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Loperena-Barber M, Elizalde-Bielsa A, Salvador-Bescós M, Ruiz-Rodríguez P, Pellegrini JM, Renau-Mínguez C, Lancaster R, Zúñiga-Ripa A, Iriarte M, Bengoechea JA, Coscollá M, Gorvel JP, Moriyón I, Conde-Álvarez R. "Phylogenomic insights into brucellaceae: The Pseudochrobactrum algeriensis case". INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 123:105625. [PMID: 38906517 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
The genus Pseudochrobactrum encompasses free-living bacteria phylogenetically close to Ochrobactrum opportunistic pathogens and to Brucella, facultative intracellular parasites causing brucellosis, a worldwide-extended and grave zoonosis. Recently, Pseudochrobactrum strains were isolated from Brucella natural hosts on Brucella selective media, potentially causing diagnostic confusions. Strikingly, P. algeriensis was isolated from cattle lymph nodes, organs that are inimical to bacteria. Here, we analyse P. algeriensis potential virulence factors in comparison with Ochrobactrum and Brucella. Consistent with genomic analyses, Western-Blot analyses confirmed that P. algeriensis lacks the ability to synthesize the N-formylperosamine O-polysaccharide characteristic of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of smooth Brucella core species. However, unlike other Pseudochrobactrum but similar to some early diverging brucellae, P. algeriensis carries genes potentially synthetizing a rhamnose-based O-polysaccharide LPS. Lipid A analysis by MALDI-TOF demonstrated that P. algeriensis LPS bears a lipid A with a reduced pathogen-associated molecular pattern, a trait shared with Ochrobactrum and Brucella that is essential to generate a highly stable outer membrane and to delay immune activation. Also, although not able to multiply intracellularly in macrophages, the analysis of P. algeriensis cell lipid envelope revealed the presence of large amounts of cationic aminolipids, which may account for the extremely high resistance of P. algeriensis to bactericidal peptides and could favor colonization of mucosae and transient survival in Brucella hosts. However, two traits critical in Brucella pathogenicity are either significantly different (T4SS [VirB]) or absent (erythritol catabolic pathway) in P. algeriensis. This work shows that, while diverging in other characteristics, lipidic envelope features relevant in Brucella pathogenicity are conserved in Brucellaceae. The constant presence of these features strongly suggests that reinforcement of the envelope integrity as an adaptive advantage in soil was maintained in Brucella because of the similarity of some environmental challenges, such as the action of cationic peptide antibiotics and host defense peptides. This information adds knowledge about the evolution of Brucellaceae, and also underlines the taxonomical differences of the three genera compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Loperena-Barber
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aitor Elizalde-Bielsa
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miriam Salvador-Bescós
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Paula Ruiz-Rodríguez
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, Universidad de Valencia-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Chantal Renau-Mínguez
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, Universidad de Valencia-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rebecca Lancaster
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Amaia Zúñiga-Ripa
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite Iriarte
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jose A Bengoechea
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Mireia Coscollá
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, Universidad de Valencia-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jean-Pierre Gorvel
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Raquel Conde-Álvarez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA) and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
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Graham H, van der Most M, Kampfraath AA, Visser V, Dinkla A, Harders F, Ruuls R, van Essen-Zandbergen A, van den Esker MH, van der Heide R, van Keulen L, Koets A. Transmission of Brucella canis in a canine kennel following introduction of an infected dog. Vet Microbiol 2024; 296:110183. [PMID: 38991314 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Brucella canis is a zoonotic pathogen and the main causative agent of canine brucellosis. In the Netherlands, B. canis had previously only been detected in individual cases of imported dogs. However, an outbreak of B. canis occurred for the first time in a cohort of autochthonous dogs in a breeding kennel in 2019. The outbreak began with a positive serological test result of an imported intact male dog showing clinical symptoms of brucellosis. Consequently, urine and blood samples were collected and tested positive for B. canis by culture, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and whole-genome-sequencing (WGS). Screening of the contact dogs in the kennel where the index case was kept, revealed that antibodies against B. canis could be detected in 23 out of 69 dogs (34 %) by serum agglutination test (SAT). Of the 23 seropositive dogs, B. canis could be cultured from the urine and/or heparin samples of 19 dogs (83 %). This outbreak represents the first documented case of transmission of B. canis to autochthonous contact dogs in the Netherlands. WGS revealed all B. canis isolates belonged to the same cluster, which means the transmission of B. canis in the breeding kennel was most likely caused by the introduction of one infected dog. Comparing this cluster with data from other B. canis isolates, it also appears that characteristic clusters of B. canis are present in several endemic countries. These clusters seem to remain stable over time and may help in locating the origin of new isolates found. This outbreak showed that the international movement of dogs from endemic countries poses a threat to the canine population, while serological screening and WGS proved to be valuable tools for respectively screening and the epidemiological investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Graham
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Vanessa Visser
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Dinkla
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Harders
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Robin Ruuls
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Lucien van Keulen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Ad Koets
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands
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Dadar M, Alamian S. Detection and characterization of Brucella species in rodents: A threat for the persistence of brucellosis in livestock farms. Res Vet Sci 2024; 176:105339. [PMID: 38941712 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Brucellosis, caused by various Brucella species, poses a significant threat to global public health and livestock industries. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap concerning the presence of Brucella spp. in rodents on livestock farms in Iran. Both bacteriological and molecular surveys were conducted to assess the prevalence of Brucella spp. in these rodent populations. A total of 16 rodents were captured in four seropositive dairy cattle farms (n = 7) and two seropositive sheep farms (n = 9) and were then examined for the presence of the Brucella-infection. Five cow milk samples and 53 bovine lymph node samples from these farms were also tested for Brucella spp. Lymph node samples from dairy cattle farms contained 32 B. abortus biovar 3 isolates and one B. melitensis Rev1 vaccine isolate. The bacterial culture of rodents identified 12.5% of them (Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus) harboring Brucella strains in dairy cattle farms. The rodents had B. abortus biovar 3 and B. melitensis biovar 1, suggesting a reservoir for these bacteria. A two-step molecular assay, utilizing the Omp28 sequences in tissue samples of rodents, demonstrated that 68.75% (n = 11) of the tested rodents yielded positive results. Bruce-ladder PCR and wboA typing on isolated bacteria revealed a close relationship to field strain of Brucella species. The study reveals that rodents on seropositive livestock farms in Iran harbor Brucella spp., indicating a potential reservoir for these bacteria. This highlights the importance of monitoring rodent populations through the molecular and bacterial methods to manage and control brucellosis in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
| | - Saeed Alamian
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
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Freddi L, de la Garza-García JA, Al Dahouk S, Occhialini A, Köhler S. Brucella spp. are facultative anaerobic bacteria under denitrifying conditions. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0276723. [PMID: 37882559 PMCID: PMC10714718 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02767-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Respiration is a fundamental and complex process that bacteria use to produce energy. Despite aerobic respiration being the most common, some bacteria make use of a mode of respiration in the absence of oxygen, called anaerobic respiration, which can yield advantages in adaptation to various environmental conditions. Denitrification is part of this respiratory process ensuring higher respiratory flexibility under oxygen depletion. Here, we report for the first time the evidence of anaerobic growth of Brucella spp. under denitrifying conditions, which implies that this genus should be reconsidered as facultative anaerobic. Our study further describes that efficient denitrification is not equally found within the Brucella genus, with atypical species showing a greater ability to denitrify, correlated with higher expression of the genes involved, as compared to classical species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Freddi
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jorge A. de la Garza-García
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Sascha Al Dahouk
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
- German Environment Agency, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessandra Occhialini
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephan Köhler
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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Celestino CA, Rocca MF, Ayala SM, Irazu L, Escobar GI. First Argentine database for the accurate identification of Brucella to species level by MALDI-TOF MS. Acta Trop 2023; 248:107036. [PMID: 37793493 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) has proven to be a fast and reliable method for the identification of a large number of taxonomic groups. It offers the advantage of being able to incorporate protein spectra of microorganisms that are absent or poorly represented in commercial databases, such as the genus Brucella. The aim of the study was to build the first database of protein spectra of local biological variants of Brucella in Argentina and of standard strains. First, the identification performance of a panel of 135 strains was evaluated with the Swedish database ¨Folkhälsomyndigheten¨ (containing protein spectra of several international standards of the genus Brucella) imported from the open access site https://spectra.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/spectra/. With this library 100 % of the strains were correctly identified by mass spectrometry to genus level, but not to species level. Due to the limitation found, an in-house database was designed with local Brucella isolates from Argentina and standard strains used in routine bacteriological diagnosis. For its validation, a panel of strains, different from those used to develop the extended local database (n: 177), was used to, simultaneously, challenge both libraries. The samples were processed by triplicate and the results obtained were: 177 strains correctly identified to genus and species level compared to the gold standard method (phenotypic typing), meeting the criteria accepted by the literature and the manufacturer as reliable identification. Only 2 of these isolates had score values lower than 2 (1.862) and were therefore not included in the calculation of results. According to these results, MALDI-TOF MS is a fast and reliable method for the routine identification of the different Brucella species, and even has the advantage of reducing the time of exposure to pathogenic microorganisms for laboratorians. It could be considered a valuable technique to replace, in the near future, the current conventional techniques due to the ease of transferring protein spectra, avoiding the use of reference strains that are difficult to find commercially available and commonly used in phenotypic typing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina Analía Celestino
- Laboratorio de Brucelosis, Departamento de Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas (INEI), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) «Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán», Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - María Florencia Rocca
- Servicio de Bacteriología Especial, Departamento de Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas (INEI), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) «Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán», Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Red Nacional de Espectrometría de Masas aplicada a la Microbiología Clínica (ReNaEM Argentina), Argentina
| | - Sandra Marcela Ayala
- Laboratorio de Brucelosis, Departamento de Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas (INEI), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) «Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán», Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Irazu
- Deparatamento de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas (INEI), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) «Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán», Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Ileana Escobar
- Laboratorio de Brucelosis, Departamento de Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas (INEI), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) «Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán», Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Red Nacional de Espectrometría de Masas aplicada a la Microbiología Clínica (ReNaEM Argentina), Argentina.
