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Characterization of Prototheca zopfii Associated with Outbreak of Bovine Clinical Mastitis in Herd of Beijing, China

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Abstract

Prototheca zopfii (P. zopfii) has become an important cause of bovine mastitis in many countries. In the present study, to better understand the occurrence of one clinical mastitis (CM) outbreak due to P. zopfii, the molecular characterization and resistance patterns of the microalga were described. P. zopfii strains were isolated from 17 of 23 quarters, which suffered CM in the outbreak, and 7 of 46 CM recovered quarters before the outbreak, as well as 2 of 75 environmental samples in the dairy farm. All strains were identified as genotype 2 by genotype-specific PCR analysis. Results of in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal susceptibility tests indicated that these strains were resistant to majority of tested drugs, with the only exception of amphotericin B, nystatin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and amikacin. This is the first report about CM outbreak caused by P. zopfii in China. These data suggest that P. zopfii may represent a serious risk in the studied herd, and this microalga could be an important potential pathogen causing mastitis in dairy herds of Beijing.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Chinese Eleventh “Five-year” National Science and Technology Support Project (No. 2006BAD04A05) and Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (SRFDP) State Education Ministry (20060019045).

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Yuan Ming Yuan West Road No.2, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China

    Jian Gao, Han-qi Zhang, Jian-zhong He, Rong-guang Hou, Qiao-xing Wu, Yang Gao & Bo Han

  2. College Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Yang-hua He

  3. Beijing Laboratory Animal Research Center, Beijing, 100012, China

    Shu-mei Li

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  1. Jian Gao
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  2. Han-qi Zhang
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Correspondence to Bo Han.

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Gao, J., Zhang, Hq., He, Jz. et al. Characterization of Prototheca zopfii Associated with Outbreak of Bovine Clinical Mastitis in Herd of Beijing, China. Mycopathologia 173, 275–281 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-011-9510-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-011-9510-y

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