Virulence Plasmids of Rhodococcus equi Isolates From Cuban Patients With AIDS
Open Access
- 25 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Frontiers Media SA in Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi is an animal pathogen and zoonotic human opportunistic pathogen associated with immunosuppressive conditions. The pathogenicity of R. equi is linked to three animal host-associated virulence plasmids encoding a family of “Virulence Associated Proteins” (VAPs). Here, the PCR-based TRAVAP molecular typing system for the R. equi virulence plasmids was applied to 26 R. equi strains isolated between 2010 and 2016 at the Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí,” Cuba, from individuals living with HIV/AIDS. TRAVAP detects 4 gene markers, traA common to the three virulence plasmids, and vapA, vapB, and vapN specific to each of the host-associated plasmid types (equine pVAPA, porcine pVAPB, and ruminant pVAPN). Of the 26 isolates, six were positive to the vapB (porcine-type) marker, 4 (15.4%) to the vapA (equine-type) marker, and 1 (3.8%) to the vapN (ruminant-type) marker. Most of the isolates 14 (53.8%) were negative to all TRAVAP markers, suggesting they lacked a virulence plasmid. To our knowledge, this work is the first to report the molecular characterization of R. equi isolates from Cuba. Our findings provide insight into the zoonotic origin of R. equi infections in people and the potential dispensability of the virulence plasmid in immunosuppressed patients.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mouse lung infection model to assess Rhodococcus equi virulence and vaccine protectionVeterinary Microbiology, 2014
- Identification of Virulence-Associated Plasmids in Rhodococcus equi in Humans with and without Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in BrazilThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2011
- Molecular and infection biology of the horse pathogenRhodococcus equiFEMS Microbiology Reviews, 2009
- Evolution of theRhodococcus equi vapPathogenicity Island Seen through Comparison of Host-AssociatedvapAandvapBVirulence PlasmidsJournal of Bacteriology, 2008
- Rhodococcus equiinfection in foals: the science of ‘rattles’Equine Veterinary Journal, 2007
- Molecular Epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi Based on traA, vapA, and vapB Virulence Plasmid MarkersThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2007
- Molecular Epidemiology ofRhodococcus equiof Intermediate Virulence Isolated from Patients With and Without Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Chiang Mai, ThailandThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2003
- Rapid Identification of Rhodococcus equi by a PCR Assay Targeting the choE GeneJournal of Clinical Microbiology, 2003
- DNA Sequence and Comparison of Virulence Plasmids from Rhodococcus equi ATCC 33701 and 103Infection and Immunity, 2000
- Effect of growth temperature on maintenance of virulent Rhodococcus equiVeterinary Microbiology, 1994