van Heerden, H. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2023

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with brucellosis in goats in Nyagatare district, Rwanda.

Caprine brucellosis, normally caused by Brucella melitensis in goats, is endemic in Rwanda. However, reliable data on caprine brucellosis in Rwanda is insufficient and data on the prevalence and risk factors linked with goats brucellosis in the district of Nyagatare is unknown. A cross-sectional study was conducted among herds of goats in six sectors of Nyagatare district (n =102), to characterise factors at herd level associated with brucellosis seroprevalence in goats. Serum from goats was screened using both the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) and the Rose Bengal test (RBT). A tested systematic questionnaire was used to obtain data about major risk factors for brucellosis. Brucellosis seroprevalence was 6.8% and 10.7% on RBT and iELISA respectively. The overall seroprevalence was 6.8% on animal level and 16.6% on the herd level in series with RBT and iELISA. Mixing a herd of cattle and goats and history of abortions were the risk factors identified to be considerably linked with Brucella seropositive herd (p < 0.05). This study confirmed that brucellosis is endemic in the area, and a one-health strategy for controlling and preventing brucellosis in the Nyagatare district is strongly recommended. The study recommends an awareness campaign to educate all livestock farmers on brucellosis, further studies are recommended to characterize the Brucella spp. in small ruminants in Rwanda and recommend appropriate control measures.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Population genomics of Bacillus anthracis from an anthrax hyperendemic area reveals transmission processes across spatial scales and unexpected within-host diversity

Genomic sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of bacterial disease epidemiology, but remains underutilized for zoonotic pathogens in remote endemic settings. Anthrax, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, remains a threat to human and animal health and rural livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries. While the global genomic diversity of B. anthracis has been well-characterized, there is limited information on how its populations are genetically structured at the scale at which transmission occurs, critical for understanding the pathogens evolution and transmission dynamics. Using a uniquely rich dataset, we quantified genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 73 B. anthracis isolates derived from 33 livestock carcasses sampled over one year throughout the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, an area hyperendemic for anthrax. Genome-wide SNPs distinguished 22 unique B. anthracis genotypes within the study area. However, phylogeographic structure was lacking, as identical SNP profiles were found throughout the study area, likely the result of the long and variable periods of spore dormancy and long-distance livestock movements. Significantly, divergent genotypes were obtained from spatio-temporally linked cases and even individual carcasses. The high number of SNPs distinguishing isolates from the same host is unlikely to have arisen during infection, as supported by our simulation models. This points to an unexpectedly wide transmission bottleneck for B. anthracis, with an inoculum comprising multiple variants being the norm. Our work highlights that inferring transmission patterns of B. anthracis from genomic data will require analytical approaches that account for extended and variable environmental persistence as well as co-infection. ImportancePathogens transmitted between animals and people affect the health and livelihoods of farmers, particularly in developing countries dependent on livestock. Understanding over what distances these pathogens are transmitted and how they evolve is important to inform control strategies towards reducing disease impacts. Information on the circulation of Bacillus anthracis, which causes the often-lethal disease anthrax, is lacking for settings where the disease is commonplace. Consequently, we examined its genetic variability in an area in Tanzania where anthrax is widespread. We found no clear link between how closely cases were sampled and their genetic similarity. We suspect this lack of congruence is primarily driven by large-scale livestock movements, which control efforts should take into consideration. Another significant finding was the co-occurrence of multiple B. anthracis types within individual hosts, suggesting animals are commonly infected with a mixture of variants. This needs to be accounted for when investigating possible connections between cases.

genomics↗