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Turco S, Russo S, Pietrucci D, Filippi A, Milanesi M, Luzzago C, Garbarino C, Palladini G, Chillemi G, Ricchi M. High clonality of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis field isolates from red deer revealed by two different methodological approaches of comparative genomic analysis. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1301667. [PMID: 38379925 PMCID: PMC10876796 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1301667] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the aetiological agent of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in both domestic and wild ruminants. In the present study, using a whole-genome sequence (WGS) approach, we investigated the genetic diversity of 15 Mycobacterium avium field strains isolated in the last 10 years from red deer inhabiting the Stelvio National Park and affected by paratuberculosis. Combining de novo assembly and a reference-based method, followed by a pangenome analysis, we highlight a very close relationship among 13 MAP field isolates, suggesting that a single infecting event occurred in this population. Moreover, two isolates have been classified as Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis, distinct from the other MAPs under comparison but close to each other. This is the first time that this subspecies has been found in Italy in samples without evident epidemiological correlations, having been isolated in two different locations of the Stelvio National Park and in different years. Our study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach incorporating molecular epidemiology and ecology into traditional infectious disease knowledge in order to investigate the nature of infectious disease in wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Turco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Simone Russo
- National Reference Centre and WOAH Reference Laboratory for Paratuberculosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Daniele Pietrucci
- Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei Sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Anita Filippi
- National Reference Centre and WOAH Reference Laboratory for Paratuberculosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Marco Milanesi
- Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei Sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Camilla Luzzago
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Coordinated Research Centre "EpiSoMI", University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
| | - Chiara Garbarino
- National Reference Centre and WOAH Reference Laboratory for Paratuberculosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Giorgia Palladini
- National Reference Centre and WOAH Reference Laboratory for Paratuberculosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei Sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Ricchi
- National Reference Centre and WOAH Reference Laboratory for Paratuberculosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Piacenza, Italy
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Honda JR. Environmental Sources and Transmission of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. Clin Chest Med 2023; 44:661-674. [PMID: 37890909 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2023.07.001] [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] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The field of environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is benefiting from a new era of genomics that has catapulted our understanding of preferred niches, transmission, and outbreak investigations. The ability to forecast environmental features that promote or reduce environmental NTM prevalence will greatly improve with coordinated environmental sampling and by elevating the necessity for uniform disease notifications. Studies that synergize environmental biology, isolate notifications, and comparative genomics in prospective, longitudinal studies, particularly during climate changes and weather events, will be useful to solve longstanding NTM public health quandaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Honda
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, BMR Building, Tyler, TX 75708, USA.
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Genetic Features of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Strains Circulating in the West of France Deciphered by Whole-Genome Sequencing. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0339222. [PMID: 36445077 PMCID: PMC9769990 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03392-22] [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] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Paratuberculosis is a chronic infection of the intestine, mainly the ileum, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle and other ruminants. This enzootic disease is present worldwide and has a negative impact on the dairy cattle industry. For this subspecies, the current genotyping tools do not provide the needed resolution to investigate the genetic diversity of closely related strains. These limitations can be overcome by the application of whole-genome sequencing (WGS), particularly for clonal populations such as M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. The purpose of the present study was to undertake a WGS analysis with a panel of 200 animal field M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains selected based on a previous large-scale longitudinal study of Prim'Holstein and Normande dairy breeds naturally infected with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the West of France. The pangenome analysis revealed that M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis has a closed pangenome. The phylogeny, based on alignment of 2,786 nonhomoplasic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), showed that the strain population is structured into three clades independently of the cattle breed or geographic distribution. The increased resolution of phylogeny obtained by WGS confirmed the homoplasic nature of the markers variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) and short sequence repeat (SSR) used for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis genotyping. These phylogenetic data also revealed independent introductions of the different genotypes in two main waves since at least 2003. WGS applied to this sampling demonstrated the presence of mixed infections in herds and at the individual animal level. Collectively, the phylogeny results inferred with French isolates compared to M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates from around the world suggest introductions of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis genotypes through the animal trade. Relationships between genetic traits and epidemiological data can now be investigated to better understand transmission dynamics of the disease. IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis causes Johne's disease in ruminants, which is present worldwide and has significant negative impacts on the dairy cattle industry and animal welfare. Prevention and control of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection are hampered by knowledge gaps in strain virulence, genotype distribution, and transmission dynamics. This work has revealed new insights into M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains currently circulating in western France and how they are related to strains circulating globally. We applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to obtain comprehensive information on genome evolution and discrimination of closely related strains. This approach revealed the history of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in France, refined the pangenomic characteristics of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and demonstrated the existence of mixed infection in animals. Finally, this study identified predominant genotypes, which allow a better understanding of disease transmission dynamics. This information will facilitate tracking of this pathogen on farms and across agricultural regions, thus informing transmission pathways and disease control points.
