Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates in equines

Research (Published online: 05-01-2017)

2. Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates in equines

Rabyia Javed, A. K. Taku, R. K. Sharma and Gulzaar Ahmed Badroo

Veterinary World, 10(1): 6-10

Rabyia Javed: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

A. K. Taku: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

R. K. Sharma: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Gulzaar Ahmed Badroo: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.6-10

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Article history: Received: 06-09-2016, Accepted: 07-12-2016, Published online: 05-01-2017

Corresponding author: Rabyia Javed

E-mail: rabiajavedkhan@gmail.com

Citation: Javed R, Taku AK, Sharma RK, Badroo GA (2017) Molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates in equines, Veterinary World, 10(1): 6-10.

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to determine the occurrence of Rhodococcus equi in equines and their environment in Jammu (R.S. Pura, Katra), molecular characterization and to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of R. equi.

Materials and Methods: A total of 96 nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from equines. The organism was isolated on Columbia nalidixic acid agar containing 5% sheep blood as well as on sheep blood agar and was later confirmed by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Molecular detection of R. equi isolates was done by 16S rRNA gene amplification followed by virulence associated protein A (Vap A) gene amplification. Antibiogram was performed against five antibiotics, viz., amoxicillin, penicillin G, streptomycin, rifampicin, and methicillin.

Results: During the study, 9 R. equi isolates were identified on the basis of cultural and biochemical tests. In the polymerase chain reaction based detection, 3 among the 9 rhodococcal isolates were positive for species-specific 16S rRNA gene and revealed amplicon of 450 bp for confirmation of 16S rRNA gene. None of the sample was found positive for Vap A gene. In antibiogram, R. equi isolates were found sensitive for amoxicillin, while some isolates were also found resistant to the most conventional antibiotic penicillin G.

Conclusion: From this study, it was concluded that R. equi infection is prevalent in equines in Jammu region of India and the indiscriminate use of the antibiotics is leading toward the development of resistant strains of R. equi.

Keywords: 16S rRNA, polymerase chain reaction, Rhodococcus equi.

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