Genetic profiling of Mycobacterium bovis strains from slaughtered cattle in Eritrea

Ghebremariam, M. K., Hlokwe, T., Rutten, V. P.M.G., Allepuz, A., Cadmus, S., Muwonge, A., Robbe-Austerman, S. and Michel, A. L. (2018) Genetic profiling of Mycobacterium bovis strains from slaughtered cattle in Eritrea. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(4), e0006406. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006406) (PMID:29664901) (PMCID:PMC5922621)

Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis) is the main causative agent for bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and can also be the cause of zoonotic tuberculosis in humans. In view of its zoonotic nature, slaughterhouse surveillance, potentially resulting in total or partial condemnation of the carcasses and organs, is conducted routinely. Spoligotyping, VNTR profiling, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of M. bovis isolated from tissues with tuberculosis-like lesions collected from 14 cattle at Eritrea’s largest slaughterhouse in the capital Asmara, were conducted.The 14 M. bovis isolates were classified into three different spoligotype patterns (SB0120, SB0134 and SB0948) and six VNTR profiles. WGS results matched those of the conventional genotyping methods and further discriminated the six VNTR profiles into 14 strains. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the M. bovis isolates suggests two independent introductions of BTB into Eritrea possibly evolving from a common ancestral strain in Europe.This molecular study revealed the most important strains of M. bovis in Eritrea and their (dis)similarities with the strains generally present in East Africa and Europe, as well as potential routes of introduction of M. bovis. Though the sample size is small, the current study provides important information as well as platform for future in-depth molecular studies on isolates from both the dairy and the traditional livestock sectors in Eritrea and the region. This study provides information onthe origin of some of the M. bovis strains in Eritrea, its genetic diversity, evolution and patterns of spread between dairy herds. Such information is essential in the development and implementation of future BTB control strategy for Eritrea.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ghebremariam, Dr Michael
• Authors: Ghebremariam, M. K., Hlokwe, T., Rutten, V. P.M.G., Allepuz, A., Cadmus, S., Muwonge, A., Robbe-Austerman, S., and Michel, A. L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1935-2772
• ISSN (Online): 1935-2735
• Copyright Holders: Copyright the Authors 2018
• First Published: First published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 12:e0006406
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence