红霉素体外诱导猪链球菌耐药机制研究

2004年在病猪体内分离到一株猪链球菌,通过平板扩散法和微量稀释法药敏试验表明这株链球菌对红霉素敏感。采用这株猪链球菌进行体外诱导试验,在低浓度药物组第165代和高浓度药物组第180代的菌液对红霉素M IC值均达到中介水平。它们的耐药表型均为内在型,而且都扩增到了ermB耐药基因。其中180代菌的23S rRNA碱基1387位A突变成G;它们的核糖体蛋白L4,165代菌碱基104位、585位和633位,分别T突变成C、A突变成G和A突变成G,180代菌碱基283位和651位,分别A突变成G和T突变成G;核糖体蛋白L22,165代和180代菌碱基109位和468位,分别C突变成A和T突变成A,并且165代菌碱基还在426位G突变成A。这些碱基的突变可能是引起猪链球菌对红霉素耐药的原因之一。     

Molecular characterization of Streptococcus suis strains by 16S–23S intergenic spacer polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

We developed a new molecular method of typing Streptococcus suis based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a large fragment of rRNA genes, including a part of the 16S and 23S genes and the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region (ISR), followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with RsaI or MboII endonuclease. The 16S-23S ISRs of 5 S. suis isolates were sequenced and compared. Size and sequence polymorphisms were observed between the S735 reference strain and the 4 wild-type strains. The genetic relationships between 138 independent S. suis strains belonging to various serotypes, isolated from swine or human cases, were determined. The discriminatory power of the method was > 0.95, the threshold value for interpreting typing results with confidence (0.954 with RsaI and 0.984 with RsaI plus MboII). The in vitro reproducibility was 100%. The strains isolated from humans were less genetically diverse than the strains isolated from pigs. For the first time, 2 molecular patterns (R6, M9) were significantly associated with S. suis serotype 2 strains. This genetic tool could be valuable in distinguishing individual isolates of S. suis during epidemiologic investigations.     

猪链球菌2型多重PCR检测方法的建立及应用

设计3对引物,分别扩增链球菌属特异性gdh、猪链球菌种特异性16S rRNA和猪链球菌2型特异性cps2J等基因,目的片段大小分别为725bp、523bp和387bp。利用合成的3对引物并通过对反应条件与反应体系的优化建立了多重PCR。应用该多重PCR检测了分离到的链球菌1105株,检出猪链球菌667株,猪链球菌2型33株。研究结果表明,该方法特异性高、敏感性强,可广泛应用于猪链球菌病的快速诊断及流行病学调查。     

多重PCR方法鉴别牛、羊、猪种布鲁氏菌株

用eri作为布鲁氏菌属特异性基因,以IS711基因拷贝数差异作为布鲁氏菌种间特异性标志,建立了鉴别牛、羊、猪种布鲁氏菌株的多重PCR方法。结果:牛种布鲁氏菌2308株扩增出大小为494 bp和178 bp的两条带,羊种布鲁氏菌M28株扩增出大小为733 bp和178 bp的两条带,猪种布鲁氏菌S1330株扩增出大小为285 bp和178 bp的两条带,均与预期吻合;而胸膜肺炎放线杆菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、流产沙门菌、都柏林沙门菌、大肠杆菌均未扩增出任何条带。硫化氢和血清学试验结果也符合相应种布鲁氏菌的特点。结果表明,本研究的多重PCR方法可用于牛、羊、猪种布鲁氏菌株的快速鉴定。     

Two genetic clusters in swine hemoplasmas revealed by analyses of the 16S rRNA and RNase P RNA genes

Only two hemoplasma species, Eperythrozoon parvum and Mycoplasma suis, have been recognized in pigs. Here we demonstrate the genetic variations among six hemoplasma strains detected from pigs, by analyzing the 16S rRNA and RNase P RNA (rnpB) genes, and propose a novel hemoplasma taxon that has not been described previously. Phylogenetic trees based on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that these six hemoplasmas were divided into two clusters representing M. suis and a novel taxon. We further examined the primary and secondary structures of the nucleotide sequences of the rnpB gene of the novel taxon, and found it distinct from that of M. suis. In conclusion, we unveiled a genetic cluster distinct from M. suis, suggesting a new swine hemoplasma species or E. parvum. Our findings also suggest that this novel cluster should be included in the genus Mycoplasma.     

Analysis of non-porcine isolates of Actinobacillus suis.

Twenty-four Actinobacillus suis isolates obtained from several species of non-porcine mammals were compared to the representative porcine strains, ATCC 15557 (serotype O1) and H89-1173 (serotype O2), by O serotyping, DNA fingerprinting, PCR amplification of apxICA, apxIICA and apxIIICA toxin genes and by rrs (16S rRNA) gene sequencing. Only two strains, both equine, reacted with O1 antiserum while two others, one canine and the other feline, reacted with O2 antiserum. One equine strain reacted weakly with both antisera. No amplification of apx genes was found with the non-porcine O1 or the "not O1/O2" strains but amplification of the apxICA and apxIICA genes was observed with the two O2 strains. In addition, these two O2 strains had both BamHI and BglII fingerprints that were very similar to the porcine O2 reference strain, H89-1173 and rrs gene sequences that were identical to the A. suis reference strain ATCC 15557. Taken together, these data suggest that although many non-porcine A. suis isolates are not A. suis (sensu stricto), some isolates are genotypically as well as phenotypically similar to A. suis.     

Virulence-associated gene profiling of Streptococcus suis isolates by PCR

Definition of virulent Streptococcus suis strains is controversial. One successful approach for identification of virulent European strains is differentiation of capsular serotypes (or the corresponding cps types) and subsequent detection of virulence-associated factors, namely the extracellular factor (EF, epf), the muramidase-released protein (MRP, mrp) and the hemolysin suilysin (SLY, sly). In this work we present a novel multiplex PCR (MP-PCR) and an mrp variant PCR for identification and characterization of virulent S. suis strains. These new methods were used to identify association of disease with particular profiles of virulence-associated genes. The MP-PCR allowed identification of S. suis through detection of the housekeeping gene gdh, differentiation of four cps types (1, 2, 7 and 9), and detection of epf, mrp, sly and arcA (arginine deiminase from S. suis). Furthermore, this study describes the first PCR assay for differentiation of at least six mrp variants. Expression of the corresponding size variants of MRP was shown for four of the six mrp variants, but was undetectable for the two larger mrp variants in the particular strains investigated. The results of this study suggest that cps7 strains are associated with pneumonia and that variation of mrp is very pronounced among these strains. Gene profiles of invasive, pneumonia and carrier S. suis isolates by combination of PCR assays allowed differentiation of 24 different genotypes among cps1, 2, 7 and 9 strains. Forty-five percent of the invasive S. suis diseases investigated in this study were caused by only two of these genotypes, namely cps2/mrp+/epf+/sly+ and cps9/mrp(*)/epf-/sly+. Thus, this study demonstrates for the first time a uniform profile of the particular virulence-associated genes for the vast majority of the investigated invasive cps9 strains.     

Prevalence and mechanism of resistance against macrolides and lincosamides in Streptococcus suis isolates

Eighty-seven Streptococcus suis isolates recovered in 1999-2000 from diseased pigs, all from different farms, were screened for resistance against macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics by the disk diffusion and agar dilution test and a PCR assay, amplifying the ermB gene and the mefA/E gene. Seventy-one percent of the isolates showed constitutive resistance to macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics (MLS(B)-phenotype). All these isolates were positive for the ermB gene in the PCR, but negative for the mefA/E gene. For all strains minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against five other antimicrobial agents were determined. All strains were susceptible to penicillin. Ninety-nine percent of the isolates were susceptible to enrofloxacin and tiamulin. Eighty-five percent of the strains were resistant to doxycycline. A 540bp fragment of the ermB genes of eight S. suis strains was sequenced and compared with ermB genes of five S. pneumoniae and five S. pyogenes strains of human origin. A 100% homology was found between these fragments in seven S. suis, one S. pneumoniae and three of the S. pyogenes isolates. This study demonstrates that resistance against macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramin B is widespread in S. suis and mediated by ribosome methylation, encoded by the ermB gene.     

Detection of virulent strains of Streptococcus suis type 2 and highly virulent strains of Streptococcus suis type 1 in tonsillar specimens of pigs by PCR.

We developed a PCR assay for the rapid and sensitive detection of virulent Streptococcus suis type 2 and highly virulent S. suis type 1 in tonsillar specimens from pigs. The PCR primers were based on the sequence of the gene encoding the EF-protein of virulent S. suis type 2 strains (MRP+EF+) and highly virulent S. suis type 1 strains (MRP(s)EF+) and of the EF protein of weakly virulent S. suis type 2 strains (MRP+EF). The latter strains give rise to larger PCR products than the virulent strains of S. suis type 1 and 2. A positive control template was included in the assay to identify false negative results. The PCR was evaluated using tonsillar specimens from herds known (or suspected) to be infected and herds without an S. suis history. The results obtained with the PCR assay were compared with the results obtained with a newly developed bacteriological examination. In this bacteriological examination we were able to identify the EF-positive strains directly in the tonsillar specimens. From the 99 tonsils examined, 48 were positive in the PCR and 51 negative. All specimens from which EF-positive S. suis strains were isolated were also positive in the PCR assay. Three samples were positive in the PCR, but negative by bacteriological examination. The results demonstrated that the PCR is a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of pigs carrying virulent strains of S. suis type 2 and highly virulent strains of type 1. Application of the assay may contribute to the control of S. suis infections.     

猪链球菌2型对PK-15细胞的黏附动力学

为研究携带不同毒力因子的猪链球菌2型对细胞侵袭作用的差异,本实验室从全国各地分离100多株猪链球菌,PCR鉴定出10株链球菌2型,其中携带毒力因子菌株为7-4［MRP⁺EF+］、8-3［MRP⁺EF^-］、ZH-1［MRP^-EF⁺］,另外选择1株LN-2 ［MRP^-EF^-］与PK 15细胞进行黏附动力学试验,结果表明MPR毒力因子与菌株对PK-15细胞黏附具有密切相关性。     

猪支原体不同靶基因PCR检测方法的比较

为筛选出检测猪支原体更为特异、敏感的PCR检测方法,本试验分别以16S rRNA、50S rRNA和膜蛋白OxaA为靶基因进行PCR检测,并从其敏感性、特异性和临床样本检出率等方面进行了比较。结果显示,以膜蛋白OxaA和16S rRNA为靶基因的PCR方法敏感性最高,最小检测DNA量为1.86 fg/μL,而以50S rRNA为靶基因的PCR方法最小检测DNA量为18.6 fg/μL;3种靶基因引物均扩增不出大肠杆菌、猪链球菌、猪肺炎支原体、牛附红细胞体等基因片段,具有较好的特异性;通过对临床60份血液样本的检测结果表明,以膜蛋白OxaA基因设计的引物检出率最高,为25%(15/60),明显高于16S rRNA基因的21.6%(13/60)和50S rRNA基因的18.3%(11/60)。本试验为猪支原体病的诊断及流行病学调查提供了更为敏感、特异的检测技术。     

2308、M28、S1330三株不同种布鲁氏菌的毒力测定

为了测定牛、羊、猪三株不同种布鲁氏菌参考强毒株的毒力,选择了牛种2308、羊种M28和猪种S1330株,分别用雌性豚鼠（Hartley）和雌性小鼠（Balb/c）对其毒力进行测定。豚鼠测毒试验中,用含不同菌数的菌液腹股沟皮下注射5只豚鼠,测定2308、M28、S1330菌株的豚鼠最小感染量（MID）,结果显示以上3种毒株对豚鼠的最小感染量分别为9 CFU、10 CFU和30CFU。小鼠测毒实验中,将2308、M28和S1330菌液按1×105CFU/0.2 mL/只腹股沟皮下注射小鼠各5只,2周后分别剖杀小鼠,取脾脏测定含菌量,平均脾含菌量分别为1676971、314765、83811CFU/g脾脏。豚鼠和小鼠测毒均显示牛种2308株毒力最强,羊种M28株次之,猪种S1330毒力最弱。本研究首次用豚鼠和小鼠同时测定了布鲁氏菌2308、M28、S1330株的毒力,补充了布鲁氏菌参考强毒株的毒力数据。     

Experimental infection of specific pathogen free piglets with French strains of Streptococcus suis capsular type 2.

