Virulence plasmid profile(VapN or "bovine type" VapA and VapB) in Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from lymph nodes and feces of slaughtered cattle, and humans with rhodococcosis with and without AIDS

• Grant number: 15/20585-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Garcia Ribeiro
• Grantee: Gustavo Henrique Batista Lara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Rhodococcus equi is a well-recognized gram-positive opportunistic intracellular bacteria related to pyogranulomatous infections in domestic animals, wildlife and humans. Recently, has been described as an emergent pathogen among immunosuppressed humans, particularly with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-AIDS. The pathogenicity of R. equi has been attributed to the presence of plasmid-encoded virulence-associated proteins (Vap). To date, three main levels of virulence of R. equi are widely recognized: virulent (VapA), intermediately virulent (VapB) and avirulent. The VapA-positive isolates are considered major causes of severe suppurative pneumonia and ulcerative enteritis in foals. In contrast, VapB-positive isolates have been predominantly detected in the lymph nodes of pigs and wild boars (with and without lymphadenitis) and in immunosuppressed individuals, particularly patients with AIDS. Avirulent isolates are detected in soil of livestock (mainly from bovine and equine), in environment of human parks and yards, as well in humans patients with and without AIDS. Curiously, several patients with rhodococcosis have no history of contact with livestock (bovine, equine, pigs, goat and sheep) or farm environment. Thus, recent evidence suggests that the consumption of meat products contaminated with feces or content of lymph nodes may to be an alternative route of transmission of pathogen to humans. In 2015, a new type of plasmid profile was described called "bovine-type" or VapN, since was recognized in lymph nodes of bovine species, as well as in humans. Thus, The presence of VapN in lymph nodes and/or feces of bovines could explain, in part, the rhodococcosis in human patients without history of contact with livestock or farm environment, since transmission could occur by contaminated meat with lymph nodes content or feces from bovine slaughtered. In the light of this, many R. equi from human and animal origin considered "avirulent" in previous studies may to be VapN type. Due to recente detection of VapN, there are no comprehensive studies in other countries - including in Brazil - which evaluated the impact of this new virulent profile type (VapN) in pathogenicity of R. equi from bovine and humans. In this context, the aim of present study is to investigate virulence plasmid profile (VapN or "bovine type" VapA and VapB) of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from lymph nodes and feces of slaughtered cattle and humans with rhodococcosis, with and without AIDS.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE PAULA, CAROLINA LECHINSKI; SILVEIRA SILVA, RODRIGO OTAVIO; HERNANDES, RODRIGO TAVANELLI; DE NARDI JUNIOR, GERALDO; BABBONI, SELENE DANIELA; GUERRA, SIMONY TREVIZAN; PAGANINI LISTONI, FERNANDO JOSE; GIUFFRIDA, ROGERIO; TAKAI, SHINJI; SASAKI, YUKAKO; et al. First Microbiological and Molecular Identification of Rhodococcus equi in Feces of Nondiarrheic Cats. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, v. 2019, JUL 9 2019. (15/20585-9)

RIBEIRO, M. G.; LARA, G. H. B.; DA SILVA, P.; FRANCO, M. M. J.; DE MATTOS-GUARALDI, A. L.; DE VARGAS, A. P. C.; SAKATE, R. I.; PAVAN, F. R.; COLHADO, B. S.; PORTILHO, F. V. R.; et al. Novel bovine-associated pVAPN plasmid type in Rhodococcus equi identified from lymph nodes of slaughtered cattle and lungs of people living with HIV/AIDS. TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES, v. 65, n. 2, p. 321-326, APR 2018. (15/20585-9)

PORTILHO, FABIO V. R.; PAES, ANTONIO C.; MEGID, JANE; HATAKA, ALESSANDRE; TORRES NETO, RAFAEL; HEADLEY, SELWYN A.; OLIVEIRA, THALITA E. S.; COLHADO, BRUNA S.; DE PAULA, CAROLINA L.; GUERRA, SIMONY T.; et al. Rhodococcus equi pVAPN type causing pneumonia in a dog coinfected with canine morbillivirus (distemper virus) and Toxoplasma gondii. Microbial Pathogenesis, v. 129, p. 112-117, APR 2019. (15/20585-9)