Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing
Abstract Background Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease whose causative agent, Brucella spp., is endemic in many countries of the Mediterranean basin, including Greece. Although the occurrence of brucellosis must be reported to the authorities, it is believed that the disease is under-reported in Gree...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08518-z |
| _version_ | 1797577884082110464 |
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| author | Hanka Brangsch Vassilios Sandalakis Maria Babetsa Evridiki Boukouvala Artemisia Ntoula Eirini Makridaki Athanasia Christidou Anna Psaroulaki Kadir Akar Sevil Erdenlig Gürbilek Tariq Jamil Falk Melzer Heinrich Neubauer Gamal Wareth |
| author_facet | Hanka Brangsch Vassilios Sandalakis Maria Babetsa Evridiki Boukouvala Artemisia Ntoula Eirini Makridaki Athanasia Christidou Anna Psaroulaki Kadir Akar Sevil Erdenlig Gürbilek Tariq Jamil Falk Melzer Heinrich Neubauer Gamal Wareth |
| author_sort | Hanka Brangsch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease whose causative agent, Brucella spp., is endemic in many countries of the Mediterranean basin, including Greece. Although the occurrence of brucellosis must be reported to the authorities, it is believed that the disease is under-reported in Greece, and knowledge about the genomic diversity of brucellae is lacking. Methods Thus, 44 Brucella isolates, primarily B. melitensis, collected between 1999 and 2009 from humans and small ruminants in Greece were subjected to whole genome sequencing using short-read technology. The raw reads and assembled genomes were used for in silico genotyping based on single nucleotide substitutions and alleles. Further, specific genomic regions encoding putative virulence genes were screened for characteristic nucleotide changes, which arose in different genotype lineages. Results In silico genotyping revealed that the isolates belonged to three of the known sublineages of the East Mediterranean genotype. In addition, a novel subgenotype was identified that was basal to the other East Mediterranean sublineages, comprising two Greek strains. The majority of the isolates can be assumed to be of endemic origin, as they were clustered with strains from the Western Balkans or Turkey, whereas one strain of human origin could be associated with travel to another endemic region, e.g. Portugal. Further, nucleotide substitutions in the housekeeping gene rpoB and virulence-associated genes were detected, which were characteristic of the different subgenotypes. One of the isolates originating from an aborted bovine foetus was identified as B. abortus vaccine strain RB51. Conclusion The results demonstrate the existence of several distinct persistent Brucella sp. foci in Greece. To detect these and for tracing infection chains, extensive sampling initiatives are required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:14:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ec38e844d5d402c9867855f32748b18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:14:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ec38e844d5d402c9867855f32748b182023-11-19T12:30:03ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342023-08-0123111510.1186/s12879-023-08518-zGenotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencingHanka Brangsch0Vassilios Sandalakis1Maria Babetsa2Evridiki Boukouvala3Artemisia Ntoula4Eirini Makridaki5Athanasia Christidou6Anna Psaroulaki7Kadir Akar8Sevil Erdenlig Gürbilek9Tariq Jamil10Falk Melzer11Heinrich Neubauer12Gamal Wareth13Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Fredrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI)Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of CreteVeterinary Research Institute, ELGO-DIMITRAVeterinary Research Institute, ELGO-DIMITRALaboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of CreteLaboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of CreteLaboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of CreteLaboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of CreteFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yıl UniversityMicrobiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Harran UniversityInstitute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Fredrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI)Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Fredrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI)Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Fredrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI)Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Fredrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI)Abstract Background Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease whose causative agent, Brucella spp., is endemic in many countries of the Mediterranean basin, including Greece. Although the occurrence of brucellosis must be reported to the authorities, it is believed that the disease is under-reported in Greece, and knowledge about the genomic diversity of brucellae is lacking. Methods Thus, 44 Brucella isolates, primarily B. melitensis, collected between 1999 and 2009 from humans and small ruminants in Greece were subjected to whole genome sequencing using short-read technology. The raw reads and assembled genomes were used for in silico genotyping based on single nucleotide substitutions and alleles. Further, specific genomic regions encoding putative virulence genes were screened for characteristic nucleotide changes, which arose in different genotype lineages. Results In silico genotyping revealed that the isolates belonged to three of the known sublineages of the East Mediterranean genotype. In addition, a novel subgenotype was identified that was basal to the other East Mediterranean sublineages, comprising two Greek strains. The majority of the isolates can be assumed to be of endemic origin, as they were clustered with strains from the Western Balkans or Turkey, whereas one strain of human origin could be associated with travel to another endemic region, e.g. Portugal. Further, nucleotide substitutions in the housekeeping gene rpoB and virulence-associated genes were detected, which were characteristic of the different subgenotypes. One of the isolates originating from an aborted bovine foetus was identified as B. abortus vaccine strain RB51. Conclusion The results demonstrate the existence of several distinct persistent Brucella sp. foci in Greece. To detect these and for tracing infection chains, extensive sampling initiatives are required.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08518-zBrucellosisGreeceBrucella melitensisEast Mediterranean lineageBrucella abortus RB51Virulence genes |
| spellingShingle | Hanka Brangsch Vassilios Sandalakis Maria Babetsa Evridiki Boukouvala Artemisia Ntoula Eirini Makridaki Athanasia Christidou Anna Psaroulaki Kadir Akar Sevil Erdenlig Gürbilek Tariq Jamil Falk Melzer Heinrich Neubauer Gamal Wareth Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing BMC Infectious Diseases Brucellosis Greece Brucella melitensis East Mediterranean lineage Brucella abortus RB51 Virulence genes |
| title | Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing |
| title_full | Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing |
| title_fullStr | Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing |
| title_short | Genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in Greece based on whole-genome sequencing |
| title_sort | genotype diversity of brucellosis agents isolated from humans and animals in greece based on whole genome sequencing |
| topic | Brucellosis Greece Brucella melitensis East Mediterranean lineage Brucella abortus RB51 Virulence genes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08518-z |
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