A standardized model of Streptococcus suis type 2 infection in specific-pathogen-free piglets, housed in high-security barns, was used to compare the virulence of 3 French field strains of S. suis serotype 2 isolated from tonsils of a healthy pig (strain 65) or from diseased pigs (meningitis, strain 166', or septicemia, strain 24). In one of the 2 trials, 7-week-old pigs, in 3 groups of 8, were inoculated intravenously with 2 x 10(8) colony-forming units of S. suis type 2. In each group, 1 uninfected animal was a sentinel. Eight animals were also used as negative control group. The experiment was repeated under similar conditions with strains 65 and 166'. Virulence differed markedly among these S. suis strains when clinical signs, zootechnical performances, lesions, and bacteriological data were analyzed. Strain 65 did not induce clinical signs in inoculated pigs. In contrast, pigs infected with the other 2 strains exhibited clinical signs and typical lesions of S. suis type 2 infections. Differences in virulence were also observed between the 2 virulent strains. Sentinel animals exhibited the same manifestations as those recorded in inoculated piglets. Results were similar in the second trial, indicating that under the present experimental conditions, results were reproducible. The standardized conditions described in this study could be a useful tool to further study about the S. suis infection.     

Pneumonia in calves: characterization of the bacterial spectrum and the resistance patterns to antimicrobial drugs

The population under study included young calves with pneumonia (group A, n = 13) and their controls (group B, n = 9), as well as older calves from which the lungs with (group C, n = 90) or without (group D, n = 10) lesions were collected after slaughter. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was the organism most commonly isolated from calves in group A (46%), followed by Haemophilus somnus (23%), Mannheimia haemolytica (15%), Streptococcus suis and Pasteurella multocida (7.7% each). Only S. suis (22%) and P. multocida (11%) were found in group B. P. multocida was isolated from 32% group C calves, H. somnus from 11%, A. pyogenes from 7.8%, M. haemolytica from 2.2% and S. suis from 1.1%. No specific pathogens were isolated in group D. Prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis infection was 69% in group A and 37% in group C. Ninety-eight strains were tested for resistAnce to antibiotics. Resistance to penicillin and ampicillin was present only in M. haemolytica (46%). High percentages of resistant strains were observed for streptomycin (48-100%), tetracycline (15-43%), sulfonamides alone (14-100%) or in combination with trimethoprim (0-100%). Therapeutic approaches to bacterial calf pneumonia in the area under study should be modified according to the isolated bacterial population, the observed antimicrobial resistances and the growing importance of Mycoplasma bovis.     

The presence of muramidase released protein and extracellular factor protein in various serotypes of Streptococcus suis isolated from diseased and healthy pigs in Spain

A total of 142 strains from different serotypes of Streptococcus suis isolated in Spain from diseased pigs (88 strains) and healthy carrier pigs (54 strains) were studied for the presence of a muramidase released protein (MRP) and an extracellular factor (EF). The following five phenotypes: MRP+EF+, MRP+EF-, MRP-EF+, MRP+EF* and MRP*EF- were detected. A high percentage of S. suis serotype 2 strains isolated from diseased pigs (84 per cent) belonged to phenotype MRP+EF+, but this phenotype has also been noticed in other serotypes (serotypes 1, 1/2 and 14). Both proteins were detected in S. suis serotype 2 strains (26%) isolated from healthy carrier pigs and one of both proteins in serotypes 1 and 14 (phenotype MRP+EF*). The isolation of S. suis strains from healthy pigs which have shown both proteins may support the epidemiological significance of these carriers in the maintenance, transmission and distribution of virulent strains within and between swine farms.     

三种布鲁氏菌病疫苗株的毒力比较

为系统比较我国现有布鲁氏菌病疫苗株A19、M5和S2的毒力,分别用上述3种疫苗株以1×105CFU/只免疫Balb/c小鼠,免疫后每隔2周采集小鼠脾脏,分离细菌,测定各疫苗株在小鼠脾脏中的存留时间。结果 A19、M5、S2在小鼠体内存活时间依次为14周、大于16周、6周。将以上3种疫苗株分别以1×109CFU/只免疫Hartley豚鼠,15日后测定豚鼠脾脏含菌量,结果 A19、M5、S2免疫后每克脾脏含菌量分别为2.8×104CFU、大于6.7×105CFU、3.8×103CFU。研究结果表明,我国目前使用的布鲁氏菌疫苗中,S2毒力最弱,A19其次,M5最强。     

2型猪链球菌对四环素的耐药机制

采用微量稀释法测定36株2型猪链球菌对四环素的耐药性,应用PCR扩增四环素相关耐药基因tet（M）、tet（O）、tet（K）、tet（L）、tet（Q）、tet（S）、tet（T）和tet（W）,将扩增到的耐药基因克隆、测序,并进行序列分析。结果显示,36株2型猪链球菌对四环素的耐药率为100%,MIC90高于512mg/L;其中29株扩增出tet（M）基因,6株扩增出tet（O）基因,5株同时扩增到tet（M）、tet（L）基因,同时扩增到tet（M）、tet（L）基因的菌株MIC均高于512mg/L;同源性分析结果显示,扩增到的tet（M）基因与GenBank中已公布序列的同源性为95%～100%,tet（O）基因与GenBank中已公布序列的同源性为95%～99%。结果表明,我国大部分地区的2型猪链球菌对四环素均具有很强的耐药性,主要耐药机制是由tet（M）基因介导的核糖体保护作用。     

猪链球菌2型的PCR快速检测

根据猪链球菌 2型的荚膜多糖抗原基因 cps2 J,合成 1对可扩增长度为 6 75 bp目的片段的引物 ,建立了检测猪链球菌 2型的 PCR法。应用 PCR对 9株经玻片凝集试验检测为猪链球菌 2型的菌株进行了检测 ,均呈阳性 ;而对马链球菌兽疫亚种 (C群 )、猪葡萄球菌、猪丹毒杆菌、猪肺疫巴氏杆菌、猪肺炎霉形体等检测结果均呈阴性 ,表明了本方法的特异性。用此法对 88份正常猪的扁桃体样品的细菌分离物进行了检测 ,36份呈阳性 ,同时用玻片凝集试验进行对照检测 ,也全部呈阳性。而此法不需进行细菌的纯分离培养 ,即可用于猪链球菌 2型的快速诊断以及流行病学调查。     

Phylogenetic relationship of equine Actinobacillus species and distribution of RTX toxin genes among clusters

Equine Actinobacillus species were analysed phylogenetically by 16S rRNA gene (rrs) sequencing focusing on the species Actinobacillus equuli, which has recently been subdivided into the non-haemolytic A. equuli subsp. equuli and the haemolytic A. equuli subsp. haemolyticus. In parallel we determined the profile for RTX toxin genes of the sample of strains by PCR testing for the presence of the A. equuli haemolysin gene aqx, and the toxin genes apxI, apxII, apxIII and apxIV, which are known in porcine pathogens such as Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Actinobacillus suis. The rrs-based phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct subclusters containing both A. equuli subsp. equuli and A. equuli subsp. haemolyticus distributed through both subclusters with no correlation to taxonomic classification. Within one of the rrs-based subclusters containing the A. equuli subsp. equuli type strain, clustered as well the porcine Actinobacillus suis strains. This latter is known to be also phenotypically closely related to A. equuli. The toxin gene analysis revealed that all A. equuli subsp. haemolyticus strains from both rrs subclusters specifically contained the aqx gene while the A. suis strains harboured the genes apxI and apxII. The aqx gene was found to be specific for A. equuli subsp. haemolyticus, since A. equuli subsp. equuli contained no aqx nor any of the other RTX genes tested. The specificity of aqx for the haemolytic equine A. equuli and ApxI and ApxII for the porcine A. suis indicates a role of these RTX toxins in host species predilection of the two closely related species of bacterial pathogens and allows PCR based diagnostic differentiation of the two.