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Hulst AD, Bijma P, De Jong MCM. Can breeders prevent pathogen adaptation when selecting for increased resistance to infectious diseases? GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION 2022; 54:73. [DOI: 10.1186/s12711-022-00764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Recent research shows that genetic selection has high potential to reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases in livestock. However, like all interventions that target infectious diseases, genetic selection of livestock can exert selection pressure on pathogen populations. Such selection on the pathogen may lead to escape strategies and reduce the effect of selection of livestock for disease resistance. Thus, to successfully breed livestock for lower disease prevalence, it is essential to develop strategies that prevent the invasion of pathogen mutants that escape host resistance. Here we investigate the conditions under which such “escape mutants” can replace wild-type pathogens in a closed livestock population using a mathematical model of disease transmission.
Results
Assuming a single gene that confers sufficient resistance, results show that genetic selection for resistance in livestock typically leads to an “invasion window” within which an escape mutant of the pathogen can invade. The bounds of the invasion window are determined by the frequency of resistant hosts in the population. The lower bound occurs when the escape mutant has an advantage over the wild-type pathogen in the population. The upper bound occurs when local eradication of the pathogen is expected. The invasion window is smallest when host resistance is strong and when infection with the wild-type pathogen provides cross immunity to infection with the escape mutant.
Conclusions
To minimise opportunities for pathogens to adapt, under the assumptions of our model, the aim of disease control through genetic selection should be to achieve herd-level eradication of the infection faster than the rate of emergence of escape mutants of the pathogen. Especially for microparasitic infections, this could be achieved by placing animals into herds according to their genetic resistance, such that these herds stay completely out of the invasion window. In contrast to classical breeding theory, our model suggests that multi-trait selection with gradual improvement of each trait of the breeding goal might not be the best strategy when resistance to infectious disease is part of the breeding goal. Temporally, combining genetic selection with other interventions helps to make the invasion window smaller, and thereby reduces the risk of invasion of escape mutants.
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Association between calf rearing technology and farm-level paratuberculosis infection in Hungarian dairy farms. Prev Vet Med 2022; 207:105719. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Knific T, Ocepek M, Kirbiš A, Krt B, Prezelj J, Gethmann JM. Quantitative Risk Assessment of Exposure to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) via Different Types of Milk for the Slovenian Consumer. Foods 2022; 11:foods11101472. [PMID: 35627042 PMCID: PMC9140596 DOI: 10.3390/foods11101472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the risk of exposure to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) via milk for the Slovenian consumer. MAP is suspected to be associated with several diseases in humans, therefore the risk of exposure should be better understood. The primary source of MAP for humans is thought to be cattle, in which MAP causes paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease. We developed a stochastic quantitative risk assessment model using Monte Carlo simulations. Considering the assumptions and uncertainties, we estimated the overall risk of exposure to MAP via milk to be low. For people consuming raw milk from MAP positive farms, the risk was high. On-farm pasteurisation reduced the risk considerably, but not completely. The risk of exposure via pasteurised retail milk was most likely insignificant. However, with a higher paratuberculosis prevalence the risk would also increase. Given the popularity of raw milk vending machines and homemade dairy products, this risk should not be ignored. To reduce the risk, consumers should heat raw milk before consumption. To prevent a potential public health scare and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods, a reduction in paratuberculosis prevalence should be sought. Our results show that culling clinically infected cows was insufficient to reduce milk contamination with MAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Knific
- Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Matjaž Ocepek
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.O.); (B.K.)
