Genetic characterization of Bacillus anthracis strains circulating in Italy from 1972 to 2018

Rondinone, Valeria; Serrecchia, Luigina; Parisi, Antonio; Fasanella, Antonio; Manzulli, Viviana; Cipolletta, Dora; Galante, Domenico

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227875

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…IMBa003 was obtained from sheep in 1974, and it occupied the basal node of in clade V of the phylogenetic tree, referring to it as a potential ancestor strain for those from Inner Mongolia. Similarly, the genetic characterization of 234 B. anthracis strains circulating in Italy showed that most of the genotypes are genetically similar, supporting the hypothesis that all strains evolved from a local common ancestral strain (Rondinone et al., 2020). Moreover, genetic homogeneity among Vietnamese B. anthracis strains was high, and the phylogeny from core genome SNPs revealed that the Vietnamese strains were positioned close to each other (Hoang et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Changed epidemiology of anthrax and molecular characteristics of Bacillus anthracis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Yan

Wang

Yue

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Anthrax is a natural foci disease in Inner Mongolia, which poses a severe threat to public health. In this study, the incidence number, rate and constituent ratio were used to describe the epidemiological characteristics of anthrax in the region from 1956-2018. The molecular correlation and genetic characteristics of the strains were investigated using canonical single nucleotide polymorphisms (CanSNP), multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-15) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The epidemiological characteristics of anthrax in Inner Mongolia have altered significantly. The incidence of anthrax has decreased annually without vaccination, and the regional distribution of anthrax gradually transferred from central and western regions to the eastern. Moreover, the occupation distribution evolved from multiple early occupations to predominated by farmers and herdsmen. This change is closely related to policy factors and to changes in the means of production and the living habits of the local population. This indicates that reformulating the control and prevention strategies is essential. Both A. Br. Ames and A. Br. 001/002 subgroups were the predominant CanSNP genotypes of Bacillus anthracis in Inner Mongolia. A total of 36 strains constituted six shared MLVA-15 genotypes, suggesting an epidemiological link between the strains of each shared genotype. The six shared genotypes ([GT1, 9, 11 and 15] and [GT8 and 12]) consisting of 2-7 strains confirmed the occurrence of multiple point outbreaks and cross-regional transmission caused by multiple common sources of infection. Phylogenetic analysis based on the WGS core genome showed that strains from this study formed an independent clade (C.V.), and they were positioned close to each other, suggesting a common origin. Further comparison analysis should be performed to ascertain the geographic origin of these strains.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Changed epidemiology of anthrax and molecular characteristics of Bacillus anthracis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Yan

Wang

Yue

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…The disease is sporadic in regions of Central Italy, islands and south of the country ( Table 6 ). In contrast, in North Italy only a few cases were recorded and genotyping of isolated strains related this occurrence to animal introductions from abroad ( 20 ).…”

Section: Cattle Diseases Without a Control Program In Italymentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Control Programs for Twenty-Four Infectious Cattle Diseases in Italy

et al. 2021

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The cattle industry is a major driving force for the Italian agricultural sector totalling about 5. 6 million heads for dairy and meat production together. It is particularly developed in the northern part of the country, where 70% of the whole Italian cattle population is reared. The cattle industry development in the rest of the country is hampered by the hard orography of the territories and a variety of socioeconomic features leading to the persistence of the traditional rural farming systems. The differences in the farming systems (industrial vs. traditional) also affect the health status of the farms. Whereas, Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) is almost eradicated across the whole country, in Southern Italy where Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis are still present and Bluetongue is endemic due to the presence of the competent vector (Culicoides imicola), less investments are aimed at controlling diseases with economic impact or at improving farm biosecurity. On the other hand, with the eradication of these diseases in most part of the country, the need has emerged for reducing the economic burden of non-regulated endemic disease and control programs (CPs) for specific diseases have been implemented at regional level, based on the needs of each territory (for instance common grazing or trading with neighboring countries). This explains the coexistence of different types of programs in force throughout the country. Nowadays in Italy, among cattle diseases with little or no EU regulations only three are regulated by a national CP: Enzootic Bovine Leukosis, Bluetongue and Paratuberculosis, while Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis and Trichomonosis are nationwide controlled only in breeding bulls. For some of the remaining diseases (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, Streptococcus agalactiae) specific CPs have been implemented by the regional Authorities, but for most of them a CP does not exist at all. However, there is a growing awareness among farmers and public health authorities that animal diseases have a major impact not only on the farm profitability but also on animal welfare and on the use of antibiotics in livestock. It is probable that in the near future other CPs will be implemented.

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“…The proposed interpretation for the emergence of the TEA 011 polytomy is that an outbreak occurred in one of the three European countries contributing founder lineages and that representatives were brought back in the other countries as a side effect of military operations. Southern Italy is the best candidate for being the place of the onset of the polytomy as lineages from the progenitor TEA 008/011 (7) are present in Sicilia (33). Figure 3 also suggests that the topology of TEA 011 reflects two layers of Spanish-French-Italian interactions.…”

Section: Analysing the Abr011/009 Polytomy (Tea 011)mentioning

confidence: 94%

Bacillus anthracis evolutionary history: taking advantage of the topology of the phylogenetic tree and of human history to propose dating points

Vergnaud¹

2020

Erciyes Med J

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This review expands on a talk I gave during the "Biology of Anthrax" meeting held in Bari, Italy (September 3 rd -6 th , 2019). The talk was a synthesis of recent investigations taking advantage of the topology of the Bacillus anthracis phylogenetic tree to propose tentative dating points and scenarios. Currently available whole-genome sequence (WGS) data allowed identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among B. anthracis strains and drawing phylogenetic trees. The geographic origin of the strains and the topology of the tree were used to infer spreading events. Five star-like patterns in the tree (polytomies), each containing at least six branches, were detected. The analysis of the geographic distribution of the strains constituting one such polytomy suggests that it emerged not more than a few centuries ago. The key observation allowing this dating is the finding that the polytomy is anchored into Western Europe and that the main North-American lineage emerged from one of its branches, indicative of a post-Columbian export. From this point, I propose additional working hypotheses which may allow dating key nodes along the phylogeny of B. anthracis corresponding to four "Out-of-Africa" events. While trade of contaminated animal products seems to be the predominant driving force underlying modern long-distance spreading of B. anthracis, invasive military operations and more generally borders instabilities may have played an important role in earlier times. The testing of these hypotheses will require the sequencing of a significant number of additional strains from many countries.

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Genetic characterization of Bacillus anthracis strains circulating in Italy from 1972 to 2018

Cited by 14 publications

References 29 publications

Changed epidemiology of anthrax and molecular characteristics of Bacillus anthracis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Changed epidemiology of anthrax and molecular characteristics of Bacillus anthracis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Overview of Control Programs for Twenty-Four Infectious Cattle Diseases in Italy

Bacillus anthracis evolutionary history: taking advantage of the topology of the phylogenetic tree and of human history to propose dating points

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