Abstract
Aim:The aim was to determine the occurrence of Rhodococcus equi in equines and their environment in Jammu (R.S. Pura, Katra), molecular characterization and to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of R. equi.Materials and Methods:A total of 96 nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from equines. The organism was isolated on Columbia nalidixic acid agar containing 5% sheep blood as well as on sheep blood agar and was later confirmed by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Molecular detection of R. equi isolates was done by 16S rRNA gene amplification followed by virulence associated protein A (Vap A) gene amplification. Antibiogram was performed against five antibiotics, viz., amoxicillin, penicillin G, streptomycin, rifampicin, and methicillin.Results:During the study, 9 R. equi isolates were identified on the basis of cultural and biochemical tests. In the polymerase chain reaction based detection, 3 among the 9 rhodococcal isolates were positive for species-specific 16S rRNA gene and revealed amplicon of 450 bp for confirmation of 16S rRNA gene. None of the sample was found positive for Vap A gene. In antibiogram, R. equi isolates were found sensitive for amoxicillin, while some isolates were also found resistant to the most conventional antibiotic penicillin G.Conclusion:From this study, it was concluded that R. equi infection is prevalent in equines in Jammu region of India and the indiscriminate use of the antibiotics is leading toward the development of resistant strains of R. equi.
Highlights
For over 80 years, Rhodococcus equi has been recognized as a pulmonary pathogen of horses
Molecular detection of R. equi isolates was done by 16S rRNA gene amplification followed by virulence associated protein A (Vap A) gene amplification
R. equi isolates were found sensitive for amoxicillin, while some isolates were found resistant to the most conventional antibiotic penicillin G
Summary
For over 80 years, Rhodococcus equi has been recognized as a pulmonary pathogen of horses. The infection can spread from the lungs to other organs and joints when granulomatous foci in the lung open up, and infection of the gut lining causes diarrhea with an ulcerative enteritis and mucosal invasion of R. equi which is frequently observed in chronic disease. Immune complex deposition can cause polysynovitis which contribute to the development of uveitis, anemia or thrombocytopenia in infected foals. R. equi is Gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile, nonsporulating, and metabolically diverse bacteria. The genus Rhodococcus (red pigmented cocci) belong to the phylogenetic group described as nocardia form actinomycetes. The infection causes subacute or chronic abscess or suppurative bronchopneumonia, ulcerative lymphangitis, enteritis, and causes zoonotic infection in foals aged 1-4 months [2,3]
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