title: Molecular epidemiology of strangles outbreaks in the UK during 2010.
abstract: The sequence of the Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S equi) M-like protein (SeM) gene was determined for 105 isolates of S equi from strangles outbreaks in the UK during 2010 and compared with previous data from 2007 to 2008. Twenty-three distinct alleles were identified, including 11 novel alleles. One allele giving rise to a putative truncated M protein was identified from the guttural pouch of an asymptomatic carrier. Allele 9 was the most prevalent, comprising 57.7 per cent of isolates, followed by allele 6 (10.3 per cent). Significant changes in allele prevalence were found between 2007, 2008 and 2010, with an increasing prevalence in SeM-9-related alleles and a corresponding decreasing prevalence in SeM-6-related alleles observed over the period (P<0.001). Geographical proximity of outbreaks caused by some uncommon alleles was apparent between 2007, 2008 and 2010.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Landwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial