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Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus), is a β-hemolytic Streptococcus belonging to the Lancefield group C; it is a rare human pathogen, but in horses, it is frequently associated with endometritis. This study aimed to isolate S. zooepidemicus strains, associated with bacterial endometritis in mares, and to define their antimicrobial resistance profile. Twenty-three isolates were recovered from one hundred ninety-six equine uterine swabs (11.7%). Bacterial identification was carried out by Api 20 Strep and confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), while antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar plates. The antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates revealed a high percentage of resistance to amikacin (95.6%), ampicillin (73.9%) and tetracycline (69.6%), while ceftiofur and ceftriaxone were highly effective with 82.6% and 78.3% of the isolates inhibited, respectively. An intriguing value of resistance to penicillin (34.8%), which represents the first-choice antibiotic in equine S. zooepidemicus infections, was observed. Furthermore, a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains (82.6%) was recorded. Continuous surveillance of this potential zoonotic pathogen and an appropriate antimicrobial stewardship program with the promotion of correct use of antimicrobials, after a proper diagnosis, are needed to allow an effective therapy.

SUBMITTER: Nocera FP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8773361 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (SEE) is a host-restricted equine pathogen considered to have evolved from Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ). SEZ is promiscuous in host range and is commonly recovered from horses as a commensal. Comparison of a single strain each of SEE and SEZ using whole-genome sequencing, supplemented by PCR of selected genes in additional SEE and SEZ strains, was used to characterize the evolution of SEE. But the known genetic variability of SEZ warrants comparison of the whole genomes of multiple SEE and SEZ strains. To fill this knowledge gap, we utilized whole-genome sequencing to characterize the accessory genome elements (AGEs; i.e., elements present in some SEE strains but absent in SEZ or vice versa) and methylomes of 50 SEE and 50 SEZ isolates from Texas. Consistent with previous findings, AGEs consistently found in all SEE isolates were primarily from mobile genetic elements that might contribute to host restriction or pathogenesis of SEE. Fewer AGEs were identified in SEZ because of the greater genomic variability among these isolates. The global methylation patterns of SEE isolates were more consistent than those of the SEZ isolates. Among homologous genes of SEE and SEZ, differential methylation was identified only in genes of SEE encoding proteins with functions of quorum sensing, exopeptidase activity, and transitional metal ion binding. Our results indicate that effects of genetic mobile elements in SEE and differential methylation of genes shared by SEE and SEZ might contribute to the host specificity of SEE. IMPORTANCE Strangles, caused by the host-specific bacterium Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (SEE), is the most commonly diagnosed infectious disease of horses worldwide. Its ancestor, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ), is frequently isolated from a wide array of hosts, including horses and humans. A comparison of the genomes of a single strain of SEE and SEZ has been reported, but sequencing of further isolates has revealed variability among SEZ strains. Thus, the importance of this study is that it characterizes genomic and methylomic differences of multiple SEE and SEZ isolates from a common geographic region (viz., Texas). Our results affirm many of the previously described differences between the genomes of SEE and SEZ, including the role of mobile genetic elements in contributing to host restriction. We also provide the first characterization of the global methylome of Streptococcus equi and evidence that differential methylation might contribute to the host restriction of SEE.

Project description:The pathogen Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is associated with a wide range of animals, including humans, and outbreaks frequently occur in pigs, equines, and goats. Thus far, few studies have assessed interactions between the host immune system and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus and how these interactions explain the wide host spectrum of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus Neutrophils, the first line of innate immunity, possess a defense mechanism called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which primarily consist of DNA and granule proteins that trap bacteria via charge interactions. Extracellular nucleases play important roles in the degradation of the DNA backbone of NETs. Here, two related extracellular nucleases, nuclease and 5'-nucleotidase (named ENuc and 5Nuc, respectively, in this study), were identified as being encoded by the SESEC_RS04165 gene and the SESEC_RS05720 gene (named ENuc and 5Nuc, respectively), and three related gene deletion mutant strains, specifically, the single-mutant ?ENuc and ?5Nuc strains and the double-mutant ?ENuc ?5Nuc strain, were constructed. The ?ENuc and ?5Nuc single-mutant strains and the ?ENuc ?5Nuc double-mutant strain demonstrated lower virulence than wild-type S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus when the mouse survival rate was evaluated postinfection. Furthermore, wild-type S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus more frequently traversed the bloodstream and transferred to other organs. Wild-type S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus induced fewer NETs and was able to survive in NETs, whereas only 40% of the ?ENuc ?5Nuc double-mutant cells survived. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus degraded the NET DNA backbone and produced deoxyadenosine, primarily through the action of ENuc and/or 5Nuc. However, the double-mutant ?ENuc ?5Nuc strain lost the ability to degrade NETs into deoxyadenosine. Deoxyadenosine decreased RAW 264.7 cell phagocytosis to 40% of that of normal macrophages. IMPORTANCE:Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus causes serious bacteremia in its hosts. However, little is known about how S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus interacts with the host innate immune system, particularly innate cells found in the blood. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus is capable of evading NET-mediated killing via the actions of its potent extracellular nucleases, ENuc and 5Nuc, which directly degrade the NET DNA backbone to deoxyadenosine. In previous studies, other pathogens have required the synergism of nuclease and 5'-nucleotidase to engage in this self-protective process; however, ENuc and 5Nuc both possess nuclease activity and 5'-nucleotidase activity, highlighting the novelty of this discovery. Furthermore, deoxyadenosine impairs phagocytosis but not the intracellular bactericidal activity of macrophages. Here we describe a novel mechanism for S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus extracellular nucleases in NET degradation, which may provide new insights into the pathogen immune evasion mechanism and the prevention and treatment of bacterial disease.

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Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems.

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