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Hubálek Z, Křivanová A, Nesvadbová J, Rudolf I. Zoonotic Potential of Brucella microti. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023. [PMID: 37367199 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Brucella microti is a pathogen of rodents and wild mammals. Here, we report the first probable infection with B. microti in a mammalogist. Methods: In the study, we provided complete clinical description as well as laboratory analysis of probable human infection caused by B. microti. Results: Considering the clinical course of the infection, the obvious epidemiological link (a bite by an infected rodent), the isolation of a pathogen from a sick vole that was affected by clinical infection with B. microti, and the specific serological response (slow agglutination test) in human patient, we can conclude that the human disease described here was probably caused by B. microti, an emerging bacterial pathogen transmitted by rodents. Conclusion: Rodents and other wildlife need to be monitored not only for established zoonotic agents such as hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Leptospira spp., Francisella tularensis, but also for Brucella microti and other atypical rodent-borne brucellae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdenek Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Křivanová
- The 2nd Internal Hematooncological Department, Faculty Hospital Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiřina Nesvadbová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Rudolf
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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Scholz HC, Heckers KO, Appelt S, Geier-Dömling D, Schlegel P, Wattam AR. Isolation of Brucella inopinata from a White's tree frog ( Litoria caerulea): pose exotic frogs a potential risk to human health? Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1173252. [PMID: 37362939 PMCID: PMC10285381 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1173252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cold-blooded hosts, particularly exotic frogs, have become a newly recognized reservoir for atypical Brucella species and strains worldwide, but their pathogenicity to humans remains largely unknown. Here we report the isolation and molecular characterization of a B. inopinata strain (FO700662) cultured from clinical samples taken from a captive diseased White's Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea) in Switzerland. The isolation of B. inopinata from a frog along with other reports of human infection by atypical Brucella raises the question of whether atypical Brucella could pose a risk to human health and deserves further attention. Methods The investigations included histopathological analysis of the frog, bacterial culture and in-depth molecular characterization of strain FO700662 based on genome sequencing data. Results and Discussion Originally identified as Ochrobactrum based on its rapid growth and biochemical profile, strain FO700622 was positive for the Brucella- specific markers bcsp31 and IS711. It showed the specific banding pattern of B. inopinata in conventional Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR and also had identical 16S rRNA and recA gene sequences as B. inopinata. Subsequent genome sequencing followed by core genome-based MLST (cgMLST) analysis using 2704 targets (74% of the total chromosome) revealed only 173 allelic differences compared to the type strain of B. inopinata BO1T, while previously considered the closest related strain BO2 differed in 2046 alleles. The overall average nucleotide identity (ANI) between the type strain BO1T and FO700622 was 99,89%, confirming that both strains were almost identical. In silico MLST-21 and MLVA-16 also identified strain FO700662 as B. inopinata. The nucleotide and amino acid-based phylogenetic reconstruction and comparative genome analysis again placed the isolate together with B. inopinata with 100% support. In conclusion, our data unequivocally classified strain FO700622, isolated from an exotic frog, as belonging to B. inopinata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger C. Scholz
- Department of Bacteriology and Toxinology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Kim O. Heckers
- LABOklin GmbH and Co KG, Labor für klinische Diagnostik, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - Sandra Appelt
- Department of Bacteriology and Toxinology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Patrick Schlegel
- Kleintierpraxis Dr. med vet. Patrick Schlegel, Sargans, Switzerland
| | - Alice R. Wattam
- Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Bi L, Han LL, Du S, Yu DT, He JZ, Zhang LM, Hu HW. Cross-biome soil viruses as an important reservoir of virulence genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130111. [PMID: 36209605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Viruses can significantly influence the composition and functions of their host communities and enhance host pathogenicity via the transport of virus-encoded virulence genes. However, the contribution of viral communities to the dissemination of virulence genes across various biomes across a large scale is largely unknown. Here, we constructed 29,283 soil viral contigs (SVCs) from viral size fraction metagenomes and public databases. A total of 1310 virulence genes were identified from 1164 SVCs in a wide variety of soil biomes, including grassland, agricultural and forest soils. The virulence gene gmd was the most abundant one, followed by csrA, evpJ, and pblA. A great proportion of viruses encoding virulence genes were uncharacterized. Virus-host linkage analysis revealed that most viruses were linked to only one bacterial genus, whereas several SVCs were associated with more than one bacterial genus and even two bacterial phyla, suggesting the potential risk of spreading virulence genes across different bacterial communities via viruses. Altogether, we provided new evidence for the prevalence of virulence genes in soil viruses across biomes, which advanced our understanding of the potential role of soil viruses in driving the pathogenesis of their hosts in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Li-Li Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Shuai Du
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dan-Ting Yu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fujian 350007, China
| | - Ji-Zheng He
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Li-Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hang-Wei Hu
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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First Report of Brucella Seroprevalence in Wild Boar Population in Serbia. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9100575. [PMID: 36288188 PMCID: PMC9612294 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9100575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is one of the most important bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide, characterized in domestic animals by long-term reproductive disorders. As known, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are natural hosts for Brucella suis biovar 2, in which the infection passes in inapparent form, increasing the pathogen transmission risk to domestic pigs, other domestic animals and humans. So far, no studies regarding brucellosis in wild boars in Serbia have been published. During the hunting season 2020/2021, 480 sera of wild boars living in Serbia were collected and tested for the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies. For the serological survey, the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) were used. Of the 480 sera, 45 sera tested positive, indicating the acquired Brucella seroprevalence in wild boars of 9.4%. The greatest numbers of Brucella seropositive animals were detected in the eastern parts of the country and in one of the central districts, i.e., Pomoravski, Branicevski, Borski and Juznobanatski. This study provides the first data regarding brucellosis in the wild boar population in Serbia, revealing the seroprevalence of Brucella, thus indicating that wild boars as natural hosts and/or vectors of Brucella likely present a risk for the infection of other animals.
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The Retrospective on Atypical Brucella Species Leads to Novel Definitions. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040813. [PMID: 35456863 PMCID: PMC9025488 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Brucella currently comprises twelve species of facultative intracellular bacteria with variable zoonotic potential. Six of them have been considered as classical, causing brucellosis in terrestrial mammalian hosts, with two species originated from marine mammals. In the past fifteen years, field research as well as improved pathogen detection and typing have allowed the identification of four new species, namely Brucella microti, Brucella inopinata, Brucella papionis, Brucella vulpis, and of numerous strains, isolated from a wide range of hosts, including for the first time cold-blooded animals. While their genome sequences are still highly similar to those of classical strains, some of them are characterized by atypical phenotypes such as higher growth rate, increased resistance to acid stress, motility, and lethality in the murine infection model. In our review, we provide an overview of state-of-the-art knowledge about these novel Brucella sp., with emphasis on their phylogenetic positions in the genus, their metabolic characteristics, acid stress resistance mechanisms, and their behavior in well-established in cellulo and in vivo infection models. Comparison of phylogenetic classification and phenotypical properties between classical and novel Brucella species and strains finally lead us to propose a more adapted terminology, distinguishing between core and non-core, and typical versus atypical brucellae, respectively.
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de la Garza-García JA, Ouahrani-Bettache S, Lyonnais S, Ornelas-Eusebio E, Freddi L, Al Dahouk S, Occhialini A, Köhler S. Comparative Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis of Brucella suis and Brucella microti Under Acid Stress at pH 4.5: Cold Shock Protein CspA and Dps Are Associated With Acid Resistance of B. microti. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:794535. [PMID: 34966374 PMCID: PMC8710502 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.794535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellae are facultative intracellular coccobacilli causing brucellosis, one of the most widespread bacterial zoonosis affecting wildlife animals, livestock and humans. The genus Brucella comprises classical and atypical species, such as Brucella suis and Brucella microti, respectively. The latter is characterized by increased metabolic activity, fast growth rates, and extreme acid resistance at pH 2.5, suggesting an advantage for environmental survival. In addition, B. microti is more acid-tolerant than B. suis at the intermediate pH of 4.5. This acid-resistant phenotype of B. microti may have major implications for fitness in soil, food products and macrophages. Our study focused on the identification and characterization of acid resistance determinants of B. suis and B. microti in Gerhardt's minimal medium at pH 4.5 and 7.0 for 20 min and 2 h by comparative RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis, validated by RT-qPCR. Results yielded a common core response in both species with a total of 150 differentially expressed genes, and acidic pH-dependent genes regulated specifically in each species. The identified core response mechanisms comprise proton neutralization or extrusion from the cytosol, participating in maintaining physiological intracellular pH values. Differential expression of 441 genes revealed species-specific mechanisms in B. microti with rapid physiological adaptation to acid stress, anticipating potential damage to cellular components and critical energy conditions. Acid stress-induced genes encoding cold shock protein CspA, pseudogene in B. suis, and stress protein Dps were associated with survival of B. microti at pH 4.5. B. suis response with 284 specifically regulated genes suggested increased acid stress-mediated protein misfolding or damaging, triggering the set-up of repair strategies countering the consequences rather than the origin of acid stress and leading to subsequent loss of viability. In conclusion, our work supports the hypothesis that increased acid stress resistance of B. microti is based on selective pressure for the maintenance of functionality of critical genes, and on specific differential gene expression, resulting in rapid adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A de la Garza-García
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Safia Ouahrani-Bettache
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Erika Ornelas-Eusebio
- Unité des Zoonoses Bactériennes and Unité d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, University Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Luca Freddi
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Alessandra Occhialini
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephan Köhler
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), CNRS, University Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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12
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Moreno E. The one hundred year journey of the genus Brucella (Meyer and Shaw 1920). FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:5917985. [PMID: 33016322 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Brucella, described by Meyer and Shaw in 1920, comprises bacterial pathogens of veterinary and public health relevance. For 36 years, the genus came to include three species that caused brucellosis in livestock and humans. In the second half of the 20th century, bacteriologists discovered five new species and several 'atypical' strains in domestic animals and wildlife. In 1990, the Brucella species were recognized as part of the Class Alphaproteobacteria, clustering with pathogens and endosymbionts of animals and plants such as Bartonella, Agrobacterium and Ochrobactrum; all bacteria that live in close association with eukaryotic cells. Comparisons with Alphaproteobacteria contributed to identify virulence factors and to establish evolutionary relationships. Brucella members have two circular chromosomes, are devoid of plasmids, and display close genetic relatedness. A proposal, asserting that all brucellae belong to a single species with several subspecies debated for over 70 years, was ultimately rejected in 2006 by the subcommittee of taxonomy, based on scientific, practical, and biosafety considerations. Following this, the nomenclature of having multiples Brucella species prevailed and defined according to their molecular characteristics, host preference, and virulence. The 100-year history of the genus corresponds to the chronicle of scientific efforts and the struggle for understanding brucellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo Moreno
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Campues Benjamín Nuñez, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 40104, Costa Rica
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13
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Whatmore AM, Foster JT. Emerging diversity and ongoing expansion of the genus Brucella. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 92:104865. [PMID: 33872784 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Remarkable genetic diversity and breadth of host species has been uncovered in the Brucella genus over the past decade, fundamentally changing our concept of what it means to be a Brucella. From ocean fishes and marine mammals, to pond dwelling amphibians, forest foxes, desert rodents, and cave-dwelling bats, Brucella have revealed a variety of previously unknown niches. Classical microbiological techniques have been able to help us classify many of these new strains but at times have limited our ability to see the true relationships among or within species. The closest relatives of Brucella are soil bacteria and the adaptations of Brucella spp. to live intracellularly suggest that the genus has evolved to live in vertebrate hosts. Several recently discovered species appear to have phenotypes that are intermediate between soil bacteria and core Brucella, suggesting that they may represent ancestral traits that were subsequently lost in the traditional species. Remarkably, the broad relationships among Brucella species using a variety of sequence and fragment-based approaches have been upheld when using comparative genomics with whole genomes. Nonetheless, genomes are required for fine-scale resolution of many of the relationships and for understanding the evolutionary history of the genus. We expect that the coming decades will reveal many more hosts and previously unknown diversity in a wide range of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Whatmore
- OIE and FAO Brucellosis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom.
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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14
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Rajendhran J. Genomic insights into Brucella. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 87:104635. [PMID: 33189905 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by certain species of Brucella. Each species has its preferred host animal, though it can infect other animals too. For a longer period, only six classical species were recognized in the genus Brucella. No vaccine is available for human brucellosis. Therefore, human brucellosis can be controlled only by controlling brucellosis in animals. The genus is now expanding with the newly isolated atypical strains from various animals, including marine mammals. Presently, 12 species of Brucella have been recognized. The first genome of Brucella was released in 2002, and today, we have more than 1500 genomes of Brucella spp. isolated worldwide. Multiple genome sequences are available for the major zoonotic species, B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis. The Brucella genome has two chromosomes with the approximate sizes of 2.1 and 1.2 Mbp. The genome of Brucella is highly conserved across all the species at the nucleotide level. One of the unanswered questions is what makes host preference in different species of Brucella. Here, I summarize the recent advancements in the Brucella genomics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeyaprakash Rajendhran
- Department of Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625021, Tamil Nadu, India.
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15
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Dadar M, Shahali Y, Fakhri Y, Godfroid J. The global epidemiology of Brucella infections in terrestrial wildlife: A meta-analysis. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:715-729. [PMID: 32679611 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease with serious consequences on human and animal health. Brucella infections were reported in many terrestrial wild animals, from subtropical and temperate regions to arctic regions. In many areas, the epidemiology of brucellosis in wildlife is closely associated with the occurrence of the disease in livestock. Some wild species may contribute to the re-introduction of Brucella infections in livestock (spillback), even in officially brucellosis-free (OBF) regions. Through meta-regression analysis, this study draws a global picture of the prevalence of Brucella spp. in terrestrial wild animals, trying to determine most affected subgroups as well as preferential sampling and screening methods. For this purpose, a literature search was carried out among publications published from 1983 to 2019. Different subgroups were compared according to animal species, feeding, gender, age as well as the method used for sampling and for brucellosis diagnostic. To determine heterogeneity of studies, chi-squared test was used and a random-effects model (REM) estimated the pooled prevalence among subgroups. A total of 68 publications, comprising 229 data reports/studies, were selected. The most-reported Brucella species in wildlife was Brucella abortus, and the highest prevalence rate was found in American bison, Bison bison (39.9%) followed by Alpine ibex, Capra ibex (33%). Serology was the most widely applied diagnostic approach (66%), while PCR appeared to be highly sensitive (36.62% of positive results). The gender of animals showed no significant association with the prevalence of brucellosis (p > .05). Blood samples and visceral organs constituted the great majority of specimen used for the detection of Brucella spp., while lymph nodes showed a high prevalence of positive samples (94.6%). The present study provides insight into the global epidemiology and enzootic potential of brucellosis in wild terrestrial animals worldwide, aiming at helping the appropriate authorities to strengthen prevention, surveillance and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Dadar
- Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), Karaj, Iran
| | - Youcef Shahali
- Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), Karaj, Iran
| | - Yadolah Fakhri
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Food Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Jacques Godfroid
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, Tromsø, Norway
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16
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Ledwaba MB, Ndumnego OC, Matle I, Gelaw AK, Van Heerden H. Investigating selective media for optimal isolation of Brucella spp. in South Africa. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2020; 87:e1-e9. [PMID: 32129638 PMCID: PMC7136694 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine brucellosis in South Africa is caused mainly by Brucella abortus biovar (bv.) 1 and less frequently by B. abortus bv. 2. Bacterial isolation is regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis of Brucella species; however, it is not very sensitive. The aim of this study was to determine the selective medium with optimum antibiotic composition that will allow the growth of Brucella species (spp.) while inhibiting moulds, yeast and most, if not all, Gram-negative contaminants in South Africa. In the controlled experiment, modified Agrifood Research and Technology Center of Aragon (CITA) medium (mCITA) seemed to be the optimum selective medium for isolation of Brucella spp. as compared with Farrell's medium (FM) and modified Thayer Martin (mTM), while FM inhibited the growth of most fungal and bacterial contaminants. Mean comparison between the three media used to culture B. abortus resulted in lower mean difference ranging from 0 to 2.33. In case of Brucella ovis, high mean difference was obtained when comparing FM with mCITA (10.33) and mTM (12). However, the mean differences of 0.67 and 1.67 were obtained when comparing mCITA and mTM media used to, respectively, culture pasteurised and raw milk spiked with B. ovis. Further optimisation at the Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute resulted in a comparable performance between FM and mCITA; however, mCITA allowed optimal growth of the fastidious B. ovis, which is generally inhibited on FM. Generally, mCITA seemed to be the optimum selective medium for isolation of Brucella spp., while FM inhibits the growth of most fungal and bacterial contaminants. Thus, veterinary laboratories can use mCITA and/or FM but should take into consideration the detection of factious Brucella isolated in the country or region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maphuti B Ledwaba
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
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17
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Cloeckaert A, Vergnaud G, Zygmunt MS. Omp2b Porin Alteration in the Course of Evolution of Brucella spp. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:284. [PMID: 32153552 PMCID: PMC7050475 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Brucella comprises major pathogenic species causing disease in livestock and humans, e.g. B. melitensis. In the past few years, the genus has been significantly expanded by the discovery of phylogenetically more distant lineages comprising strains from diverse wildlife animal species, including amphibians and fish. The strains represent several potential new species, with B. inopinata as solely named representative. Being genetically more distant between each other, relative to the “classical” Brucella species, they present distinct atypical phenotypes and surface antigens. Among surface protein antigens, the Omp2a and Omp2b porins display the highest diversity in the classical Brucella species. The genes coding for these proteins are closely linked in the Brucella genome and oriented in opposite directions. They share between 85 and 100% sequence identity depending on the Brucella species, biovar, or genotype. Only the omp2b gene copy has been shown to be expressed and genetic variation is extensively generated by gene conversion between the two copies. In this study, we analyzed the omp2 loci of the non-classical Brucella spp. Starting from two distinct ancestral genes, represented by Australian rodent strains and B. inopinata, a stepwise nucleotide reduction was observed in the omp2b gene copy. It consisted of a first reduction affecting the region encoding the surface L5 loop of the porin, previously shown to be critical in sugar permeability, followed by a nucleotide reduction in the surface L8 loop-encoding region. It resulted in a final omp2b gene size shared between two distinct clades of non-classical Brucella spp. (African bullfrog isolates) and the group of classical Brucella species. Further evolution led to complete homogenization of both omp2 gene copies in some Brucella species such as B. vulpis or B. papionis. The stepwise omp2b deletions seemed to be generated through recombination with the respective omp2a gene copy, presenting a conserved size among Brucella spp., and may involve short direct DNA repeats. Successive Omp2b porin alteration correlated with increasing porin permeability in the course of evolution of Brucella spp. They possibly have adapted their porin to survive environmental conditions encountered and to reach their final status as intracellular pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gilles Vergnaud
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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18
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Xu N, Wang W, Chen F, Li W, Wang G. ELISA is superior to bacterial culture and agglutination test in the diagnosis of brucellosis in an endemic area in China. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:11. [PMID: 31906870 PMCID: PMC6945397 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4729-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Brucellosis is endemic in many areas in China. The current diagnosis of Brucellosis predominantly relies on the traditional bacterial culture and serum agglutination test. In this study, we aimed to explore the value of ELISA in the diagnosis of Brucellosis in Chinese population. Methods We recruited 235 patients with a diagnosis of Brucellosis at different clinical stages: 117 in acute, 78 in subacute, and 40 in chronic. We also recruited 248 control patients who presented with similar clinical symptoms but with a different diagnosis other than Brucellosis. In addition, 90 healthy volunteers were also recruited. Bacterial culture, agglutination test and ELISA assay were performed to detect Brucella spp. Results Among 235 patients with Brucellosis, 51 (21.7%) was positive for bacterial culture, 150 (63.8%) were positive by agglutination test, and 232 (98.7%) were positive by ELISA (IgG and/or IgM). When we stratified the patients based on the disease stages (acute, subacute and chronic), ELISA was the most sensitive method and showed a highest positive rate in all stages. By Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve analysis of ELISA results, we found that measurement of IgG level was superior to measurement of IgM level (AUC, 0.993 versus 0.877). Since the measurement of IgG itself missed rare cases in acute phase, we recommended measuring IgG and IgM simultaneously by ELISA for the diagnosis of Brucellosis. In term of the specificity of ELISA in the diagnosis of Brucellosis, our study showed that only 1.6% (4/248) non-Brucellosis patients were positive by ELISA; all positive cases were IgM only and none showed positive IgG. Similar results were found in healthy volunteers. In summary, our study concluded that ELISA is the most sensitive and specific method to detect Brucellosis in Chinese population. Conclusions ELISA assay is sensitive, fast, and convenient to detect Brucellosis. It shows the high sensitivity and specifity and should be used as a routine lab test when Brucellosis is suspected in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Xu
- Department of Infectious Disease, QiLu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Fengzhe Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, QiLu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, QiLu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease, QiLu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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19
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Barbuddhe SB, Vergis J, Rawool DB. Immunodetection of bacteria causing brucellosis. METHODS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mim.2019.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Abstract
The clinical presentation of brucellosis in humans is variable and unspecific, and thus, laboratory corroboration of the diagnosis is essential for the patient's proper treatment. The diagnosis of brucellar infections can be made by culture, serological tests, and nucleic acid amplification assays. Modern automated blood culture systems enable detection of acute cases of brucellosis within the routine 5- to 7-day incubation protocol employed in clinical microbiology laboratories, although a longer incubation and performance of blind subcultures may be needed for protracted cases. Serological tests, though they lack specificity and provide results that may be difficult to interpret in individuals repeatedly exposed to Brucella organisms, nevertheless remain a diagnostic cornerstone in resource-poor countries. Nucleic acid amplification assays combine exquisite sensitivity, specificity, and safety and enable rapid diagnosis of the disease. However, long-term persistence of positive molecular test results in patients that have apparently fully recovered is common and has unclear clinical significance and therapeutic implications. Therefore, as long as there are no sufficiently validated commercial tests or studies that demonstrate an adequate interlaboratory reproducibility of the different homemade PCR assays, cultures and serological methods will remain the primary tools for the diagnosis and posttherapeutic follow-up of human brucellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Yagupsky
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Pilar Morata
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA, Málaga, Spain
| | - Juan D Colmenero
- Infectious Diseases Service, University Regional Hospital, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA, Málaga, Spain
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21
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Jaÿ M, Freddi L, Mick V, Durand B, Girault G, Perrot L, Taunay B, Vuilmet T, Azam D, Ponsart C, Zanella G. Brucella microti-like prevalence in French farms producing frogs. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67:617-625. [PMID: 31574213 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In the last 10 years, many atypical novel members of Brucella species have been reported, including several Brucella inopinata-like strains in wild-caught and "exotic" amphibians from various continents. In 2017, a strain of Brucella was isolated for the first time in animals from a French farm producing frogs-Pelophylax ridibundus-for human consumption and identified as B. microti-like. Following this first isolation, investigations were performed in this farm as well as in the farm of the research unit that provided the domestic frog strain to estimate the prevalence of B. microti-like infection and its presence in the surrounding environment. Farming practices were investigated and samples including frogs at different development stages, surface tank swabs, water, feed and soil were analysed by real-time PCR and bacteriological methods. High B. microti-like prevalence values (higher than 90%) were obtained in frog samples in the commercial farm, and its presence was highlighted in the environmental samples except feed. In the research unit farm, B. microti-like species was also isolated and detected in frog and environmental samples. These results show that B. microti-like organisms are able to colonize amphibians and persist in their environment. Its presence could constitute a possible risk for consumers and workers proving the importance of assessing the zoonotic and pathogenic potentials of these new and atypical Brucella species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryne Jaÿ
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Luca Freddi
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Virginie Mick
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Benoit Durand
- Epidemiology Unit, Laboratory for Animal Health, ANSES, University Paris Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Guillaume Girault
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Ludivine Perrot
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Benoit Taunay
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Thomas Vuilmet
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Didier Azam
- U3E, Ecologie et Ecotoxicologie aquatique, INRA, pôle Gest'Aqua, Rennes, France
| | - Claire Ponsart
- EU/OIE/FAO & National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Gina Zanella
- Epidemiology Unit, Laboratory for Animal Health, ANSES, University Paris Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
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22
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Ledwaba MB, Gomo C, Lekota KE, Le Flèche P, Hassim A, Vergnaud G, van Heerden H. Molecular characterization of Brucella species from Zimbabwe. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007311. [PMID: 31107864 PMCID: PMC6544324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella abortus and B. melitensis have been reported in several studies in animals in Zimbabwe but the extent of the disease remains poorly known. Thus, characterizing the circulating strains is a critical first step in understanding brucellosis in the country. In this study we used an array of molecular assays including AMOS-PCR, Bruce-ladder, multiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) and single nucleotide polymorphisms from whole genome sequencing (WGS-SNP) to characterize Brucella isolates to the species, biovar, and individual strain level. Sixteen Brucella strains isolated in Zimbabwe at the Central Veterinary laboratory from various hosts were characterized using all or some of these assays. The strains were identified as B. ovis, B. abortus, B. canis and B. suis, with B. canis being the first report of this species in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean strains identified as B. suis and B. abortus were further characterized with whole genome sequencing and were closely related to reference strains 1330 and 86/8/59, respectively. We demonstrate the range of different tests that can be performed from simple assays that can be run in laboratories lacking sophisticated instrumentation to whole genome analyses that currently require substantial expertise and infrastructure often not available in the developing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maphuti Betty Ledwaba
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Calvin Gomo
- Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Harare, Zimbabwe
- Chinhoyi University of Technology, Department of Animal Production and Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Kgaugelo Edward Lekota
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Philippe Le Flèche
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Ayesha Hassim
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gilles Vergnaud
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Henriette van Heerden
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- * E-mail:
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23
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Sánchez-Sarmiento AM, Carvalho VL, Díaz-Delgado J, Ressio RA, Fernandes NCCA, Guerra JM, Sacristán C, Groch KR, Silvestre-Perez N, Ferreira-Machado E, Costa-Silva S, Navas-Suárez P, Meirelles ACO, Favero C, Marigo J, Bertozzi CP, Colosio AC, Marcondes MCC, Cremer MJ, Dos Santos Silva N, Ferreira Neto JS, Keid LB, Soares R, Sierra E, Fernández A, Catão-Dias JL. Molecular, serological, pathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological investigation of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of Brazil reveals new cetacean hosts. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:1674-1692. [PMID: 30980699 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Brucella-exposure and infection is increasingly recognized in marine mammals worldwide. To better understand the epidemiology and health impacts of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of Brazil, molecular (conventional PCR and/or real-time PCR), serological (Rose Bengal Test [RBT], Competitive [c]ELISA, Serum Agglutination Test [SAT]), pathological, immunohistochemical (IHC) and/or microbiological investigations were conducted in samples of 129 stranded or by-caught marine mammals (orders Cetartiodactyla [n = 124], Carnivora [n = 4] and Sirenia [n = 1]). Previous serological tests performed on available sera of 27 of the 129 animals (26 cetaceans and one manatee), indicated 10 seropositive cetaceans. Conventional PCR and/or real-time PCR performed in cases with available organs (n = 119) and/or blood or swabs (n = 10) revealed 4/129 (3.1%) Brucella-infected cetaceans (one of them with positive serology; the remaining three with no available sera). Pathological, IHC and/or microbiological analyses conducted in PCR/real-time PCR and/or seropositive cases (n = 13) revealed Brucella-type lesions, including meningitis/meningoencephalitis, pneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis, pericarditis and osteoarthritis in some of those animals, and positive IHC was found in all of them (excepting two live-stranded animals without available organs). Brucella spp. culture attempts were unsuccessful. Our results demonstrated exposure, asymptomatic, acute and chronic Brucella sp. infection in several cetacean species in the Brazilian coast, highlighting the role of this pathogen in stranding and/or death, particularly in Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene) and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off Ceará State. Novel hosts susceptible to Brucella included the franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei), the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) and the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Additionally, three coinfection cases involving Brucella spp. and cetacean morbillivirus, Edwarsiella tarda and Proteus mirabilis were detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first long-term and large-scale survey of Brucella spp. in marine mammals of South America, widening the spectrum of susceptible hosts and geographical distribution range of this agent with zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica M Sánchez-Sarmiento
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vitor L Carvalho
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos-AQUASIS, Caucaia, Brazil
| | - Josué Díaz-Delgado
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Carlos Sacristán
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kátia R Groch
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia Silvestre-Perez
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Ferreira-Machado
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Samira Costa-Silva
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Navas-Suárez
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana C O Meirelles
- Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos-AQUASIS, Caucaia, Brazil
| | - Cintia Favero
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Marigo
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina P Bertozzi
- Instituto de Biociências, campus do Litoral Paulista, IB/CLP - Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, São Vicente, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marta J Cremer
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Tetrápodes Marinhos e Costeiros, University of the Region of Joinville, São Francisco do Sul, Brazil
| | - Nairléia Dos Santos Silva
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Soares Ferreira Neto
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lara B Keid
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Soares
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eva Sierra
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - José L Catão-Dias
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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24
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Kosoy M, Goodrich I. Comparative Ecology of Bartonella and Brucella Infections in Wild Carnivores. Front Vet Sci 2019; 5:322. [PMID: 30662899 PMCID: PMC6328487 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Phylogenetic sister clades Bartonella and Brucella within the order Rhizobiales present some common biological characteristics as well as evident differences in adaptations to their mammalian reservoirs. We reviewed published data on Bartonella and Brucella infections in wild carnivores to compare the ecology of these bacteria in relatively similar host environments. Arthropod vectors are the main mechanism for Bartonella species transmission between mammalian hosts. The role of arthropods in transmission of Brucella remains disputed, however experimental studies and reported detection of Brucella in arthropods indicate potential vector transmission. More commonly, transmission of Brucella occurs via contact exposure to infected animals or the environment contaminated with their discharges. Of 26 species of carnivores tested for both Bartonella and Brucella, 58% harbored either. Among them were bobcats, African lions, golden jackals, coyotes, wolves, foxes, striped skunks, sea otters, raccoons, and harbor seals. The most common species of Bartonella in wild carnivores was B. henselae, found in 23 species, followed by B. rochalimae in 12, B. clarridgeiae in ten, and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii in seven. Among Brucella species, Br. abortus was reported in over 30 terrestrial carnivore species, followed by Br. canis in seven. Marine carnivores, such as seals and sea lions, can host Br. pinnipedialis. In contrast, there is no evidence of a Bartonella strain specific for marine mammals. Bartonella species are present practically in every sampled species of wild felids, but of 14 Brucella studies of felids, only five reported Brucella and those were limited to detection of antibodies. We found no reports of Bartonella in bears while Brucella was detected in these animals. There is evident host-specificity of Bartonella species in wild carnivores (e.g., B. henselae in felids and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii in canids). A co-adaptation of Brucella with terrestrial wild carnivore hosts is not as straightforward as in domestic animals. Wild carnivores often carry the same pathogens as their domesticated relatives (cats and dogs), but the risk of exposure varies widely because of differences in biology, distribution, and historical interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kosoy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Irina Goodrich
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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25
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Jaý M, Girault G, Perrot L, Taunay B, Vuilmet T, Rossignol F, Pitel PH, Picard E, Ponsart C, Mick V. Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Brucella microti-Like Bacteria From a Domestic Marsh Frog ( Pelophylax ridibundus). Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:283. [PMID: 30498697 PMCID: PMC6249338 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several Brucella isolates have been described in wild-caught and "exotic" amphibians from various continents and identified as B. inopinata-like strains. On the basis of epidemiological investigations conducted in June 2017 in France in a farm producing domestic frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus) for human consumption of frog's legs, potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated from adults showing lesions (joint and subcutaneous abscesses). The bacteria were initially misidentified as Ochrobactrum anthropi using a commercial identification system, prior to being identified as Brucella spp. by MALDI-TOF assay. Classical phenotypic identification confirmed the Brucella genus, but did not make it possible to conclude unequivocally on species determination. Conventional and innovative bacteriological and molecular methods concluded that the investigated strain was very close to B. microti species, and not B. inopinata-like strains, as expected. The methods included growth kinetic, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, RT-PCR, Bruce-Ladder, Suis-Ladder, RFLP-PCR, AMOS-ERY, MLVA-16, the ectoine system, 16S rRNA and recA sequence analyses, the LPS pattern, in silico MLST-21, comparative whole-genome analyses (including average nucleotide identity ANI and whole-genome SNP analysis) and HRM-PCR assays. Minor polyphasic discrepancies, especially phage lysis and A-dominant agglutination patterns, as well as, small molecular divergences suggest the investigated strain should be considered a B. microti-like strain, raising concerns about its environmental persistence and unknown animal pathogenic and zoonotic potential as for other B. microti strains described to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryne Jaý
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Guillaume Girault
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Ludivine Perrot
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Benoit Taunay
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Thomas Vuilmet
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | | | | | - Claire Ponsart
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Virginie Mick
- ANSES/Paris-Est University, EU/OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
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26
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Saytekin AM, Ak S. Direct diagnosis of Brucella species through multiplex PCR formed by a new method. J Microbiol Methods 2018; 154:86-94. [PMID: 30336164 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to develop direct PCR methods, which enable the diagnosis of brucellosis agents from ruminant aborted fetus samples at species and genus levels, and determine the applicability of the newly developed methods. For this purpose, 137 lung, 137 liver, and 52 fetal stomach fluid samples belonging to 166 ruminant aborted fetuses (326 samples in total) were examined. Firstly, agent isolation and identification were performed and species-specific multiplex PCR (m-PCR) from the culture was applied to the samples. In addition, the Mayer-Scholl m-PCR method was modified and termed 'modified Mayer-Scholl', and genus specific Bcsp31 PCR was also modified with minor changes. Four different methods were applied to direct examination samples and the obtained results were compared. The conventional culture method was set as the standard method to which sensitivities and specificities of the molecular methods were calculated. According to the assessments on the basis of fetus (n = 166), sensitivity and specificity values for modified Mayer-Scholl m-PCR method were 94.11% and 98.76%, and the same indicators for the modified Bcsp31 PCR were 95.29% and 98.76%, respectively. When all organ samples were taken into account (n = 326), sensitivity and specificity values for the modified Mayer-Scholl m-PCR method were 85.38% and 98.06%, and for the modified Bcsp31 PCR, they were 83.62% and 98.06%, respectively. As a result, it was found that the diagnostic power of the tests were 'high' when results were evaluated at fetus level. On the other hand, it was found to be 'clinically useful' when evaluated at organ level. We concluded that species level identifications can be made through the modified Mayer-Scholl method, which is a direct m-PCR method, with a high diagnostic power by specifying DNAs belonging to Brucella species directly from clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Murat Saytekin
- Reference Diagnosis Laboratory for Brucellosis, Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, 34890, İstanbul, Turkey.
| | - Seyyal Ak
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34320 İstanbul, Turkey
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27
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Vergnaud G, Hauck Y, Christiany D, Daoud B, Pourcel C, Jacques I, Cloeckaert A, Zygmunt MS. Genotypic Expansion Within the Population Structure of Classical Brucella Species Revealed by MLVA16 Typing of 1404 Brucella Isolates From Different Animal and Geographic Origins, 1974-2006. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1545. [PMID: 30050522 PMCID: PMC6052141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown the usefulness of MLVA16 as a rapid molecular identification and classification method for Brucella species and biovars including recently described novel Brucella species from wildlife. Most studies were conducted on a limited number of strains from limited geographic/host origins. The objective of this study was to assess genetic diversity of Brucella spp. by MLVA16 on a larger scale. Thus, 1404 animal or human isolates collected from all parts of the world over a period of 32 years (1974-2006) were investigated. Selection of the 1404 strains was done among the approximately 4000 strains collection of the BCCN (Brucella Culture Collection Nouzilly), based on classical biotyping and on the animal/human/geographic origin over the time period considered. MLVA16 was performed on extracted DNAs using high throughput capillary electrophoresis. The 16 loci were amplified in four multiplex PCR reactions. This large scale study firstly confirmed the accuracy of MLVA16 typing for Brucella species and biovar identification and its congruence with the recently described Extended Multilocus Sequence Analysis. In addition, it allowed identifying novel MLVA11 (based upon 11 slowly evolving VNTRs) genotypes representing an increase of 15% relative to the previously known Brucella MLVA11 genotypes. Cluster analysis showed that among the MLVA16 genotypes some were genetically more distant from the major classical clades. For example new major clusters of B. abortus biovar 3 isolated from cattle in Sub-Saharan Africa were identified. For other classical species and biovars this study indicated also genotypic expansion within the population structure of classical Brucella species. MLVA proves to be a powerful tool to rapidly assess genetic diversity of bacterial populations on a large scale, as here on a large collection of strains of the genomically homogeneous genus Brucella. The highly discriminatory power of MLVA appears of particular interest as a first step for selection of Brucella strains for whole-genome sequencing. The MLVA data of this study were added to the public Brucella MLVA database at http://microbesgenotyping.i2bc.paris-saclay.fr. Current version Brucella_4_3 comprises typing data from more than 5000 strains including in silico data analysis of public whole genome sequence datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Vergnaud
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Yolande Hauck
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - David Christiany
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Brendan Daoud
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christine Pourcel
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Isabelle Jacques
- ISP, INRA, Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR 1282, Nouzilly, France.,IUT de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Axel Cloeckaert
- ISP, INRA, Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR 1282, Nouzilly, France
| | - Michel S Zygmunt
- ISP, INRA, Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR 1282, Nouzilly, France
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28
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El-Sayed A, Awad W. Brucellosis: Evolution and expected comeback. Int J Vet Sci Med 2018; 6:S31-S35. [PMID: 30761318 PMCID: PMC6161863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a serious infectious disease which causes great direct and indirect economic loses for animal holders worldwide such as the reduction of milk and meat production through abortions/culling of positive reactors, the expense of disease control/eradication and farmers compensation. Although the disease was eradicated from most of the industrial countries, it remains one of the most common zoonotic diseases in developing countries being responsible for more than 500,000 new cases yearly. Brucella is considered to be a bioterrorism organism due to its low infectious doses (10-100 bacteria), capability of persistence in the environment, rapid transmission via different routes including aerosols, and finally due to its difficult treatment by antibiotics.There are many reasons to believe that a new comeback of brucellosis may occur in near future. This expectation is supported by the recent discovery of new atypical Brucella species with new genetic properties and the recent reports of (man to man) disease transmission as will be discussed later. The development of new concepts and measurements for disease control is urgently required. In the present review, the evolution of Brucella and the different factors favoring its comeback are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr El-Sayed
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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29
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Nymo IH, Rødven R, Beckmen K, Larsen AK, Tryland M, Quakenbush L, Godfroid J. Brucella Antibodies in Alaskan True Seals and Eared Seals-Two Different Stories. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:8. [PMID: 29445729 PMCID: PMC5797734 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella pinnipedialis was first isolated from true seals in 1994 and from eared seals in 2008. Although few pathological findings have been associated with infection in true seals, reproductive pathology including abortions, and the isolation of the zoonotic strain type 27 have been documented in eared seals. In this study, a Brucella enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Rose Bengal test (RBT) were initially compared for 206 serum samples and a discrepancy between the tests was found. Following removal of lipids from the serum samples, ELISA results were unaltered while the agreement between the tests was improved, indicating that serum lipids affected the initial RBT outcome. For the remaining screening, we used ELISA to investigate the presence of Brucella antibodies in sera of 231 eared and 1,412 true seals from Alaskan waters sampled between 1975 and 2011. In eared seals, Brucella antibodies were found in two Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) (2%) and none of the 107 Northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus). The low seroprevalence in eared seals indicate a low level of exposure or lack of susceptibility to infection. Alternatively, mortality due to the Brucella infection may remove seropositive animals from the population. Brucella antibodies were detected in all true seal species investigated; harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (25%), spotted seals (Phoca largha) (19%), ribbon seals (Histriophoca fasciata) (16%), and ringed seals (Pusa hispida hispida) (14%). There was a low seroprevalence among pups, a higher seroprevalence among juveniles, and a subsequent decreasing probability of seropositivity with age in harbor seals. Similar patterns were present for the other true seal species; however, solid conclusions could not be made due to sample size. This pattern is in accordance with previous reports on B. pinnipedialis infections in true seals and may suggest environmental exposure to B. pinnipedialis at the juvenile stage, with a following clearance of infection. Furthermore, analyses by region showed minor differences in the probability of being seropositive for harbor seals from different regions regardless of the local seal population trend, signifying that the Brucella infection may not cause significant mortality in these populations. In conclusion, the Brucella infection pattern is very different for eared and true seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingebjørg H Nymo
- Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Rolf Rødven
- Bioscience, Fishery and Economy, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kimberlee Beckmen
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Anett K Larsen
- Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Morten Tryland
- Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lori Quakenbush
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Jacques Godfroid
- Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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30
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Banai M, Itin R, Bardenstein S. Perspectives and Outcomes of the Activity of a Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis. Front Vet Sci 2018; 4:234. [PMID: 29354639 PMCID: PMC5760530 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One health is an emerging conceptual approach geared to harmonize the activities of the public health, veterinary services, and extension services within a single operative structure. Brucellosis is an important zoonosis worldwide, mostly involving nomadic populations but may often affect transboundary animal management and exotic domesticated animal farming such as camels and buffalo. Here, we provide contemporary knowledge on the disease and its causative agent, a Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the genus Brucella. Further, because of the zoonotic importance, we emphasize the need to assign a national reference laboratory for the disease and discuss how this would integrate into a "One Health" system. Brucella vaccines are live attenuated strains possessing the smooth phenotype, and vaccination, therefore, hampers the ability to maintain a national surveillance program due to concerns regarding the false positive vaccine-induced responses. In order to overcome these failings, we developed a combined approach based on rapid screening of mass numbers of serum samples by the fluorescence polarization assay, a cost-effective and accurate method, and confirmation of the true positive reactors by the complement fixation test, a highly specific method that is less sensitive to vaccine-induced antibodies. We demonstrate how, despite the high vaccination coverage of the small ruminant population in Israel, our results proved to be effective in discriminating between vaccinated and infected animals. The speed and accuracy of the method further justified immediate declaration of 37% of flocks as cleansed from brucellosis, thus reducing the burden of repeated tests among this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menachem Banai
