Genetic and virulence-phenotype characterization of serotypes 2 and 9 of Streptococcus suis swine isolates

Authors

  • Verena Blume Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • Inmaculada Luque Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
  • Ana I. Vela Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • Carmen Borge Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
  • Alonso Maldonado Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
  • Lucas Domínguez Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • Carmen Tarradas Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
  • José F. Fernández-Garayzábal Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Keywords:

Streptoccoccus suis, swine, genetic typing, PFGE, MLST, virulence-related factors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic characteristics and virulence phenotypes of Streptococcus suis, specifically, in clinical isolates of serotypes 2 and 9 (n = 195), obtained from diverse geographical areas across Spain. Pulsedfield gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing identified 97 genetic profiles, 68% of which were represented by single isolates, indicative of a substantial genetic diversity among the S. suis isolates analyzed. Five PFGE profiles accounted for 33.3% of the isolates and were isolated from 38% of the herds in nine different provinces, indicative of the bacterium’s widespread distribution in the Spanish swine population. Representative isolates of the most prevalent PFGE profiles of both serotypes were subjected to multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis. The results indicated that serotypes 2 and 9 have distinct genetic backgrounds. Serotype 2 isolates belong to the ST1 complex, a highly successful clone that has spread over most European countries. In accordance with isolates of this complex, most serotype 2 isolates also expressed the phenotype MRP+EF+SLY+. Serotype 9 isolates belong to the ST61 complex, which is distantly related to the widespread European ST87 clone. Also, in contrast to most isolates of the European ST87 clone, which express the large variant MRP*, the majority of serotype 9 isolates (97.9%) did not express the protein. [Int Microbiol 2009; 12(3):161-166]

Author Biographies

Verena Blume, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Inmaculada Luque, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Ana I. Vela, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Carmen Borge, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Alonso Maldonado, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Lucas Domínguez, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Carmen Tarradas, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

José F. Fernández-Garayzábal, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Animal Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense Univ. of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

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Published

2010-01-14

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Section

Research Articles