Evidence for local and international spread of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis through whole genome sequencing of isolates from the island of Ireland

Perets, V. et al. (2022) Evidence for local and international spread of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis through whole genome sequencing of isolates from the island of Ireland. Veterinary Microbiology, 268, 109416. (doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109416) (PMID:35405477)

[img] Text
300960.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

5MB

Abstract

We describe application of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to a collection of 197 Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates gathered from 122 cattle herds across 27 counties of the island of Ireland. We compare WGS to MAP diversity quantified using mycobacterial interspersed random unit – variable number tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR). While MIRU-VNTR showed only two major types, WGS could split the 197 isolates into eight major groups. We also found six isolates corresponding to INMV 13, a novel MIRU-VNTR type for Ireland. Evidence for dispersal of MAP across Ireland via cattle movement could be discerned from the data, with mixed infections present in several herds. Furthermore, comparisons of MAP WGS data from Ireland to data from Great Britain and continental Europe revealed many instances of close genetic similarity and hence evidence for international transmission of infection. BEAST MASCOT structured coalescent analyses, with relaxed and strict molecular clocks, estimated the substitution rate to be 0.10–0.13 SNPs/site/year and disclosed greater transitions per lineage per year from Europe to Ireland, indicating transmission into Ireland. Our work therefore reveals new insight into the seeding of MAP infection across Ireland, highlighting how WGS can inform policy formulation to ultimately control MAP transmission at local, national and international scales.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:We acknowledge funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine awards 15/S/651 (‘NexusMAP’) and 2019R404 ('BTBGenIE').
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Crispell, Mr Joseph
Authors: Perets, V., Allen, A., Crispell, J., Cassidy, S., O’Connor, A., Farrell, D., Browne, J. A., O’Mahony, J., Skuce, R., Kenny, K., and Gordon, S. V.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Veterinary Microbiology
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0378-1135
ISSN (Online):1873-2542
Published Online:05 April 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Authors
First Published:First published in Veterinary Microbiology 268:109416
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record