Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains isolated from cattle in Masovian Voivodeship in 2008-2012

Abstract

Since 2009, Poland has had a TB-free status, although over the last seven years 12-34 cases of bovine TB have been recorded annually. In 2009-2012 the largest number of cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae were culled in Masovian Voivodeship. Likewise, the largest number of sources of this zoonosis were recorded in that voivodeship. The vicinity of farms where bTB was found indicated that it could have been transmitted between their herds. The aim of this study was to characterise the molecular patterns of bovine bacillus strains isolated from cattle in Masovian Voivodeship and the molecular relationships between them. The material for microbiological examination came from 38 cattle (Bos taurus) located in 7 counties of Masovian Voivodeship. These 38 strains of MTBC were further identified as M. bovis (24 isolates; 63%) and M. caprae (14 isolates; 37%). A two-step genotyping analysis of the 38 MTBC strains identified 24 molecular patterns, closely related phylogenetically, which were assigned to 8 clusters of 2-6 strains. Sources of transmission were identified in 8 out of 13 herds examined in the 7 counties of Masovian Voivodeship. The results of the genotyping analysis excluded the possibility of TB transmission between different herds in Masovian Voivodeship. It was proved, however, that TB had been transmitted between animals bred on one of the farms..

Molecular characterisation of the Mycobacterium bovis causing bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in Poland

“…Unlike in the United Kingdom, the Polish badger population is not a reservoir of M. bovis and is free of infection (21). Identified spoligotypes of Polish strains are commonly found in Europe (5,18) and the most common spoligotype in these studies, SB2220 according to the Mbovis.org database, was isolated for the first time in Iran in 2013, which is also demonstrative of international transmission. Poland has close contacts with this region of the world through cattle breeding.…”

“…In 2009, Poland attained the status of a country free from this zoonosis, but despite this fact 12 to 33 outbreaks of tuberculosis in cattle have been recorded each year of the last five (18). In 2003-2018, the largest number of cattle infected with bovine mycobacteria were eliminated and the largest number of outbreaks of this zoonosis were recorded in the Masovian Province (the central region of Poland) (Fig.…”