Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolated from skin abscesses of native Korean goats (Capra hircus coreanae)

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 133; no. 3; pp. 2074 - 2082
• Main Authors: Pathirana, Hansani Nilupama Kumari Senarath, Cho, Ho‐Seong, Cho, Yong‐Il, Kim, Chan‐Lan, Wimalasena, Sudu Hakuruge Madusha Pramud, Rajapaksha, Lansakara Gedara Thilini Ganga, Gunasekara, Chathura Wikumpriya Rusiri, Kim, Chong‐Han, Seo, Byoung‐Joo, Moon, Sung‐Hyun, Park, Jin‐Ho, Shin, Gee‐Wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Oxford University Press 01-09-2022
• Subjects: Abscesses; Ampicillin; Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial susceptibility; Capra hircus coreanae; Cefotaxime; Cefoxitin; Cephalothin; Chloramphenicol; Chloromycetin; Ciprofloxacin; Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis; DnaK protein; Doxycycline; Enrofloxacin; Erythromycin; Genes; Genetic diversity; Gentamicin; Goats; Health risks; multilocus sequencing analysis; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Phospholipase D; Phylogeny; Pseudotuberculosis; Public health; Skin; Streptomycin; Trimethoprim; Vancomycin; Virulence; virulence genes; South Korea
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1111/jam.15683

Aims
This study aimed to investigate the molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis from skin abscesses of Korean native black goats (KNBG, Capra hircus coreanae) in South Korea.
Methods and results
A total of 83 isolates were recovered from skin abscesses of KNBG. Of these isolates, 74 isolates were identified as C. pseudotuberculosis by phospholipase D (PLD) gene‐based PCR assay. Each of the isolates possessed all 18 virulence genes (FagA, FagB, FagC, FagD, SigE, SpaC, SodC, PknG, NanH, OppA, OppB, OppC, OppD, OppF, CopC, NrdH and CpaE). The genetic diversity of C. pseudotuberculosis isolates was assessed by the phylogenetic analysis using the concatenated sequences (3073 bp) of five housekeeping genes (fusA, dnaK, infB, groeL1 and leuA) for investigating their genetic diversity. In the results, the isolates belonged to three groups: group 1 (67 isolates), group 2 (one isolate) and group 3 (six isolates) within biovar ovis. However, the groups exhibited low genetic diversity (0.20%–0.41%). In the antimicrobial susceptibility test, most isolates were susceptible to tetracycline, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, enrofloxacin, cefoxitin, ampicillin, gentamycin, cephalothin and doxycycline, whereas they were not susceptible to cefotaxime, trimethoprim and streptomycin.
Conclusion
This results suggest the involvement of relatively few clones of C. pseudotuberculosis in Korea. Further, present isolates can threaten public health due to potentially virulent strains with all 18 virulence genes and non‐susceptible strains to clinically important antibiotics (CIA) and highly important antibiotics.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This study is the first to investigate the genetic diversity and potential pathogenicity of C. pseudotuberculosis biovar ovis isolates from skin abscesses of KBNG in South Korea, and could provide useful information in controlling its infections.