title: Short report: Identification of virulence-associated plasmids in Rhodococcus equi in humans with and without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Brazil.
abstract: Virulence of Rhodococcus equi strains from 20 humans in Brazil was investigated by using a polymerase chain reaction to characterize isolates as virulent (VapA), intermediately virulent (VapB), and avirulent. Nine isolates were obtained from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, six from HIV-negative patients, and five from patients of unknown status. Five isolates were VapB positive, four were VapA positive, and eleven were avirulent. Among the nine isolates from HIV-positive patients, five contained VapB plasmids and two contained VapA plasmids. Five VapB-positive isolates had the type 8 virulence plasmid. Eleven of the patients had a history of contact with livestock and/or a farm environment, and none had contact with pigs.
authors: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidad Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. mgribeiro@fmvz.unesp.br
authors: Márcio Garcia
authors: MG
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Takai
authors: Agueda Castagna
authors: AC
authors: de Vargas
authors: Ana Luiza
authors: AL
authors: Mattos-Guaraldi
authors: Thereza Cristina
authors: TC
authors: Ferreira Camello
authors: Ryoko
authors: R
authors: Ohno
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Okano
authors: Aristeu Vieira da
authors: AV
authors: Silva
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence