Complete Genome Sequence of an Endemic Mycobacterium bovis Strain from Wood Bison in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada.

Mycobacterium bovis is the primary causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, a zoonotic infectious disease of concern for human health, livestock, and wildlife conservation. We report a complete genome sequence of an endemic Mycobacterium bovis strain affiliated with a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis found in wood bison in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada.

Complete Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium bovis Strains Affiliated with Bovine Tuberculosis Outbreaks in Canada in 2016 and 2018.

Mycobacterium bovis is the primary causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, a zoonotic infectious disease that presents a risk to public health, livestock, and wildlife. Here, we report complete genome sequences of two Mycobacterium bovis strains affiliated with bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in Canadian cattle farms in 2016 and 2018.

High female mortality caused by an atypical Mycobacterium species closely related to the Mycobacterium ulcerans-marinum complex in a colony of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

A commercial breeding colony of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) experienced an increase in mortality that affected females only. Before death, the animals had lost appetite and weight, were dehydrated, and some had labored breathing. Necropsy revealed granulomas in many organs (ovaries, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, bone marrow) in which numerous acid-fast bacteria were identified. Bacterial isolation confirmed Mycobacterium spp., which was identified by whole genome sequencing as closely related to the Mycobacterium ulcerans-marinum complex. Due to the zoonotic potential of this bacterium and the poor prognosis for the remaining sick animals, the entire colony was culled and 7 animals were evaluated. The possible routes for introduction of this bacterium, the female predisposition to the disease, as well as the zoonotic potential of this microorganism are discussed. Key clinical message: An atypical Mycobacterium species closely related to Mycobacterium ulcerans-marinum complex can cause high female morality in captive bearded dragons.

Mortalité élevée de femelles dans une colonie de dragons barbus (Pogona vitticeps) causée par une mycobactérie atypique étroitement reliée au complexe Mycobacterium ulcerans-marinum . Une augmentation de la mortalité affectant uniquement les femelles est survenue dans une colonie de dragons barbus reproducteurs. Avant leur mort, ces animaux étaient anorexiques, amaigris, déshydratés et certains respiraient la gueule ouverte. Leur nécropsie révéla la présence de granulomes dans plusieurs viscères (poumons, coeur, reins, foie, ovaires, moelle osseuse), dans lesquels des bacilles acido-alcoolo-résistants étaient visibles à l'examen microscopique. L'isolement bactérien a permis de confirmer qu'il s'agissait bien de Mycobacterium spp. et les analyses moléculaires ont démontré que cette mycobactérie était étroitement reliée au complexe Mycobacterium ulcerans-marinum. À cause du potentiel zoonotique de cette infection et du pronostic sombre, la colonie entière fut euthanasiée et sept (7) animaux soumis pour nécropsie. Les causes potentielles d'introduction de cette bactérie dans la colonie, la prédisposition particulière des femelles à cette infection et le risque zoonotique qui y est associé seront discutés.Message clinique clé :Une mycobactérie étroitement associée au complexe Mycobacterium ulcerans-marinum peut causer une mortalité élevée chez les dragons barbus en captivité et cibler tout particulièrement les femelles.(Traduit par les auteurs).

Genome Sequences of Five Mycobacterium bovis Strains Isolated from Farmed Animals and Wildlife in Canada.

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, an infectious disease that affects both animals and humans and thus presents a risk to public health and the livestock industry. Here, we report the genome sequences of five Mycobacterium bovis strains that represent major genotype clusters observed in farmed animals and wildlife in Canada.

Genotypes of Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated from domestic animals and wildlife in Canada in 1985-2015.

Two internationally recognised and standardised genotyping methods, mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit and variable number tandem repeat analysis (MIRU-VNTR) and spoligotyping, were applied to characterise genetic variations among 137 Mycobacterium bovis isolates recovered from Canadian domestic and wild animals during 1985-2015. Spoligotyping generated seven types that were discriminated further into12 MIRU-VNTR types. The discriminatory power indexes were estimated as 0.71 and 0.77 for spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing approaches, respectively. In total, 6 prominent clusters of isolates were observed by the genotyping schemes. Four genotype clusters were exclusively observed in farmed animals. Three of these four clusters were affiliated with localised tuberculosis outbreaks, and each cluster corresponded to a single specific spoligotype (SB0140, SB0673, and SB1069) and a MIRU-VNTR profile. The fourth genotype cluster, with spoligotype SB0265 which segregated into two MIRU-VNTR types, was associated with bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in several farms across Canada during 1990-2002. Two genotype clusters of M. bovis stains were associated with wildlife reservoirs: a spoligotype SB0130 with 3 unique MIRU-VNTR profiles were observed in wood bison in Wood Buffalo National Park, and unique spoligotypes SB1070 and 1071 represented by four MIRU-VNTR profiles were recovered from cervidae species in and around the Riding Mountain National Park of Manitoba. Genotyping data confirmed M. bovis transmission between wildlife and livestock in Manitoba in 1990-2008. Overall, notwithstanding the low level of genetic diversity of Canadian M. bovis strains, the spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing were useful tools in monitoring transmission of endemic strains and defining new introductions to Canada. The majority of genotypes were most likely introduced into domestic animals through live animal trade, and subsequently eliminated as a result of bovine tuberculosis outbreak investigation and eradication activities.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses recovered from Ontario farms, 1998-2000.

From January 1998 to July 2000, 2,456 clinical samples, including lung, tonsil, lymph node, and serum, from 760 cases submitted to the Animal Health Laboratory, Ontario, Canada, were tested for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-PCR product restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. A total of 516 samples from 284 cases were RT-PCR positive for the PRRSV open reading frame (ORF) 7 sequence. The RT-PCR RFLP typing assay was performed using 2 different sets of primers, amplifying 716 or 933 base pairs of ORF 4, 5, and 6 of PRRSV. Samples from 254 cases were typeable, yielding 34 different RFLP types. Of these, 164 cases had 32 different RFLP types of field or intermediate strains, 86 had a pattern similar to a commercial PRRSV vaccine or VR 2332 strain of the virus, 4 had a RFLP type shared by another commercial vaccine and a field strain. In 4 cases, 2 different RFLP types were identified from tissues from different pigs that were submitted at the same time from the same farm. Of the 195 farms that submitted PRRSV PCR-positive samples, 48 submitted samples on more than 1 occasion during the specified time frame. In 23 of those 48 farms, RFLP patterns of PRRSV differed between submissions, whereas in the other 25 farms, the RFLP pattern remained unchanged. There were 34 different PRRSV patterns identified from 236 cases using the primer set amplifying 716 base pairs of PRRSV. There were 18 cases, consisting of 9 different patterns, typeable only by using the primers amplifying a 933-base pair fragment of the virus.