If You're Not Confused, You're Not Paying Attention: Ochrobactrum Is Not Brucella.

Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular parasites that cause brucellosis, a severe animal and human disease. Recently, a group of taxonomists merged the brucellae with the primarily free-living, phylogenetically related Ochrobactrum spp. in the genus Brucella. This change, founded only on global genomic analysis and the fortuitous isolation of some opportunistic Ochrobactrum spp. from medically compromised patients, has been automatically included in culture collections and databases. We argue that clinical and environmental microbiologists should not accept this nomenclature, and we advise against its use because (i) it was presented without in-depth phylogenetic analyses and did not consider alternative taxonomic solutions; (ii) it was launched without the input of experts in brucellosis or Ochrobactrum; (iii) it applies a non-consensus genus concept that disregards taxonomically relevant differences in structure, physiology, population structure, core-pangenome assemblies, genome structure, genomic traits, clinical features, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, genus description rules, and, above all, pathogenicity; and (iv) placing these two bacterial groups in the same genus creates risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, clinical laboratories, health authorities, and legislators who deal with brucellosis, a disease that is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries. Based on all this information, we urge microbiologists, bacterial collections, genomic databases, journals, and public health boards to keep the Brucella and Ochrobactrum genera separate to avoid further bewilderment and harm.

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of VEE to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of VEE according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species related to VEE. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, it is inconclusive whether VEE is eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL because there was no full consensus on the criterion 5 A(v). Consequently, since it is inconclusive whether VEE can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL, the assessment on compliance of VEE with the criteria as in Sections 4 and 5 of Annex IV to the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (d) and (e) of Article 9(1), and which animal species can be considered to be listed for VEE according to Article 8(3) of the AHL is also inconclusive.

Identification of Brucella sp. isolated in Brazil from 1976 to 2013 by Bruce-Ladder PCR

Background: Brucella sp. are the causative agents of brucellosis, an infectious disease that affects various species ofanimals and can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals, indirectly by the ingestion of rawmilk products, and during the handling of strains or infected material in the laboratory. Being a zoonosis, the detectionof Brucella species in animals is essential for the prevention of the disease in humans and to perform a good program ofcontrol in infected herds. This study aimed at identifying Brucella field strains isolated from 1976 to 2013 in Brazil, usingthe modified Bruce-Ladder method, to evaluate the performance of this technique.Materials, Methods & Results: Eighty-three strains of Brucella sp. were included in the study, i.e. 21 reference strains(nine B. abortus, one B. canis, four B. melitensis, two B. ovis and five B. suis) and 62 field strains (six B. canis, oneB. suis and 55 B. abortus). For the identification of the genus and/or species of Brucella, biochemical and physiologicaltests, including MacConkey-agar growth, glucose fermentation, haemolysis, catalase, oxidase and urease tests, nitratereduction, citrate utilization, H2S production and CO2 requirement, were performed. Genomic DNA was extracted frompure cultures through heat-lysis of bacterial cultures and the genus was confirmed by a genus-specific PCR (bcsp31 targetgene), before performing the modified Bruce-Ladder PCR for the confirmation of the Brucella species. No problems ofspecificity were observed with the Bruce-Ladder PCR. However, the 1,682 bp fragment was not systematically amplified,even after several modifications such as the concentration of mix components, annealing temperatures and time. Therefore,an individual PCR using primers specific to this fragment was needed for complete identification of some strains. Also,only one kind of Polymerase gave the best results...(AU)

Identification of Brucella sp. isolated in Brazil from 1976 to 2013 by Bruce-Ladder PCR

Background: Brucella sp. are the causative agents of brucellosis, an infectious disease that affects various species ofanimals and can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals, indirectly by the ingestion of rawmilk products, and during the handling of strains or infected material in the laboratory. Being a zoonosis, the detectionof Brucella species in animals is essential for the prevention of the disease in humans and to perform a good program ofcontrol in infected herds. This study aimed at identifying Brucella field strains isolated from 1976 to 2013 in Brazil, usingthe modified Bruce-Ladder method, to evaluate the performance of this technique.Materials, Methods & Results: Eighty-three strains of Brucella sp. were included in the study, i.e. 21 reference strains(nine B. abortus, one B. canis, four B. melitensis, two B. ovis and five B. suis) and 62 field strains (six B. canis, oneB. suis and 55 B. abortus). For the identification of the genus and/or species of Brucella, biochemical and physiologicaltests, including MacConkey-agar growth, glucose fermentation, haemolysis, catalase, oxidase and urease tests, nitratereduction, citrate utilization, H2S production and CO2 requirement, were performed. Genomic DNA was extracted frompure cultures through heat-lysis of bacterial cultures and the genus was confirmed by a genus-specific PCR (bcsp31 targetgene), before performing the modified Bruce-Ladder PCR for the confirmation of the Brucella species. No problems ofspecificity were observed with the Bruce-Ladder PCR. However, the 1,682 bp fragment was not systematically amplified,even after several modifications such as the concentration of mix components, annealing temperatures and time. Therefore,an individual PCR using primers specific to this fragment was needed for complete identification of some strains. Also,only one kind of Polymerase gave the best results...