- Department of Bacteriology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Rita Itin
- Department of Bacteriology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
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31
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Al Dahouk S, Köhler S, Occhialini A, Jiménez de Bagüés MP, Hammerl JA, Eisenberg T, Vergnaud G, Cloeckaert A, Zygmunt MS, Whatmore AM, Melzer F, Drees KP, Foster JT, Wattam AR, Scholz HC. Brucella spp. of amphibians comprise genomically diverse motile strains competent for replication in macrophages and survival in mammalian hosts. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44420. [PMID: 28300153 PMCID: PMC5353553 DOI: 10.1038/srep44420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-one small Gram-negative motile coccobacilli were isolated from 15 systemically diseased African bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus edulis), and were initially identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi by standard microbiological identification systems. Phylogenetic reconstructions using combined molecular analyses and comparative whole genome analysis of the most diverse of the bullfrog strains verified affiliation with the genus Brucella and placed the isolates in a cluster containing B. inopinata and the other non-classical Brucella species but also revealed significant genetic differences within the group. Four representative but molecularly and phenotypically diverse strains were used for in vitro and in vivo infection experiments. All readily multiplied in macrophage-like murine J774-cells, and their overall intramacrophagic growth rate was comparable to that of B. inopinata BO1 and slightly higher than that of B. microti CCM 4915. In the BALB/c murine model of infection these strains replicated in both spleen and liver, but were less efficient than B. suis 1330. Some strains survived in the mammalian host for up to 12 weeks. The heterogeneity of these novel strains hampers a single species description but their phenotypic and genetic features suggest that they represent an evolutionary link between a soil-associated ancestor and the mammalian host-adapted pathogenic Brucella species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Al Dahouk
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department of Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany.,RWTH Aachen University, Department of Internal Medicine III, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephan Köhler
- Université Montpellier, Centre d'études d'agents Pathogènes et Biotechnologies pour la Santé (CPBS), Montpellier, France.,CNRS, FRE3689, CPBS, Montpellier, France
| | - Alessandra Occhialini
- Université Montpellier, Centre d'études d'agents Pathogènes et Biotechnologies pour la Santé (CPBS), Montpellier, France.,CNRS, FRE3689, CPBS, Montpellier, France
| | - María Pilar Jiménez de Bagüés
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jens Andre Hammerl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department of Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Gilles Vergnaud
- I2BC, CNRS, CEA, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Axel Cloeckaert
- ISP, INRA, Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282, Nouzilly, France
| | - Michel S Zygmunt
- ISP, INRA, Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Falk Melzer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, German National Reference Laboratory for Animal Brucellosis, Jena, Germany
| | - Kevin P Drees
- University of New Hampshire, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- University of New Hampshire, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Alice R Wattam
- Biocomplexity Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Holger C Scholz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
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Arias MA, Santiago L, Costas-Ramon S, Jaime-Sánchez P, Freudenberg M, Jiménez De Bagüés MP, Pardo J. Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 Cooperate in the Control of the Emerging Pathogen Brucella microti. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 6:205. [PMID: 28119856 PMCID: PMC5220065 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-derived molecules and play a critical role during the host innate and adaptive immune response. Brucella spp. are intracellular gram-negative bacteria including several virulent species, which cause a chronic zoonotic infection in a wide range of mammalian hosts known as brucellosis. A new Brucella species, Brucella microti, was recently isolated from wild rodents and found to be highly pathogenic in mice. Using this species-specific model, it was previously found that CD8+ T cells are required to control this infection. In order to find out the role of TLR-mediated responses in the control of this pathogen, the course of infection of B. microti was analyzed over 3 weeks in wild-type (WT) and TLR knock out (KO) mice including TLR2-/-, TLR4-/-, TLR9-/-, TLR2×4-/- and TLR2×4×9-/-. WT and single TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 KO mice similarly control infection in liver and spleen. In contrast, bacterial clearance was delayed in TLR2×4-/- and TLR2×4×9-/- mice at 7 and 14 days post-infection. This defect correlated with impaired maturation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in B. microti-infected dendritic cells from TLR2×4-/- and TLR2×4×9-/- mice. Finally, it was found that Tc cells from TLR2×4-/- and TLR2×4×9-/- mice showed reduced ability to inhibit growth of B. microti in macrophages, suggesting the involvement of TLR2 and 4 in the generation of specific Tc cells. Our findings indicate that TLR2 and TLR4 are required to control B. microti infection in mice and that this effect could be related to its participation in the maturation of dendritic cells and the generation of specific CD8+ Tc cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maykel A Arias
- Cell Immunity in Cancer, Inflammation and Infection Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), IIS Aragon, University of Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Llipsy Santiago
- Cell Immunity in Cancer, Inflammation and Infection Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), IIS Aragon, University of Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Santiago Costas-Ramon
- Cell Immunity in Cancer, Inflammation and Infection Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), IIS Aragon, University of Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Paula Jaime-Sánchez
- Cell Immunity in Cancer, Inflammation and Infection Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), IIS Aragon, University of Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marina Freudenberg
- Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria P Jiménez De Bagüés
- Unidad de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2, CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Julián Pardo
- Cell Immunity in Cancer, Inflammation and Infection Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), IIS Aragon, University of ZaragozaZaragoza, Spain; Nanoscience Institute of Aragon, University of ZaragozaZaragoza, Spain; Aragon I+D FoundationZaragoza, Spain
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Mühldorfer K, Wibbelt G, Szentiks CA, Fischer D, Scholz HC, Zschöck M, Eisenberg T. The role of 'atypical' Brucella in amphibians: are we facing novel emerging pathogens? J Appl Microbiol 2016; 122:40-53. [PMID: 27740712 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To discuss together the novel cases of Brucella infections in frogs with the results of published reports to extend our current knowledge on 'atypical' brucellae isolated from amphibians and to discuss the challenges we face on this extraordinary emerging group of pathogens. METHODS AND RESULTS Since our first description, an additional 14 isolates from four different frog species were collected. Novel isolates and a subset of Brucella isolates previously cultured from African bullfrogs were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and broth microdilution susceptibility testing. MALDI-TOF MS worked very efficiently for an accurate bacterial identification to the genus level. Within the cluster analysis, 'atypical' brucellae grouped distant from Brucella melitensis and were even more separated by FT-IR spectroscopy with respect to their geographical origin. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 14 antimicrobial substances are provided as baseline data on antimicrobial susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS The case history of Brucella infections in amphibians reveals a variety of pathologies ranging from localized manifestations to systemic infections. Some isolates seem to be capable of causing high mortality in zoological exhibitions putting higher demands on the management of endangered frog species. There is considerable risk in overlooking and misidentifying 'atypical' Brucella in routine diagnostics. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Brucella have only recently been described in cold-blooded vertebrates. Their presence in frog species native to Africa, America and Australia indicates a more common occurrence in amphibians than previously thought. This study provides an extensive overview of amphibian brucellae by highlighting the main features of their clinical significance, diagnosis and zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Mühldorfer
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - G Wibbelt
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - C A Szentiks
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - D Fischer
- Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - H C Scholz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - M Zschöck
- Hessian State Laboratory (LHL), Giessen, Germany
| | - T Eisenberg
- Hessian State Laboratory (LHL), Giessen, Germany
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Nymo IH, Seppola M, Al Dahouk S, Bakkemo KR, Jiménez de Bagüés MP, Godfroid J, Larsen AK. Experimental Challenge of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) with a Brucella pinnipedialis Strain from Hooded Seal (Cystophora cristata). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159272. [PMID: 27415626 PMCID: PMC4944957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathology has not been observed in true seals infected with Brucella pinnipedialis. A lack of intracellular survival and multiplication of B. pinnipedialis in hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) macrophages in vitro indicates a lack of chronic infection in hooded seals. Both epidemiology and bacteriological patterns in the hooded seal point to a transient infection of environmental origin, possibly through the food chain. To analyse the potential role of fish in the transmission of B. pinnipedialis, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were injected intraperitoneally with 7.5 x 107 bacteria of a hooded seal field isolate. Samples of blood, liver, spleen, muscle, heart, head kidney, female gonads and feces were collected on days 1, 7, 14 and 28 post infection to assess the bacterial load, and to determine the expression of immune genes and the specific antibody response. Challenged fish showed an extended period of bacteremia through day 14 and viable bacteria were observed in all organs sampled, except muscle, until day 28. Neither gross lesions nor mortality were recorded. Anti-Brucella antibodies were detected from day 14 onwards and the expression of hepcidin, cathelicidin, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-γ genes were significantly increased in spleen at day 1 and 28. Primary mononuclear cells isolated from head kidneys of Atlantic cod were exposed to B. pinnipedialis reference (NCTC 12890) and hooded seal (17a-1) strain. Both bacterial strains invaded mononuclear cells and survived intracellularly without any major reduction in bacterial counts for at least 48 hours. Our study shows that the B. pinnipedialis strain isolated from hooded seal survives in Atlantic cod, and suggests that Atlantic cod could play a role in the transmission of B. pinnipedialis to hooded seals in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingebjørg Helena Nymo
- Arctic Infection Biology, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marit Seppola
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sascha Al Dahouk
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Internal Medicine III, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - María Pilar Jiménez de Bagüés
- Unidad de Tecnología en Producción y Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón–IA2 (CITA–Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jacques Godfroid
- Arctic Infection Biology, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anett Kristin Larsen
- Arctic Infection Biology, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- * E-mail:
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Scholz HC, Revilla-Fernández S, Dahouk SA, Hammerl JA, Zygmunt MS, Cloeckaert A, Koylass M, Whatmore AM, Blom J, Vergnaud G, Witte A, Aistleitner K, Hofer E. Brucella vulpis sp. nov., isolated from mandibular lymph nodes of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2016; 66:2090-2098. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Holger C. Scholz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF),Neuherbergstrasse 11, D-80937 Munich,Germany
| | | | - Sascha Al Dahouk
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety,Diedersdorfer Weg 1, D-12277 Berlin,Germany
| | - Jens A. Hammerl
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety,Diedersdorfer Weg 1, D-12277 Berlin,Germany
| | - Michel S. Zygmunt
- INRA, UMR1282, Infectiologie et Santé Publique,F-37380 Nouzilly,France
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique,F-37000 Tours,France
| | - Axel Cloeckaert
- INRA, UMR1282, Infectiologie et Santé Publique,F-37380 Nouzilly,France
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique,F-37000 Tours,France
| | - Mark Koylass
