Rhodococcus

Question 1

What are the main features of rhodococcus?

Answer 1

• Gram +
• aerobic
• faculative intracellular
• mycolic acid in cell wall
• ubiquitous in the environment

Question 1

What animal species does rhodococcus effect?

Answer 1

Horses

Question 2

What is the main pathogenesis of rhodococcus?

Answer 2

• Bacteria is inhaled in dusty environments
• Has the ability to survive and replicate within macrophages
• They produce virulence factors that help them survive
• then causes necrosis of macrophages

Question 3

What three things predispose a foal to rhodococcus equi?

Answer 3

• Age/ being young
• Host defence mechanisms
• Number of bacteria that were inhaled

Question 4

Name three non-specific clinical signs of rhodococcus equi

Answer 4

• Tachypnoea
• Pyrexia
• Mucopurulent discharge

Question 5

What four lesions may occur with rhodococcus equi?

Answer 5

• Polyarthritis
• Hypopyon
• Pyogranulomas
• Osteomyelitis

Question 6

What two ways can you diagnose Rhodococcus equi?

Answer 6

• PCR/ VAP amplification
• Bacterial Culture

Question 7

What species does Virulence-Associated Protein A affect?

Answer 7

Horses

Question 8

What species does Virulence-Associated Protein B affect?

Answer 8

Pigs

Question 9

What species does Virulence-Associated Protein N affect?

Answer 9

Goats

Question 10

What is the purpose of VAP preventing phagolysosome fusion?

Answer 10

Prevents the rhodococcus bacteria from being degraded by the lysosome

Question 11

What gross lesions does rhodococcus cause in the skin?

Answer 11

• Polyarthritis
• Uveitis
• Pyogranulomas in the skin
• Osteomyelitis