Molecular characterization of equine isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae: natural disruption of genes encoding the virulence factors pneumolysin and autolysin.

ABSTRACT: Although often considered a strict human pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae has been reported to infect and cause pneumonia in horses, although the pathology appears restricted compared to that of human infections. Here we report on the molecular characterization of a group of S. pneumoniae isolates obtained from horses in England and Ireland. Despite being obtained from geographically distinct locations, the isolates were found to represent a tight clonal group, virtually identical to each other but genetically distinguishable from more than 120 divergent isolates of human S. pneumoniae. A comprehensive analysis of known pneumococcal virulence determinants was undertaken in an attempt to understand the pathogenicity of equine pneumococci. Surprisingly, equine isolates appear to lack activ

SUBMITTER: Whatmore AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC96581 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature