Molecular Typing and Anti‐microbial Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus from Equine Bacterial Endometritis

Abstract

The anti-microbial susceptibility and genetic diversity of 65 strains of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (Sez) isolated from mares presenting clinical signs of endometritis was determined by disk agar diffusion and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) methods, respectively. Overall, Sez isolates were susceptible to beta-lactams, enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and gentamicin. These anti-microbials could be recommended as empiric anti-microbial therapy in cases of endometritis caused by Sez. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis typing revealed a great genetic diversity (56 different PFGE macrorestriction profiles) and a low level of genetic relatedness amongst the isolates.

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates from equine infectious endometritis belong to a distinct genetic group

“…Similar findings were reported by Kuroiwa et al who demonstrated that, when analyzing the szp genotype of 5 colonies from the same uterine sample, 9 out of 10 mares had only one clone represented [31]. This is in contrast to the findings of Luque et al who showed that S. zooepidemicus isolated from the endometrium of the same mare showed low genetic relatedness [27]. One reason for this result could be that they only compared one isolate per sampling event taken a month apart.…”

“…There is still some genetic diversity between endometritis isolates from different mares, which indicates that no single clone of S. zooepidemicus but rather a subgroup of related clones causes endometritis in mares. Luque et al also studied the genetic relatedness of S. zooepidemicus isolates from equine infectious endometritis using PFGE, and they found a low genetic relatedness among the endometritis isolates [27]. They did not compare the genetic relatedness of the endometritis isolates with other S. zooepidemicus isolates e.g.…”

RAPD Analysis and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Isolated from Thoroughbred Horses

“…2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 All isolates showed high susceptible to ampicillin, cefoxitin, ceftiofur, cephalothin, florofenicol, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, oxacillin, penicillin, tiamulin, tylosin and vancomycin in antimicrobial susceptibility tests (Table 3). These results show that β-lactams, enrofloxacin and gentamicin could be recommended as empiric antimicrobial therapy in cases of endometritis caused by S. zooepidemicus in horses [24]. The common infectious causes of equine abortions are EHV-1, S. zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli, and Leptospira spp.…”

Perfil fenotípico e susceptibilidade antimicrobiana de Streptococcus equi isolados de equinos da região Sul do Brasil

“…Também um estudo realizado na Escola Veterinária de Ontario, no Canadá, mostrou que 97% dos isolados clínicos de S. equi foram sensíveis à penicilina (Weese et al 2008). Penicilina e sulfazotrim são usualmente utilizadas como fárma-cos de primeira escolha para o tratamento de infecções por S. equi em equinos (Luque et al 2006). Também foi observada sensibilidade >90% em um estudo sobre o tratamento de sinusites e infecções das bolsas guturais em equinos (Clark et al 2008), o que ratifica o resultado encontrado no presente trabalho.…”