title: VapB type 8 plasmids in Rhodococcus equi isolated from the small intestine of pigs and comparison of selective culture media.
abstract: The virulence-plasmid profile of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from Suidae and humans is similar. Recent evidence suggests that the consumption of pork products contaminated with faeces might be a potential source of R. equi infections in humans, mainly to patients with rhodococcosis without history of contact with pigs or pig farms. This study investigated the virulence-associated genes (vapA and vapB) and plasmid profiles of R. equi among the 150 samples of small intestinal content obtained from slaughtered pigs. In addition, all samples were subjected to microbiological culture in conventional sheep blood agar and CAZ-NB, TCP and TVP selective media. A total of 40 (26·7%) of the samples recovered R. equi, with two samples recovering isolates harbouring the VapB type 8 plasmid. Among the 150 pigs sampled herein, CAZ-NB was considered the best selective medium for the isolation of R. equi from faeces. Our results provide evidence that the contamination of slaughtered pig carcasses with pathogenic R. equi might occur through faeces, representing a public health concern. Furthermore, this study is the first description of R. equi strains carrying the VapB plasmid in the gut of pigs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intermediately virulent (VapB) is a common plasmid-type harboured by R. equi isolated from pigs and humans with AIDS. Curiously, humans with rhodococcosis usually have no history of contact with pigs or pig farms. Virulence-plasmid profile of 40 R. equi isolated among 150 small intestine content samples from pigs revelled two carrying isolates with the VapB type-8 plasmids. Moreover, comparison of three selective culture media shows that CAZ-NB was the best. Our results provide evidence that contamination of slaughtered pig carcasses with pathogenic R. equi might occur through faeces, representing a public health concern. Furthermore, R. equi carrying VapB type-8 plasmids types are described for the first time in the gut of the pig.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: G H B
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: F J P
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Listoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Risseti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: A B C
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D003470:Culture Media; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C077517:VapB protein, Bacteria
keywords: Rhodococcus equi; Virulence-plasmid profile; faeces; intermediately virulent; pigs