Dissemination of the superantigen encoding genes seeL, seeM, szeL and szeM in Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus

Bacterial superantigens are one of the major virulence factors produced by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The two novel superantigen encoding genes seeM and seeL were described for S. equi subsp. equi which is known as the causative agent of strangles in equids. In the present study previously characterized S. equi subsp. equi strains and strains of various other animal pathogenic streptococcal species and subspecies were investigated for the presence of the superantigen encoding genes seeM and seeL by polymerase chain reaction. According to these studies seeL and seeM appeared to be a constant characteristic of all investigated S. equi subsp. equi strains. Surprisingly, one S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain (S.z. 122) was also positive for both genes. The species identity of this S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain could additionally be confirmed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region. The superantigen encoding genes could not be found among additionally investigated S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains or among strains of seven other streptococcal species. The seeL and seeM genes of the S. equi subsp. equi strain S.e. CF32 and the genes szeL and szeM of the S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain S.z. 122 were cloned and sequenced. A sequence comparison revealed a high degree of sequence homology between seeL, szeL, speL and seeM, szeM and speM, respectively. The superantigenic toxins L and M seemed to be widely distributed virulence factors of S. equi subsp. equi, rare among S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus but did not occur among a number of other animal pathogenic streptococcal species.