Identification of Virulence-Associated Plasmids in Rhodococcus equi in Humans with and without Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Brazil

Ribeiro, Márcio Garcia; Takaı̈, Shinji; Vargas, Águeda Castagna de; Mattos‐Guaraldi, Ana Luíza; Camello, Thereza Cristina Ferreira; Ohno, Ryoko; Okano, Hajime; Silva, Aristeu Vieira da

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0695

Cited by 17 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…We assessed selected epidemiological and clinical data from the records of the human patients (gender, age, history of contact with domestic animals and/or livestock farms), major clinical signs, underlying conditions, clinical specimens and laboratory diagnoses. The diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was defined as the presence of antibodies against HIV in serum samples (Ribeiro, Takai et al., ; Takai et al., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalence of human infections has increased globally, and rhodococcosis represents an emerging risk in coming years (Shahani, ). Rhodococcus equi typically causes pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia and occasionally extrapulmonary infections in both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients (Takai et al., ), particularly people living with HIV/AIDS (Ribeiro, Takai et al., ) and transplant recipients (Vergidis et al., ). In turn, sources of infection and routes of transmission of the pathogen to humans remain poorly understood, although inhalation, and history of contact with livestock and environment of farms are considered to be risk factors (Meijer & Prescott, ; Prescott, ; Vázquez‐Boland et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel bovine-associated pVAPN plasmid type in Rhodococcus equi identified from lymph nodes of slaughtered cattle and lungs of people living with HIV/AIDS

Ribeiro

Lara

Silva

et al. 2017

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Rhodococcus equi is a well-recognized Gram-positive intracellular facultative bacterium that is opportunistic in nature, which causes pyogranulomatous infections in humans and multiple host animals. The pathogenicity of the microorganism has been attributed to the presence of plasmid-encoded virulence-associated proteins (Vap). To date, three host-associated virulence plasmid types of R. equi have been identified as follows: the circular pVAPA and pVAPB, related, respectively, to equine and porcine isolates, and a recently described linear pVAPN plasmid associated with bovine strains, although these three types are found in human isolates. Recent phylogenomic studies support the evidence that human R. equi infection is zoonotically acquired. Nevertheless, data regarding distribution and prevalence of the host-adapted virulence plasmid types of R. equi isolated from meat animals are scarce or unnoticed. Here, the three host-associated virulence plasmid types (pVAPA, pVAPB, and pVAPN) were investigated in 154 R. equi isolates recovered from lymph nodes of cattle with lymphadenitis (n = 31), faeces of cattle without enteric signs (n = 49), as well as different clinical specimens from human patients (n = 74). The analysis of virulence profile of 74 R. equi from humans revealed six (8.1%) isolates pVAPB (type 8), two (2.7%) pVAPN, and one (1.3%) pVAPB (type 11), all of which were from lung samples from people living with HIV/AIDS. From the lymph node samples of cattle, 41.9% (13 of 31) isolates revealed pVAPN type, whereas all isolates from faecal samples were negative for three host-associated types. Here, recently described bovine-associated pVAPN type was detected in R. equi isolates recovered from the lungs of people living with HIV/AIDS and lymph nodes from slaughtered cattle intended for human consumption; a finding that represents a public health concern, mainly in countries where undercooked or raw meat are traditionally consumed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel bovine-associated pVAPN plasmid type in Rhodococcus equi identified from lymph nodes of slaughtered cattle and lungs of people living with HIV/AIDS

