The absence of Rhodococcus equi in Mongolian horses.
In native Mongolian horses, the incidence and distribution of Rhodococcus equi are poorly understood. One hundred and fourteen equine fecal samples and 71 soil samples were collected from the camp sites of 26 nomadic families located in three areas less than 100 km from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Five fecal samples were also collected from foals of Przewalski's Horses introduced into the Hustai National Park, Mongolia. No R. equi was isolated from the Mongolian horses or the soil samples. However, three colonies of R. equi were isolated from two fecal samples collected from foals of Przewalski's Horses. These isolates were avirulent, with neither 15- to 17-kDa antigens (VapA) nor a 20-kDa antigen (VapB) genes being detected. We concluded that native Mongolian horses and their environment appear free from contamination with R. equi.
Takai
Shinji
S
Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Sengee
Sugar
S
Madarame
Hiroo
H
Hatori
Fumiko
F
Yasuoka
Kaori
K
Ochirel
Erdene
E
Sasaki
Yukako
Y
Kakuda
Tsutomu
T
Tsubaki
Shiro
S
Bandi
Namkhai
N
Sodnomdarjaa
Ruuragch
R
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008986:Mongolia; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000235:genetics*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C077517:VapB protein, Bacteria