- OIE/WHO/FAO Brucellosis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA),Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB,UK
| | - Adrian M. Whatmore
- OIE/WHO/FAO Brucellosis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA),Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB,UK
| | - Jochen Blom
- Center for Biotechnology, CeBiTec, Universität Bielefeld,Bielefeld,Germany
| | - Gilles Vergnaud
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay,Orsay,France
- ENSTA ParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay,Palaiseau,France
| | - Angela Witte
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, MFPL Laboratories, University of Vienna,Vienna,Austria
| | - Karin Aistleitner
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF),Neuherbergstrasse 11, D-80937 Munich,Germany
| | - Erwin Hofer
- AGES, Institute for Veterinary Disease Control,Robert Koch-Gasse 17, A-2340 Mödling,Austria
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Mancilla M. Smooth to Rough Dissociation in Brucella: The Missing Link to Virulence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 5:98. [PMID: 26779449 PMCID: PMC4700419 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2015.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissociation encompasses changes in a series of phenotypes: colony and cell morphology, inmunological and biochemical reactions and virulence. The concept is generally associated to the in vitro transition between smooth (S) and rough (R) colonies, a phenotypic observation in Gram-negative bacteria commonly made since the beginning of microbiology as a science. It is also well known that the loss of the O-polysaccharide, the most external lipopolysaccharide (LPS) moiety, triggers the change in the colony phenotype. Although dissociation is related to one of the most basic features used to distinguish between species, i.e., colony morphology, and, in the case of pathogens, predict their virulence behavior, it has been considered a laboratory artifact and thus did not gain further attention. However, recent insights into genetics and pathogenesis of members of Brucella, causative agents of brucellosis, have brought a new outlook on this experimental fact, suggesting that it plays a role beyond the laboratory observations. In this perspective article, the current knowledge on Brucella LPS genetics and its connection with dissociation in the frame of evolution is discussed. Latest reports support the notion that, by means of a better understanding of genetic pathways linked to R phenotype and the biological impact of this intriguing "old" phenomenon, unexpected applications can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mancilla
- Research and Development Department, ADL Diagnostic Chile Ltd.Puerto Montt, Chile
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37
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Hammerl JA, Ulrich RG, Imholt C, Scholz HC, Jacob J, Kratzmann N, Nöckler K, Al Dahouk S. Molecular Survey on Brucellosis in Rodents and Shrews - Natural Reservoirs of Novel Brucella Species in Germany? Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 64:663-671. [PMID: 26398680 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease introduced from animal reservoirs to humans. In Germany, bovine and ovine/caprine brucellosis were eradicated more than a decade ago and mandatory measures in livestock have been implemented to keep the officially brucellosis-free status. In contrast, surveillance of wildlife is still challenging, and reliable data on the prevalence of brucellae in small mammal populations do not exist. To assess the epidemiology of Brucella spp. in rodents and shrews, a molecular survey was carried out. A total of 537 rodents and shrews were trapped in four federal states located throughout Germany and investigated for the presence of Brucella. Using a two-step molecular assay based on the detection of the Brucella-specific bcsp31 and IS711 sequences in tissue samples, 14.2% (n = 76) of the tested animals were positive. These originated mainly from western and south-western Germany, where preliminary analyses indicate population density-dependent Brucella prevalence in voles (Myodes glareolus) and mice (Apodemus spp.). recA typing revealed a close relationship to a potentially novel Brucella species recently isolated from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Austria. The molecular detection of brucellae in various rodent taxa and for the first time in shrew species shows that these animals may be naturally infected or at least have a history of exposure to Brucella spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Hammerl
- Department of Biological Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - R G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - C Imholt
- Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research Group, Münster, Germany
| | - H C Scholz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - J Jacob
- Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research Group, Münster, Germany
| | - N Kratzmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - K Nöckler
- Department of Biological Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Al Dahouk
- Department of Biological Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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First isolation and characterization of Brucella microti from wild boar. BMC Vet Res 2015; 11:147. [PMID: 26163135 PMCID: PMC4499207 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-015-0456-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brucella microti was first isolated from common vole (Microtus arvalis) in the Czech Republic in Central Europe in 2007. As B. microti is the only Brucella species known to live in soil, its distribution, ecology, zoonotic potential, and genomic organization is of particular interest. The present paper is the first to report the isolation of B. microti from a wild boar (Sus scrofa), which is also the first isolation of this bacterial species in Hungary. RESULTS The B. microti isolate was cultured, after enrichment in Brucella-selective broth, from the submandibular lymph node of a female wild boar that was taken by hunters in Hungary near the Austrian border in September 2014. Histological and immunohistological examinations of the lymph node sections with B. abortus-, B. suis- and B. canis-specific sera gave negative results. The isolate did not require CO2 for growth, was oxidase, catalase, and urease positive, H2S negative, grew well in the presence of 20 μg/ml basic fuchsin and thionin, and had brownish pigmentation after three days of incubation. It gave strong positive agglutination with anti-A and anti-M but had a negative reaction with anti-R monospecific sera. The API 20 NE test identified it as Ochrobactrum anthropi with 99.9% identity, and it showed B. microti-specific banding pattern in the Bruce- and Suis-ladder multiplex PCR systems. Whole genome re-sequencing identified 30 SNPs in orthologous loci when compared to the B. microti reference genome available in GenBank, and the MLVA analysis yielded a unique profile. CONCLUSIONS Given that the female wild boar did not develop any clinical disease, we hypothesize that this host species only harboured the bacterium, serving as a possible reservoir capable of maintaining and spreading this pathogen. The infectious source could have been either a rodent, a carcass that had been eaten or infection occurred via the boar rooting in soil. The low number of discovered SNPs suggests an unexpectedly high level of genetic homogeneity in this Brucella species.
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Experimental infection of chicken embryos with recently described Brucella microti: Pathogenicity and pathological findings. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2015; 41:28-34. [PMID: 26264524 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Brucellae are facultative intracellular pathogens causing disease in a wide range of domestic and wild animals as well as in humans. Brucella (B.) microti is a recently recognized species and was isolated from common voles (Microtus arvalis), red foxes and soil in Austria and the Czech Republic. Its pathogenicity for livestock and its zoonotic potential has not been confirmed yet. In the present study 25 SPF chicken embryos were inoculated at day 11 of age with 1.6×10(3) and 1.6×10(5)B. microti by yolk sac and allantoic sac routes. Re-isolation of B. microti indicated rapid multiplication of bacteria (up to 1.7×10(12)CFU). B. microti provoked marked gross lesions, i.e. hemorrhages and necroses. All inoculated embryos were dead (100% mortality) in between 2nd and 4th day post inoculation. The predominant histopathological lesion was necroses in liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, spinal meninges, yolk sac and chorioallantoic membrane. Immunohistochemical examination showed the presence of Brucella antigen in nearly all of these organs, with infection being mainly restricted to non-epithelial cells or tissues. This study provides the first results on the multiplication and pathogenicity of the mouse pathogenic B. microti in chicken embryos. These data suggest that, even though chicken are not mammals, they could provide a useful tool for understanding the pathogenesis of B. microti associated disease.
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Grassini G, Pennacchietti E, Cappadocio F, Occhialini A, De Biase D. Biochemical and spectroscopic properties of Brucella microti glutamate decarboxylase, a key component of the glutamate-dependent acid resistance system. FEBS Open Bio 2015; 5:209-18. [PMID: 25853037 PMCID: PMC4382515 DOI: 10.1016/j.fob.2015.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella microti GadB shares many features with the Escherichia coli homolog. Brucella microti GadB undergoes auto-inactivation at pH above 5.5. Brucella microti GadB is activated by chloride ions, which are abundant in gastric secretions. Brucella microti GadB belongs to the GadB from ancestral and environmental brucellae.
In orally acquired bacteria, the ability to counteract extreme acid stress (pH ⩽ 2.5) ensures survival during transit through the animal host stomach. In several neutralophilic bacteria, the glutamate-dependent acid resistance system (GDAR) is the most efficient molecular system in conferring protection from acid stress. In Escherichia coli its structural components are either of the two glutamate decarboxylase isoforms (GadA, GadB) and the antiporter, GadC, which imports glutamate and exports γ-aminobutyrate, the decarboxylation product. The system works by consuming protons intracellularly, as part of the decarboxylation reaction, and exporting positive charges via the antiporter. Herein, biochemical and spectroscopic properties of GadB from Brucella microti (BmGadB), a Brucella species which possesses GDAR, are described. B. microti belongs to a group of lately described and atypical brucellae that possess functional gadB and gadC genes, unlike the most well-known “classical” Brucella species, which include important human pathogens. BmGadB is hexameric at acidic pH. The pH-dependent spectroscopic properties and activity profile, combined with in silico sequence comparison with E. coli GadB (EcGadB), suggest that BmGadB has the necessary structural requirements for the binding of activating chloride ions at acidic pH and for the closure of its active site at neutral pH. On the contrary, cellular localization analysis, corroborated by sequence inspection, suggests that BmGadB does not undergo membrane recruitment at acidic pH, which was observed in EcGadB. The comparison of GadB from evolutionary distant microorganisms suggests that for this enzyme to be functional in GDAR some structural features must be preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Grassini
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Eugenia Pennacchietti
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappadocio
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Alessandra Occhialini
- Université de Montpellier, Centre d'études d'agents Pathogènes et Biotechnologie pour la Santé (CPBS), F-34293 Montpellier, France ; CNRS, FRE 3689, CPBS, F-34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Daniela De Biase
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
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Glutamate decarboxylase-dependent acid resistance in Brucella spp.: distribution and contribution to fitness under extremely acidic conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 81:578-86. [PMID: 25381237 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02928-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella is an expanding genus of major zoonotic pathogens, including at least 10 genetically very close species occupying a wide range of niches from soil to wildlife, livestock, and humans. Recently, we have shown that in the new species Brucella microti, the glutamate decarboxylase (Gad)-dependent system (GAD system) contributes to survival at a pH of 2.5 and also to infection in mice by the oral route. In order to study the functionality of the GAD system in the genus Brucella, 47 isolates, representative of all known species and strains of this genus, and 16 strains of the closest neighbor genus, Ochrobactrum, were studied using microbiological, biochemical, and genetic approaches. In agreement with the genome sequences, the GAD system of classical species was not functional, unlike that of most strains of Brucella ceti, Brucella pinnipedialis, and newly described species (B. microti, Brucella inopinata BO1, B. inopinata-like BO2, and Brucella sp. isolated from bullfrogs). In the presence of glutamate, these species were more acid resistant in vitro than classical terrestrial brucellae. Expression in trans of the gad locus from representative Brucella species in the Escherichia coli MG1655 mutant strain lacking the GAD system restored the acid-resistant phenotype. The highly conserved GAD system of the newly described or atypical Brucella species may play an important role in their adaptation to acidic external and host environments. Furthermore, the GAD phenotype was shown to be a useful diagnostic tool to distinguish these latter Brucella strains from Ochrobactrum and from classical terrestrial pathogenic Brucella species, which are GAD negative.
