究对其进行了生化特性、药敏特性的检测,对16S rRNA进行序列对比分析,并利用PCR扩增SeM等位基因和测序鉴定其基因型.研究结果表明3株分离菌均为马链球菌马亚种.药敏试...     

A case of zoonosis associated with Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus

A sexagenarian couple operating a dairy farm, where there were also many horses, suffered a severe respiratory infection associated with the bacterium Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus. The investigation revealed that the source of infection was due to contacts with a horse having an infected wound from which we isolated this zoonotic agent.     

马链球菌兽疫亚种PGK蛋白的免疫保护试验

为了阐明马链球菌兽疫亚种(SEZ)PGK蛋白的免疫保护作用,使该菌引起猪、马、牛等多种动物的链球菌病得到有效控制,本试验构建PGK重组表达载体,纯化重组蛋白,对其免疫效力进行系统评价。结果表明:PGK蛋白可以诱导高滴度的血清Ig G抗体,并且可提供一定的免疫保护效力;Real-time PCR技术分析表明,PGK是一个重要的体内诱导抗原;并且可诱导高水平的Th1和Th2型免疫应答,揭示PGK在SEZ治病过程中起到重要作用,为新型疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Identification of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus surface associated proteins by enzymatic shaving

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (Streptococcus zooepidemicus, SEZ) is responsible for a wide variety of infections in many species. Attempts to control the infection caused by this agent are hampered by a lack of effective vaccines and useful diagnostic kits. Surface proteins of bacterial species are usually involved in interaction with host and hopefully act as biomarkers for serodiagnosis and subunit vaccine components. In this study, the surface proteins of SEZ C55138 strain were systematically identified by surface shaving with trypsin and a total of 20 surface associated proteins were found. Further analysis of five selected novel proteins (SzM, FBP, SAP, CSP and 5'-Nu) revealed that they all expressed in vivo and their recombinant derived proteins could be reactive with convalescent sera. These identified immunogenic surface proteins have potential as SEZ vaccine candidates and diagnostic markers.     

Identification of a Streptococcus equi Strain Responsible for Four Outbreaks of Strangles in Colorado

The objective of this study was to use a new subtyping technique to determine the identity of five Streptococcus equi isolates from four outbreaks of strangles in Colorado during 2005−2006. All five of the isolates from the four strangles outbreaks in Colorado contained SeM allele 28. This SeM allele is typical of American isolates of S. equi and has previously been linked with strangles outbreaks in Minnesota in 1994 and Kentucky in 1995. Use of the new S. equi strain subtyping method allowed for characterization of recent S. equi isolates associated with outbreaks of strangles in Colorado. To our knowledge, this is the first report of typing of more recent isolates from North America. This approach, however, has been used in situations in the United Kingdom to differentiate the vaccine strain of S. equi from that of the wild type of the bacteria.     

马链球菌兽疫亚种的保护性抗原SzP蛋白的鉴定与评价

马链球菌兽疫亚种是引起猪链球菌病的主要病原之一。该菌的致病机理尚不清楚,且缺乏合适的疫苗,使猪链球菌病很难得到有效的控制。本实验通过构建SzP重组表达载体,纯化重组蛋白,对其的免疫效力进行了评价。结果表明该蛋白可以诱导高滴度的血清IgG抗体,并且可提供一定的免疫保护效力。进一步研究表明该蛋白是一个重要的体内诱导抗原,可诱导高水平的Thl和Th2型免疫应答。揭示了SzP蛋白在致病过程中起到重要作用,为新型疫苗的研制及致病机制的研究奠定了基础。     

Molecular characterisation of 'strangles' outbreaks in the UK: the use of M-protein typing of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi

Reasons for performing study: Strangles is the most commonly diagnosed and important infectious disease of horses worldwide. Very little is known about the temporo‐spatial and molecular epidemiology of strangles. The disease is not notifiable in the UK and there are few published data on the geographical locations of outbreaks. Objective: To investigate whether typing of a surface protein (SeM) of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi (S. equi), the causative agent of strangles, is a useful epidemiological tool. Methods: The variable region of the SeM gene was amplified from 145 isolates of S. equi by PCR and sequenced. Different SeM gene alleles were assigned based on the SeM database, grouped into phylogenetic clusters using split decomposition analysis and plotted against the submitting veterinary practices. Results: In this study 21 S. equi SeM alleles were found, including 9 previously unidentified alleles and representing 4 phylogenetic groups. S. equi containing SeM alleles 9 and 7 were the most commonly isolated and there was a high number of low frequency alleles. The occurrence of an outbreak cluster in the north‐west of the UK is also reported. Conclusions: Strangles outbreaks can be differentiated on the basis of their SeM allele sequences. The data provide further evidence of SeM mutation leading to the emergence of novel, but related SeM alleles that are geographically linked. Sequencing of the SeM gene is a useful tool for the elucidation of strangles epidemiology at a regional and a national level. Potential relevance: This technique may allow differentiation or linkage of strangles outbreaks and as such may be an effective tool for local as well as national and international disease surveillance.     

