Abstract
Background: Rhodococcus equi infection is commonly known in equine medicine to cause frequently fatal rhodococcosis. Infections in other species and people are also reported. Clinical manifestation in goats is relatively similar to horses and humans, but data regarding bacterium prevalence are scarce. Thus, the study aimed to estimate the occurrence of R. equi in goats. Methods: During post mortem examination, submandibular, mediastinal, and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected. Standard methods were used for bacteria isolation and identification. Results: A total of 134 goats were examined, and 272 lymph node samples were collected. R. equi was isolated from four animals. All four isolates carried the choE gene, and one also had traA and pVAPN plasmid genes. Conclusions: To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first report of R. equi occurrence and genetic diversity in goats. The results may help create a model for treating rhodococcosis in other animal species and assessing the role of meat contamination as a potential source of human infection. This research should be considered a pilot study for further application of the goat as a model of R. equi infection in horses and humans.
Highlights
Animals enrolled in this study were eliminated from a large dairy herd due to severe caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) clinical findings, mainly due to emaciation, low milk yield, or progressive arthritis
Standard methods were used for bacteria isolation and identification
Goat meat consumption is a possible source of human infection
Summary
The genus Rhodococcus is closely related to the Mycobacterium and Corynebacterium genera. Bacteria of this genus are described as aerobic, Gram-positive coccobacillus-invading macrophages. Rhodococcus equi is widely known as a causative agent of purulent bronchopneumonia in foals–rhodococcosis. The disease primarily affects foals in the first three months of life. Our understanding of the disease is limited. Rhodococcus equi infection is commonly known in equine medicine to cause frequently fatal rhodococcosis. Clinical manifestation in goats is relatively similar to horses and humans, but data regarding bacterium prevalence are scarce. Methods: During post mortem examination, submandibular, mediastinal, and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected. Results: A total of 134 goats were examined, and 272 lymph node samples were collected. R. equi was isolated from four animals. All four isolates carried the choE gene, and one had traA and pVAPN plasmid genes
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