Reinvestigation of the virulence of Rhodococcus equi isolates from patients with and without AIDS

Abstract

Significance and Impact of the Study: Rhodococcus equi is a pathogenic cause of zoonotic diseases with a broad host range. This study demonstrated that virulence R. equi existed in human isolates before 1994 and reaffirmed that equine-associated pVAPA-positive, porcine-associated pVAPB-positive and bovine-or caprine-associated pVAPN-positive R. equi are widely spread globally. This study adds important information that domestic animals are major sources of human infection, thus adversely affecting public health.

The opportunistic intracellular bacterial pathogen Rhodococcus equi elicits type I interferon by engaging cytosolic DNA sensing in macrophages

“…equi is also apathogen of humans, causing a pneumonia that radiographically and pathologically resembles pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), as well as extrapulmonary infections [7][8][9]. The majority of human cases manifest as pneumonia and occur in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with impaired cell mediated immunity due to HIV infection [10]or immunosuppression therapy related to organ transplantation [11]. However, a growing number of cases have been reported in immunocompetent humans, less than half of which develop pulmonary lesions [8,9].Over 50% of human infections are derived from porcine-or equineadapted strains, indicating that most human R. equi infections are zoonotic [10,12].Upon inhalation, R. equi survives and replicates within alveolar macrophages in a phagosomalcompartment that fails to mature into a lysosome, resulting in the establishment of theR.…”

“…R . equi is also a pathogen of humans, causing a pneumonia that radiographically and pathologically resembles pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), as well as extrapulmonary infections[ 7 – 9 ].The majority of human cases manifest as pneumonia and occur in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with impaired cell-mediated immunity due to HIV infection [ 10 ] or immunosuppression therapy related to organ transplantation [ 11 ]. However, a growing number of cases have been reported in immunocompetent humans, less than half of which develop pulmonary lesions [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Virulence Plasmids of Rhodococcus equi Isolates From Cuban Patients With AIDS

“…In the 1980-90's, R. equi emerged as an opportunistic pathogen associated with AIDS and other immunosuppresive conditions such as organ transplant chemotherapy and steroid therapy. In humans, R. equi causes purulent bronchopneumonia and occasional extrapulmonary pyogenic infections (3,4). R. equi is widelspread in nature, inhabits soil and colonizes the intestine of grazing animals and omnivores.…”

The opportunistic intracellular bacterial pathogen Rhodococcus equi elicits type I interferons by engaging cytosolic DNA sensing in macrophages

“…equi is also a pathogen of humans, causing a pneumonia that radiographically and pathologically resembles pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), as well as extrapulmonary infections (7)(8)(9). The majority of human cases manifest as pneumonia and occur in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with 1 Address correspondence to Robert Watson, robert.watson@tamu.edu impaired cell mediated immunity due to HIV infection (10) or immunosuppression therapy related to organ transplantation (11). However, a growing number of cases have been reported in immunocompetent humans, less than half of which develop pulmonary lesions (8,9).…”

“…However, a growing number of cases have been reported in immunocompetent humans, less than half of which develop pulmonary lesions (8,9). Over 50% of human infections are derived from porcine-or equine-adapted strains, indicating that most human R. equi infections are zoonotic (10,12). Upon inhalation, R. equi survives and replicates within alveolar macrophages in a phagosomal compartment that fails to mature into a lysosome, resulting in the R. equi-containing vacuole.…”