马链球菌兽疫亚种烯醇化酶对小鼠肺泡巨噬细胞吞噬功能的影响

旨在研究马链球菌兽疫亚种（Streptococcus equi ssp.zooepidemicus,SEZ）烯醇化酶（enolase,Eno）对小鼠肺泡巨噬细胞（RAW264.7）吞噬能力的影响。通过构建原核表达质粒获得重组烯醇化酶（rEno）,采用台盼蓝活细胞计数法,判定在不同处理浓度和时间下rEno蛋白对RAW264.7细胞的细胞毒性。将rEno蛋白与RAW264.7细胞共孵育后,用SEZ作用于细胞并检测细胞吞菌数量,判断RAW264.7细胞对SEZ的吞噬活性。进一步通过活细胞稳定同位素标记技术（SILAC）和蛋白质谱分析技术（LC-MS/MS）,筛选到RAW264.7细胞中可能与SEZ Eno存在相互作用的候选蛋白。结果发现,10 μg·mL^-1 rEno蛋白处理对RAW264.7细胞有明显的细胞毒性,且10 μg·mL^-1 rEno蛋白处理RAW264.7细胞2和4 h可显著抑制其对SEZ的吞噬作用（P<0.01、P<0.05）。初步筛选到RAW264.7细胞中动力蛋白激活蛋白亚单位蛋白（dynactin subunit protein 2,Dctn）、整合素α-M蛋白（integrin alpha-M）等17种可能与Eno发生互作的蛋白。本研究获得了rEno重组表达蛋白,发现rEno可减少RAW264.7细胞对SEZ的吞噬,互作蛋白的初步筛选也为进一步揭示Eno在SEZ抗吞噬中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

Effects of Enolase of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus on Phagocytic Functions of Alveolar Macrophages in Mice

To investigate the effect of enolase (Eno) of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) on phagocytosis of mouse alveolar macrophages (RAW264.7). Recombinant enolase (rEno) was obtained by constructing prokaryotic expression plasmid, and the cytotoxicity of rEno protein on RAW264.7 cell proliferation was determined by trypan-blue living cell count method. After the rEno protein was incubated with RAW264.7 cells, SEZ was applied to the cells and the quantity of bacteria being phagocytosed was detected to determine the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells. Further, candidate proteins that might interact with SEZ Eno in RAW264.7 cells were screened by live cell stable isotope labeling (SILAC) and protein spectrum analysis (LC-MS/MS). It was found that protein treatment (rEno,10 μg·mL^-1) had significant cytotoxic effects on RAW264.7 cells. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with 10.0 μg·mL^-1 rEno protein for 2 and 4 hours could significantly inhibit the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells (P<0.01, P<0.05). In RAW264.7 cells, dynactin subunit protein 2 (Dctn), integrin alpha-M and about 17 proteins that might interact with Eno were preliminarily identified as rEno interaction proteins. The rEno recombinant expression protein was obtained in this study, and it could reduce the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells to SEZ. Preliminary screening of interacting proteins also laid a foundation for further revealing the mechanism of Eno in the anti-phagocytosis of SEZ.     

马链球菌兽疫亚种ATCC35246酮基转移酶的原核表达及其免疫保护试验

根据已发表的马链球菌兽疫亚种MGCS10565酮基转移酶(transketolase)的基因序列,设计并合成引物。以ATCC35246株基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR技术,扩增出目的基因并定向克隆至表达载体pET-28a(+)中,然后将重组质粒转化入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,分析并纯化表达产物。选用ICR小鼠作为实验动物模型,以纯化的重组融合蛋白通过皮下注射途径免疫小鼠,并用间接ELISA法监测小鼠血清中的抗体效价。结果表明重组蛋白免疫小鼠后能产生有效的免疫应答,血清中抗体水平有明显的升高。加强免疫2周后,以5LD50的ATCC35246强毒株攻击免疫组及对照组,结果免疫组小鼠的保护率可达37.5%。表明原核表达产物免疫ICR小鼠,可使其对同源菌株攻击产生一定的保护作用,在亚单位疫苗研制中具有潜在的应用价值。