First Microbiological and Molecular Identification of Rhodococcus equi in Feces of Nondiarrheic Cats

Author(s):Show less -

de Paula, Carolina Lechinski ^[1] ; Silveira Silva, Rodrigo Otavio ^[2] ; Hernandes, Rodrigo Tavanelli ^[3] ; de Nardi Junior, Geraldo ^[4] ; Babboni, Selene Daniela ^[5] ; Guerra, Simony Trevizan ^[1] ; Paganini Listoni, Fernando Jose ^[1] ; Giuffrida, Rogerio ^[6] ; Takai, Shinji ^[7] ; Sasaki, Yukako ^[7] ; Ribeiro, Marcio Garcia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Vet Hyg & Publ Hlth, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, UFMG, Dept Prevent Vet Med, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[3] UNESP, Biosci Inst, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[4] FATEC, Technol Fac, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Paulista, UNIP, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Oeste Paulista, UNOESTE, Sch Vet Med, Presidente Prudente, SP - Brazil

^[7] Kitasato Univ, Sch Vet Med, Towada, Aomori - Japan

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL; v. 2019, JUL 9 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Rhodococcus equi is responsible for infections in multiple-host animals. In humans, the prevalence of rhodococcus has increased worldwide and represents an emergent risk. R. equi is a soil-borne opportunistic bacterium isolated from feces of a wide variety of domestic species, except cats; thus, there is no known potential risk of its transmission from humans. Here, the mono- and cooccurrence of Rhodococcus equi and other bacteria and selected virulence markers were investigated in feces of nondiarrheic cats from urban (n=100) and rural (n=100) areas. Seven (7/200=3.5%) R. equi isolates were recovered in ceftazidime, novobiocin, and cycloheximide (CAZ-NB) selective media, exclusively of cats from three distinct farms (p=0.01), and these cats had a history of contact with horses and their environment (p=0.0002). None of the R. equi isolates harbored hosted-adapted plasmid types associated with virulence (pVAPA, pVAPB, and pVAPN). One hundred seventy-five E. coli isolates were identified, and 23 atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC), 1 STEC (Shiga-toxin producing E. coli), and 1 EAEC (enteroaggregative E. coli) were detected. Eighty-six C. perfringens type A isolates were identified, and beta-2 and enterotoxin were detected in 21 and 1 isolates, respectively. Five C. difficile isolates were identified, one of which was toxigenic and ribotype 106. The main cooccurring isolates in cats from urban areas were E. coli and C. perfringens A (26/100=26%), E. coli and C. perfringens type A cpb2(+) (8/100=8%), and aEPEC (eae+/escN+) and C. perfringens type A (5/100=5%). In cats from farms, the main cooccurring isolates were E. coli and C. perfringens type A (21/100=21%), E. coli and C. perfringens type A cpb(2)(+) 8/100=8%), and E. coli and R. equi (4/100=4%). We identified, for the first time, R. equi in nondiarrheic cats, a finding that represents a public health issue because rhodococcus has been reported in both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent humans, particularly people living with HIV/AIDS. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/20585-9 - 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
• Grantee: Gustavo Henrique Batista Lara
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral