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Yassine E, Galiwango R, Ssengooba W, Ashaba F, Joloba ML, Zalwango S, Whalen CC, Quinn F. Assessing a transmission network of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an African city using single nucleotide polymorphism threshold analysis. Microbiologyopen 2021; 10:e1211. [PMID: 34180596 PMCID: PMC8209283 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in humans by a single infectious agent worldwide with approximately two billion humans latently infected with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Currently, the accepted method for controlling the disease is Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (TB-DOTS). This program is not preventative and individuals may transmit disease before diagnosis, thus better understanding of disease transmission is essential. Using whole-genome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, we analyzed genomes of 145 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates from active TB cases from the Rubaga Division of Kampala, Uganda. We established that these isolates grouped into M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) lineages 1, 2, 3, and 4, with the most isolates grouping into lineage 4. Possible transmission pairs containing ≤12 SNPs were identified in lineages 1, 3, and 4 with the prevailing transmission in lineages 3 and 4. Furthermore, investigating DNA codon changes as a result of specific SNPs in prominent virulence genes including plcA and plcB could indicate potentially important modifications in protein function. Incorporating this analysis with corresponding epidemiological data may provide a blueprint for the integration of public health interventions to decrease TB transmission in a region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edriss Yassine
- Department of Infectious DiseasesCollege of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Ronald Galiwango
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsCollege of Public HealthUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Willy Ssengooba
- Makerere University Lung InstituteCollege of Health SciencesMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
- Mycobacteriology (BSL‐3) LaboratoryDepartment of Medical MicrobiologyMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Fred Ashaba
- Uganda‐CWRU Research CollaborationMakerere University and Mulago HospitalKampalaUganda
| | - Moses L. Joloba
- Uganda‐CWRU Research CollaborationMakerere University and Mulago HospitalKampalaUganda
| | - Sarah Zalwango
- Uganda‐CWRU Research CollaborationMakerere University and Mulago HospitalKampalaUganda
| | - Christopher C. Whalen
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsCollege of Public HealthUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Frederick Quinn
- Department of Infectious DiseasesCollege of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
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Kendall C, Kerr LRFS, Miranda JGV, Rubin de Pinho ST, Silva Andrade RF, Rodrigues LC, Frota CC, Mota RMS, Freitas de Almeida RL, Moreira FB, Gomes RBC, Alves de Almeida N, França L, Pontes MADA, Gonçalves H, Penna GO, Bührer-Sékula S, Klovdahl A, Barreto ML. A social network approach for the study of leprosy transmission beyond the household. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 116:100-107. [PMID: 34015825 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mycobacterium leprae was the first microorganism directly associated with a disease, however, there are still important gaps in our understanding of transmission. Although household contacts are prioritized, there is evidence of the importance of extrahousehold contacts. The goal of this article is to contribute to our understanding of the transmission of leprosy ex-household. METHODS We compare co-location data of 397 leprosy cases and 211 controls drawn from the Centro de Dermatologia Sanitária D. Libânia in Fortaleza, Brazil. We collected lifetime geolocation data related to residence, school attendance and workplace and developed novel methods to establish a critical distance (Rc) for exposure and evaluated the potential for transmission for residence, school and workplace. RESULTS Our methods provide different threshold values of distance for residence, school and workplace. Residence networks demonstrate an Rc of about 500 m. Cases cluster in workplaces as well. Schools do not cluster cases. CONCLUSIONS Our novel network approach offers a promising opportunity to explore leprosy transmission. Our networks confirm the importance of coresidence, provide a boundary and suggest a role for transmission in workplaces. Schools, on the other hand, do not demonstrate a clustering of cases. Our findings may have programmatic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Kendall
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, R: Prof. Costa Mendes, 1608 - 5o. andar - Rodolfo Teófilo - CEP: 60.430-971 - Fortaleza - CE - Brazil
| | - Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, R: Prof. Costa Mendes, 1608 - 5o. andar - Rodolfo Teófilo - CEP: 60.430-971 - Fortaleza - CE - Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Laura Cunha Rodrigues
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London, UK
| | - Cristiane Cunha Frota
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Patologia e Medicine Legal, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria Salani Mota
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Estatística e Matemática Aplicada, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Naíla Alves de Almeida
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Lucas França
- University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Samira Bührer-Sékula
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Alden Klovdahl
- School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
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