Detection of Chlamydophila caviae and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in horses with signs of rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
At a stud farm of Trakehner horses, all 33 foals of a birth cohort developed conjunctivitis and serous to muco-purulent rhinitis, and 7 older horses showed recurrent signs of conjunctivitis. Examination of nasal and conjunctival swabs by bacterial and cell culture, as well as real-time PCR, ArrayTube microarray analysis and DNA sequencing led to the identification of Chlamydophila (C.) caviae (first description in horses) and Streptococcus (S.) equi subsp. zooepidemicus. We presume a synergistic effect associated with these two agents by hypothesising that primary lesions were set by C. caviae and subsequently aggravated by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus. Indications supporting this assumption include (i) the conjunctivitis caused by mono-infection with C. caviae, (ii) recurrent clinical symptoms in the affected animals, and (iii) the absence of a sustained clinical effect of antibiotic therapy with trimethoprim-sulfonamide, enrofloxacin and amoxicillin. The detection of C. caviae in horses raises questions about the significance and natural host range of this agent.
Gaede
Wolfgang
W
State Institute for Consumer Protection of Saxony-Anhalt, Department for Veterinary Medicine, Stendal, Germany.
Reckling
Karl-Friedrich
KF
Schliephake
Anette
A
Missal
Dirk
D
Hotzel
Helmut
H
Sachse
Konrad
K
D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins