Identification and molecular characterization of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolated from camels (Camelus dromedarius) and camel milk in Kenya and Somalia

• Published in: Journal of veterinary medicine. Series B 2005-04, Vol.52 (3), p.142-146
• Main Authors: Younan, M, Estoepangestie, A.T.S, Cengiz, M, Alber, J, El-Sayed, A, Lammler, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; bacterial infections; Base Sequence; biochemistry; camel milk; camels; Camelus - microbiology; Camelus dromedarius; cell culture; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; epidemiology; gene amplification; Genes, Bacterial; genetic polymorphism; genetic variation; immunology; Kenya; microbial genetics; Milk - microbiology; molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; pathogen identification; Phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; ribosomal DNA; Somalia; strain differences; strains; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - veterinary; Streptococcus equi; Streptococcus equi - classification; Streptococcus equi - genetics; Streptococcus equi - isolation & purification; Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus; virulence; Virulence - genetics
• ISSN: 0931-1793; 1439-0450
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0450.2005.00828.x

Seventeen Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains isolated from camels and camel milk in Kenya and Somalia were identified by their cultural characteristics, by biochemical and serological reactions with the help of commercial identification systems and by molecular studies using a multiplex PCR. The isolates were further characterized by a PCR-mediated detection of size polymorphisms in the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region and the virulence gene szp and by amplification of the virulence gene cne. These molecular analysis are potentially useful in identifying and characterizing S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains of this origin and could possibly be valuable in epidemiological investigations.