Adhesion of Streptococcus equi to Air-Liquid Interface Ex Vivo Cultures of the Equine Guttural Pouch Mucosa Is Inhibited by Heparin

The ability of Streptococcus equi to persist within the guttural pouches of recovered horses is critical to the transmission and success of this important pathogen. Here, we quantify the adherence of five different strains of S. equi to air-liquid interface three-dimensional ex vivo cultures of guttural pouch mucosa and demonstrate that the addition of heparin significantly reduces bacterial adhesion. Our data suggest that the persistence of S. equi in the guttural pouch may be enhanced through binding to glycosaminoglycans that are present on the mucosal surface. Further research is warranted toward the identification of the specific receptors involved in this interaction.