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Nouri HR, Marashi MA, Rahimi MT, Baleghi Damavandi S, Ebrahimpour S. Diagnostic Tests in Human Brucellosis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENTERIC PATHOGENS 2014. [DOI: 10.17795/ijep19422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Abstract
Fifty years ago, bacteria in the genus Brucella were known to cause infertility and reproductive losses. At that time, the genus was considered to contain only 3 species: Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella suis. Since the early 1960s, at least 7 new species have been identified as belonging to the Brucella genus (Brucella canis, Brucella ceti, Brucella inopinata, Brucella microti, Brucella neotomae, Brucella ovis, and Brucella pinnipedialis) with several additional new species under consideration for inclusion. Although molecular studies have found such high homology that some authors have proposed that all Brucella are actually 1 species, the epidemiologic and diagnostic benefits for separating the genus based on phenotypic characteristics are more compelling. Although pathogenic Brucella spp have preferred reservoir hosts, their ability to infect numerous mammalian hosts has been increasingly documented. The maintenance of infection in new reservoir hosts, such as wildlife, has become an issue for both public health and animal health regulatory personnel. Since the 1960s, new information on how Brucella enters host cells and modifies their intracellular environment has been gained. Although the pathogenesis and histologic lesions of B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis in their preferred hosts have not changed, additional knowledge on the pathology of these brucellae in new hosts, or of new species of Brucella in their preferred hosts, has been obtained. To this day, brucellosis remains a significant human zoonosis that is emerging or reemerging in many parts of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Olsen
- Bacterial Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
| | - M V Palmer
- Bacterial Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
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Jiménez de Bagüés MP, Iturralde M, Arias MA, Pardo J, Cloeckaert A, Zygmunt MS. The new strains Brucella inopinata BO1 and Brucella species 83-210 behave biologically like classic infectious Brucella species and cause death in murine models of infection. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:467-72. [PMID: 24558120 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, novel atypical Brucella strains isolated from humans and wild rodents have been reported. They are phenotypically close to Ochrobactrum species but belong to the genus Brucella, based on genetic relatedness, although genetic diversity is higher among the atypical Brucella strains than between the classic species. They were classified within or close to the novel species Brucella inopinata. However, with the exception of Brucella microti, the virulence of these novel strains has not been investigated in experimental models of infection. METHODS The type species B. inopinata strain BO1 (isolated from a human) and Brucella species strain 83-210 (isolated from a wild Australian rodent) were investigated. A classic infectious Brucella reference strain, B. suis 1330, was also used. BALB/c, C57BL/6, and CD1 mice models and C57BL/6 mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were used as infection models. RESULTS Strains BO1 and 83-210 behaved similarly to reference strain 1330 in all mouse infection models: there were similar growth curves in spleens and livers of mice and similar intracellular replication rates in BMDMs. However, unlike strain 1330, strains BO1 and 83-210 showed lethality in the 3 mouse models. CONCLUSIONS The novel atypical Brucella strains of this study behave like classic intracellular Brucella pathogens. In addition, they cause death in murine models of infection, as previously published for B. microti, another recently described environmental and wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Iturralde
- Departamento Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza
| | - Maykel A Arias
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Unidad de Sanidad Animal Departamento Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza
| | - Julián Pardo
- Departamento Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza Fundación Aragon I+D, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Axel Cloeckaert
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France
| | - Michel S Zygmunt
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France
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Nymo IH, Tryland M, Frie AK, Haug T, Foster G, Rødven R, Godfroid J. Age-dependent prevalence of anti-Brucella antibodies in hooded seals Cystophora cristata. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2013; 106:187-196. [PMID: 24191996 DOI: 10.3354/dao02659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Investigations of hooded seals Cystophora cristata have revealed high prevalences of Brucella-positive seals in the reduced Northeast Atlantic stock, compared to the increasing Northwest Atlantic stock. This study evaluated the relation between Brucella-serostatus in seals in the Northeast Atlantic stock and age, sex, body condition and reproduction. Bacteriology documented which animals and organs were B. pinnipedialis positive. No relationship was observed between Brucella-serostatus and body condition or reproductive traits. Pups (<1 mo old) had a substantially lower probability of being seropositive (4/159, 2.5%) than yearlings (6/17, 35.3%), suggesting that exposure may occur post-weaning, during the first year of life. For seals >1 yr old, the mean probability of being seropositive decreased with age, with no seropositives older than 5 yr, indicating loss of antibody titre with either chronicity or clearance of infection. The latter explanation seems to be most likely as B. pinnipedialis has never been isolated from a hooded seal >18 mo old, which is consistent with findings in this study; B. pinnipedialis was isolated from the retropharyngeal lymph node in 1 seropositive yearling (1/21, 5%). We hypothesize that this serological and bacteriological pattern is due to environmental exposure to B. pinnipedialis early in life, with a subsequent clearance of infection. This raises the question of a reservoir of B. pinnipedialis in the hooded seal food web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingebjørg H Nymo
- Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Stakkevollveien 23, 9010 Tromsø, Norway
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Al Dahouk S, Jubier-Maurin V, Neubauer H, Köhler S. Quantitative analysis of the Brucella suis proteome reveals metabolic adaptation to long-term nutrient starvation. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:199. [PMID: 24007556 PMCID: PMC3844638 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the infection process, bacteria are confronted with various stress factors including nutrient starvation. In an in vitro model, adaptation strategies of nutrient-starved brucellae, which are facultative intracellular pathogens capable of long-term persistence, were determined. RESULTS Long-term nutrient starvation in a medium devoid of carbon and nitrogen sources resulted in a rapid decline in viability of Brucella suis during the first three weeks, followed by stabilization of the number of viable bacteria for a period of at least three weeks thereafter. A 2D-Difference Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE) approach allowed the characterization of the bacterial proteome under these conditions. A total of 30 proteins showing altered concentrations in comparison with bacteria grown to early stationary phase in rich medium were identified. More than half of the 27 significantly regulated proteins were involved in bacterial metabolism with a marked reduction of the concentrations of enzymes participating in amino acid and nucleic acid biosynthesis. A total of 70% of the significantly regulated proteins showed an increased expression, including proteins involved in the adaptation to harsh conditions, in regulation, and in transport. CONCLUSIONS The adaptive response of Brucella suis most likely contributes to the long-term survival of the pathogen under starvation conditions, and may play a key role in persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Al Dahouk
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, D-12277, Berlin Germany.
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Leiser OP, Corn JL, Schmit BS, Keim PS, Foster JT. Feral swine brucellosis in the United States and prospective genomic techniques for disease epidemiology. Vet Microbiol 2013; 166:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Revised: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/23/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Larsen AK, Nymo IH, Boysen P, Tryland M, Godfroid J. Entry and elimination of marine mammal Brucella spp. by hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) alveolar macrophages in vitro. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70186. [PMID: 23936159 PMCID: PMC3723690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A high prevalence of Brucellapinnipedialis serology and bacteriology positive animals has been found in the Northeast Atlantic stock of hooded seal (Cystophoracristata); however no associated gross pathological changes have been identified. Marine mammal brucellae have previously displayed different infection patterns in human and murine macrophages. To investigate if marine mammal Brucella spp. are able to invade and multiply in cells originating from a presumed host species, we infected alveolar macrophages from hooded seal with a B. pinnipedialis hooded seal isolate. Hooded seal alveolar macrophages were also challenged with B. pinnipedialis reference strain (NCTC 12890) from harbor seal (Phocavitulina), B. ceti reference strain (NCTC 12891) from harbor porpoise (Phocoenaphocoena) and a B. ceti Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchusacutus) isolate (M83/07/1), to evaluate possible species-specific differences. Brucella suis 1330 was included as a positive control. Alveolar macrophages were obtained by post mortem bronchoalveolar lavage of euthanized hooded seals. Phenotyping of cells in the lavage fluid was executed by flow cytometry using the surface markers CD14 and CD18. Cultured lavage cells were identified as alveolar macrophages based on morphology, expression of surface markers and phagocytic ability. Alveolar macrophages were challenged with Brucella spp. in a gentamicin protection assay. Following infection, cell lysates from different time points were plated and evaluated quantitatively for colony forming units. Intracellular presence of B. pinnipedialis hooded seal isolate was verified by immunocytochemistry. Our results show that the marine mammal brucellae were able to enter hooded seal alveolar macrophages; however, they did not multiply intracellularly and were eliminated within 48 hours, to the contrary of B. suis that showed the classical pattern of a pathogenic strain. In conclusion, none of the four marine mammal strains tested were able to establish a persistent infection in primary alveolar macrophages from hooded seal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anett K Larsen
- Section for Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Tromsø, Norway.
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Abstract
A key determinant for intracellular pathogenic bacteria to ensure their virulence within host cells is their ability to bypass the endocytic pathway and to reach a safe niche of replication. In the case of Brucella, the bacterium targets the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) to create a replicating niche called the BCV (Brucella-containing vacuole). The ER is a suitable strategic place for pathogenic Brucella. Indeed, bacteria can be hidden from host cell defences to persist within the host, and they can take advantage of the membrane reservoir delivered by the ER to replicate. Interaction with the ER leads to the presence on the BCV of the GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and the small GTPase Rab2 known to be located on secretory vesicles that traffic between the ER and the Golgi apparatus. GAPDH and the small GTPase Rab2 controls Brucella replication at late times post-infection. A specific interaction between the human small GTPase Rab2 and a Brucella spp. protein named RicA was identified. Altered kinetics of intracellular trafficking and faster proliferation of the Brucella abortus ΔricA mutant was observed compared with the wild-type strain. RicA is the first reported effector with a proposed function for B. abortus.
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Occhialini A, Jiménez de Bagüés MP, Saadeh B, Bastianelli D, Hanna N, De Biase D, Köhler S. The Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase System of the New Species Brucella microti Contributes to Its Acid Resistance and to Oral Infection of Mice. J Infect Dis 2012; 206:1424-32. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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