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Ramasindrazana B, Parany MNJ, Rasoamalala F, Rasoanoro M, Rahajandraibe S, Vogler AJ, Sahl JW, Andrianaivoarimanana V, Rajerison M, Wagner DM. Local-scale diversity of Yersinia pestis: A case study from Ambohitromby, Ankazobe District, Madagascar. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:61-70. [PMID: 34480413 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Plague is a re-emerging zoonotic disease and a major public health concern in several portions of the world, especially in Madagascar. We report on the presence of different subtypes of Yersinia pestis co-occurring in the same locality. After confirmation of a human plague case in Ambohitromby Commune (Ankazobe District) via isolation of Y. pestis, we undertook small mammal trapping to identify the circulation of Y. pestis amongst rodents in this locality; blood samples were collected from rodents for seroprevalence analysis. Of the 60 individuals of Rattus rattus captured, one yielded an isolate of Y. pestis, 13 others were positive for F1 antigen of Y. pestis using a rapid diagnostic test, and 4 were PCR positive targeting the caf1 and pla genes; 28/60 (46.7%) of the captured R. rattus were seropositive for Y. pestis. Whole-genome SNP analyses revealed that the two isolates obtained from the human case, and the R. rattus belonged to two different subtypes of Y. pestis (s05 and s13, respectively) that were circulating concurrently in Ambohitromby in 2016. Three Y. pestis subtypes (s03, s05 and s13) have now been isolated from Ambohitromby. Subtype s05 had been persisting there for >10 years but one or both of the other subtypes may have been introduced from the Central Highlands region as they were not observed in previous years (s13) or only observed once previously (s03). High seroprevalence against Y. pestis in R. rattus suggests that a portion of the local murine population may have acquired resistance to Y. pestis. Future research should focus on genomically characterizing Y. pestis strains circulating in Ankazobe District and other plague-endemic regions of Madagascar to better understand the overall phylogeography of Y. pestis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beza Ramasindrazana
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Mamionah N J Parany
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Fanohinjanaharinirina Rasoamalala
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Mercia Rasoanoro
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
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Abstract
Knowing whether human corpses can transmit plague will inform policies for handling the bodies of those who have died of the disease. We analyzed the literature to evaluate risk for transmission of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, from human corpses and animal carcasses. Because we could not find direct evidence of transmission, we described a transmission pathway and assessed the potential for transmission at each step. We examined 3 potential sources of infection: body fluids of living plague patients, infected corpses and carcasses, and body fluids of infected corpses. We concluded that pneumonic plague can be transmitted by intensive handling of the corpse or carcass, presumably through the inhalation of respiratory droplets, and that bubonic plague can be transmitted by blood-to-blood contact with the body fluids of a corpse or carcass. These findings should inform precautions taken by those handling the bodies of persons or animals that died of plague.
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