Características de Rhodococcus equi relacionadas con su supervivencia y patogenicidad

Article

Authorship

LEIVA, ROMINA FLORENCIA ; Mesplet, Maria ; BUSTOS, CARLA PAOLA

Date

2022

Publishing House and Editing Place

Veterinaria Argentina

Magazine

Veterinaria Argentina, vol. 39 (pp. 1-19) Veterinaria Argentina

Summary Information provided by the agent in SIGEVA

The equine rhodococosis caused by Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), is a disease of high economic impact. The disease generates pneumonia in foals up to six months of age, with high mortality and other animal species, including humans. R. equi is an opportunistic intracellular pathogen that inhabits the environment and the gastrointestinal tract of healthy horses. Virulent strains have a virulence plasmid with the vapA gene that allows it to survive in the macrophages. The high appearance of clinical... The equine rhodococosis caused by Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), is a disease of high economic impact. The disease generates pneumonia in foals up to six months of age, with high mortality and other animal species, including humans. R. equi is an opportunistic intracellular pathogen that inhabits the environment and the gastrointestinal tract of healthy horses. Virulent strains have a virulence plasmid with the vapA gene that allows it to survive in the macrophages. The high appearance of clinical cases is related to a high concentration of virulent strains in the air inhaled by foals. R. equi pnemonias are frequently treated with empirically combined antimicrobials. Among the most used combinations is rifampicin with macrolides, mainly azithromycin and erythromycin. Alternatively, different antimicrobial protocols are used in order to reduce antibiotic resistance, howevwe, their sustained use promotes the appearance of resistance microorganisms. In this review work, the microbiological characteristics of R. equi are described, especially those related to its pathogenicity and its ability to survive in the environment. The literature related to antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and the impact it generates on public health was reviewed. In this way, we conclude that equine rhodococosis is a highly relevant disease at an economic and health level, which promotes the constant study of appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives to mitigate the impact of the disease.