| | - Andrej Kirbiš
- Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Branko Krt
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.O.); (B.K.)
| | - Jasna Prezelj
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
- Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, Jadranska ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jörn M. Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
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Knific T, Kirbiš A, Gethmann JM, Prezelj J, Krt B, Ocepek M. Modeling Paratuberculosis Transmission in a Small Dairy Herd Typical of Slovenia Suggests That Different Models Should Be Used to Study Disease Spread in Herds of Different Sizes. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091150. [PMID: 35565579 PMCID: PMC9105838 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the possible dynamics of paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease in a typical Slovenian dairy herd of about 17 cows. Paratuberculosis is a worldwide endemic disease of cattle caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and is associated with significant economic losses. We developed a stochastic compartmental model with two pathways of disease progression, infections of adult cows and infections of young animals through horizontal and vertical transmission, and transmission through animal movements. The average proportions of subclinically and clinically infected cows were 4% and 0.47%, respectively. The prevalence within the herd, which included latently infected animals, averaged 7.13% and ranged from 0% to 70.59%. Under the given circumstances, the results showed a relatively high rate of spontaneous elimination (0.22 per herd per year) of the disease and a high rate of reinfection (0.18 per herd per year) facilitated by active animal trade. To our knowledge, this stochastic compartmental model is the first to be developed specifically to represent a small dairy herd and could apply to other countries with a similar structure of dairy farms. The results suggest that different models should be used to study MAP spread in herds of various sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Knific
- Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrej Kirbiš
- Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Jörn M. Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Jasna Prezelj
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
- Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, Jadranska ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Branko Krt
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.K.); (M.O.)
| | - Matjaž Ocepek
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.K.); (M.O.)
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Kleinwort KJH, Hobmaier BF, Mayer R, Hölzel C, Degroote RL, Märtlbauer E, Hauck SM, Deeg CA. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Proteome Changes Profoundly in Milk. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11080549. [PMID: 34436489 PMCID: PMC8399727 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080549] [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: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) are detectable viable in milk and other dairy products. The molecular mechanisms allowing the adaptation of MAP in these products are still poorly understood. To obtain information about respective adaptation of MAP in milk, we differentially analyzed the proteomes of MAP cultivated for 48 h in either milk at 37 °C or 4 °C or Middlebrook 7H9 broth as a control. From a total of 2197 MAP proteins identified, 242 proteins were at least fivefold higher in abundance in milk. MAP responded to the nutritional shortage in milk with upregulation of 32% of proteins with function in metabolism and 17% in fatty acid metabolism/synthesis. Additionally, MAP upregulated clusters of 19% proteins with roles in stress responses and immune evasion, 19% in transcription/translation, and 13% in bacterial cell wall synthesis. Dut, MmpL4_1, and RecA were only detected in MAP incubated in milk, pointing to very important roles of these proteins for MAP coping with a stressful environment. Dut is essential and plays an exclusive role for growth, MmpL4_1 for virulence through secretion of specific lipids, and RecA for SOS response of mycobacteria. Further, 35 candidates with stable expression in all conditions were detected, which could serve as targets for detection. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD027444.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina J. H. Kleinwort
- Chair of Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany; (K.J.H.K.); (B.F.H.); (R.L.D.)
| | - Bernhard F. Hobmaier
- Chair of Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany; (K.J.H.K.); (B.F.H.); (R.L.D.)
| | - Ricarda Mayer
- Chair of Hygiene and Technology of Milk, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (R.M.); (C.H.); (E.M.)
| | - Christina Hölzel
- Chair of Hygiene and Technology of Milk, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (R.M.); (C.H.); (E.M.)
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, CAU Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Roxane L. Degroote
- Chair of Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany; (K.J.H.K.); (B.F.H.); (R.L.D.)
| | - Erwin Märtlbauer
- Chair of Hygiene and Technology of Milk, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (R.M.); (C.H.); (E.M.)
| | - Stefanie M. Hauck
- Research Unit Protein Science, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, D-80939 Munich, Germany;
| | - Cornelia A. Deeg
- Chair of Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany; (K.J.H.K.); (B.F.H.); (R.L.D.)
- Correspondence:
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