Ribeiro

Lara

Silva

et al. 2017

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…Currently, a Brazilian study of the virulence genes and plasmid profiles of the R. equi isolates from the lymph nodes of slaughtered wild boar found that 63.2% of the isolates contained the vapB gene, and the majority was identified as carrying type 8 plasmids [8]. Interestingly, this same plasmid profile (VapB type 8) is the one most frequently found in HIV-positive patients in Brazil [25], suggesting the zoonotic potential of R. equi isolates from wild boar. However, the human with rhodococcosis generally have no history of contact with pigs, wild boar or the environments of these species [25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the human with rhodococcosis generally have no history of contact with pigs, wild boar or the environments of these species [25]. It is possible that the consumption of undercooked pig and wild boar products may be a route of infection with R. equi in humans in some countries [6,8,24,25]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bronchopneumonia in wild boar (Sus scrofa) caused by Rhodococcus equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid

et al. 2013

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BackgroundRhodococcus equi is associated with pyogranulomatous infections, especially in foals, and this bacterium has also emerged as a pathogen for humans, particularly immunocompromised patients. R. equi infections in pigs, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and humans are mainly due to strains carrying the intermediate virulence (VapB) plasmid. In Brazil, R. equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid is the most common type recovered from humans co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). R. equi infection in pigs and wild boar is restricted predominantly to the lymphatic system, without any reports of pulmonary manifestations.FindingsThis report describes the microbiological and histopathological findings, and molecular characterization of R. equi in two bronchopneumonia cases in wild boar using PCR and plasmid profile analysis by digestion with restriction endonucleases. The histological findings were suggestive of pyogranulomatous infection, and the plasmid profile of both R. equi isolates enabled the characterization of the strains as VapB type 8.ConclusionsThis is the first report of bronchopneumonia in wild boar due to R. equi. The detection of the VapB type 8 plasmid in R. equi isolates emphasize that wild boar may be a potential source of pathogenic R. equi strains for humans.

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“…Expression of VapA was found to be dependent on both temperature and pH (192, 193), a feature shared with proteins encoded by virulence plasmids of Yersinia pestis and Shigella flexneri (194–196). VapB is encoded by a separate plasmid from the one encoding VapA (197, 198), and is associated with less virulent R. equi infections in humans (199). VapA-containing plasmids also encode additional Vap proteins VapC-H (200), while VapB-containing plasmids encode Vap proteins VapI-M (198).…”

Section: Virulence Plasmids In Other Nonsporulating Gram-positive Pamentioning

confidence: 99%

Virulence Plasmids of Nonsporulating Gram-Positive Pathogens

Tyne

Gilmore

2014

Microbiol Spectr

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SUMMARY Gram-positive bacteria are leading causes of many types of human infection, including pneumonia, skin and nasopharyngeal infections, as well as urinary tract and surgical wound infections among hospitalized patients. These infections have become particularly problematic because many of the species causing them have become highly resistant to antibiotics. The role of mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance among Gram-positive bacteria has been well studied; less well understood is the role of mobile elements in the evolution and spread of virulence traits among these pathogens. While these organisms are leading agents of infection, they are also prominent members of the human commensal ecology. It appears that these bacteria are able to take advantage of the intimate association between host and commensal, via virulence traits that exacerbate infection and cause disease. However, evolution into an obligate pathogen has not occurred, presumably because it would lead to rejection of pathogenic organisms from the host ecology. Instead, in organisms that exist as both commensal and pathogen, selection has favored the development of mechanisms for variability. As a result, many virulence traits are localized on mobile genetic elements, such as virulence plasmids and pathogenicity islands. Virulence traits may occur within a minority of isolates of a given species, but these minority populations have nonetheless emerged as a leading problem in infectious disease. This chapter reviews virulence plasmids in nonsporulating Gram-positive bacteria, and examines their contribution to disease pathogenesis.

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Identification of Virulence-Associated Plasmids in Rhodococcus equi in Humans with and without Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Brazil

Cited by 17 publications

References 15 publications

Novel bovine-associated pVAPN plasmid type in Rhodococcus equi identified from lymph nodes of slaughtered cattle and lungs of people living with HIV/AIDS

Novel bovine-associated pVAPN plasmid type in Rhodococcus equi identified from lymph nodes of slaughtered cattle and lungs of people living with HIV/AIDS

Bronchopneumonia in wild boar (Sus scrofa) caused by Rhodococcus equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid

Virulence Plasmids of Nonsporulating Gram-Positive Pathogens

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