Molecular and Sequencing Study and Identification of Novel SeM-Type in Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci Involving the Upper Respiratory Tract in Iran

Authors

Sina Moghaddam
Samad Lotfollahzadeh
Taghi Zahraei Salehi
Ali Hassanpour
Hamid Tavanaei Manesh
Iraj Ashrafi Tamai

Publication Date

10-17-2023

Journal

BMC Veterinary Research

DOI

10.1186/s12917-023-03772-4

PMID

37848882

PMCID

PMC10580511

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

10-17-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Horses, Animals, Iran, Phylogeny, Streptococcal Infections, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Streptococcus equi, Trachea, Horse Diseases, Horse, Beta hemolytic streptococci, SeM-type, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Beta-hemolytic streptococci involving the upper respiratory tract cause strangles and strangles-like diseases in horses and cause severe economic damage to the equestrian club each year. Therefore, careful epidemiological study of these bacteria, evaluation of phylogenetic connections and SeM-typing can be useful to determine the source and epidemiological characteristics of the disease outbreak. Isolates were analyzed using molecular and phylogenetic methods and to determine antibiotic resistance pattern in Iranian isolates. Molecular and phylogenetic methods were used to evaluate Iranian streptococcal isolates, and the similarity of the Iranian SeM-97 sequence with other alleles was assessed using the Neighbor-joining method with the Kimura 2 Parameter statistical model. The amino acid sequence of this gene was compared with the predicted SeM-3 reference amino acid sequence (FM204883) using MEGA 7 software.

RESULTS: One type of SeM was found among streptococcal isolates. This type (SeM-97) was reported for the first time and was a new SeM. The relationship between streptococcal isolates and age, sex, race, clinical signs and geographical area was investigated. A significant relationship was observed between streptococcal isolates with age variables and clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, a Streptococcus equi subsp. equi genotype was identified. The 97 allele of this gene has not been officially reported anywhere and is only registered in the Public databases for molecular typing and microbial genome diversity (PubMLST)-SeM database by Katy Webb. This was the first isolate reported and registered in the mentioned database. The isolate (Tabriz61) had the SeM-97 allele with clinical signs including mucopurulent discharge, abnormal sounds in lung hearing, warmth and enlargement or discharge and abscess of retropharyngeal lymph node and fever. This isolate was sensitive to penicillin, meropenem, ampicillin, cefotaxime, tetracycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin antibiotics and resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and gentamicin antibiotics.

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