High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in China, particularly in rural areas like Hinggan League (HL), Inner Mongolia. Understanding the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains is crucial for effective TB control. We c...

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Main Authors: Xichao Ou, Xiangchen Li, Shaojun Pei, Bing Zhao, Liping Feng, Chong Teng, Yewei Lu, Hanfang Zhu, Yang Zhou, Hui Xia, Zhengwei Liu, Xiaomeng Wang, Yanling Wang, Richard Anthony, Yanlin Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-08-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00169-25
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author Xichao Ou
Xiangchen Li
Shaojun Pei
Bing Zhao
Liping Feng
Chong Teng
Yewei Lu
Hanfang Zhu
Yang Zhou
Hui Xia
Zhengwei Liu
Xiaomeng Wang
Yanling Wang
Richard Anthony
Yanlin Zhao
author_facet Xichao Ou
Xiangchen Li
Shaojun Pei
Bing Zhao
Liping Feng
Chong Teng
Yewei Lu
Hanfang Zhu
Yang Zhou
Hui Xia
Zhengwei Liu
Xiaomeng Wang
Yanling Wang
Richard Anthony
Yanlin Zhao
author_sort Xichao Ou
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in China, particularly in rural areas like Hinggan League (HL), Inner Mongolia. Understanding the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains is crucial for effective TB control. We conducted a prospective study from 2021 to 2023, sequencing 221 MTB isolates from HL. After quality control, 210 cases were analyzed. The genomic clustering rate was calculated to evaluate the level of recent transmission. Risk factors were identified by logistic regression analysis. Geospatial analysis was conducted with kernel density estimation. The majority of strains belonged to sub-lineage 2.2.1 in lineage 2 (L2), also known as the Beijing family (89.0%, 187/210), while the remainder belonged to lineage 4 (L4). L2 strains showed greater genetic similarity and shorter branch lengths compared with L4 strains. The overall drug resistance rate was 21.9%, with six multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and five pre-extensively drug resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) cases identified. Almost half of the strains belonged to putative transmission clusters within 10 SNPs. Logistic regression analysis identified living in Jalaid Banner and being infected by L2 strains as significant risk factors for recent transmission. Spatial analysis identified spatial aggregation of TB cases in the eastern region of HL, with a hotspot for recent transmission in Jalaid Banner. The temporal distribution of TB cases in HL exhibited seasonal fluctuations, with diagnosis rates peaking in the first half of each year, and a notable increase in clustered cases in 2022. This study provides insights into the molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics of TB in HL. Our results underscore the ongoing problem of TB transmission in rural settings, indicating the need for targeted interventions. These findings are vital for informing TB control strategies in HL and similar settings.IMPORTANCETuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in China. This study provides insights into the molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics of TB in rural areas (Hinggan League [HL], Inner Mongolia) in China. Nearly half of the enrolled TB cases were attributed to recent transmission, a proportion higher than that observed in other rural areas in China (31.4%), highlighting the significance of recent transmission in driving the TB epidemic in this region. Only 19.6% of all drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) cases were found within putative transmission clusters, indicating a lower proportion compared with the previous studies, which indicated that DR-TB is more associated with the de novo evolution of resistance within patients. Spatial analysis showed that the TB epidemic was concentrated in densely populated areas in eastern HL. The findings identified epidemiological differences within HL, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and surveillance to control the spread of TB in HL.
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spelling doaj-art-07c722d2c97c495aa7a14253bc8cf3b52025-08-20T03:43:58ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-08-0113810.1128/spectrum.00169-25High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, ChinaXichao Ou0Xiangchen Li1Shaojun Pei2Bing Zhao3Liping Feng4Chong Teng5Yewei Lu6Hanfang Zhu7Yang Zhou8Hui Xia9Zhengwei Liu10Xiaomeng Wang11Yanling Wang12Richard Anthony13Yanlin Zhao14National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diagnosis and Monitoring Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, Hinggan League Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ulanhot, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diagnosis and Monitoring Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, ChinaAdministration Office, Medical Insurance Service Center of Ulanhot City, Ulanhot, ChinaCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the NetherlandsNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, ChinaABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in China, particularly in rural areas like Hinggan League (HL), Inner Mongolia. Understanding the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains is crucial for effective TB control. We conducted a prospective study from 2021 to 2023, sequencing 221 MTB isolates from HL. After quality control, 210 cases were analyzed. The genomic clustering rate was calculated to evaluate the level of recent transmission. Risk factors were identified by logistic regression analysis. Geospatial analysis was conducted with kernel density estimation. The majority of strains belonged to sub-lineage 2.2.1 in lineage 2 (L2), also known as the Beijing family (89.0%, 187/210), while the remainder belonged to lineage 4 (L4). L2 strains showed greater genetic similarity and shorter branch lengths compared with L4 strains. The overall drug resistance rate was 21.9%, with six multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and five pre-extensively drug resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) cases identified. Almost half of the strains belonged to putative transmission clusters within 10 SNPs. Logistic regression analysis identified living in Jalaid Banner and being infected by L2 strains as significant risk factors for recent transmission. Spatial analysis identified spatial aggregation of TB cases in the eastern region of HL, with a hotspot for recent transmission in Jalaid Banner. The temporal distribution of TB cases in HL exhibited seasonal fluctuations, with diagnosis rates peaking in the first half of each year, and a notable increase in clustered cases in 2022. This study provides insights into the molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics of TB in HL. Our results underscore the ongoing problem of TB transmission in rural settings, indicating the need for targeted interventions. These findings are vital for informing TB control strategies in HL and similar settings.IMPORTANCETuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in China. This study provides insights into the molecular epidemiology and transmission dynamics of TB in rural areas (Hinggan League [HL], Inner Mongolia) in China. Nearly half of the enrolled TB cases were attributed to recent transmission, a proportion higher than that observed in other rural areas in China (31.4%), highlighting the significance of recent transmission in driving the TB epidemic in this region. Only 19.6% of all drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) cases were found within putative transmission clusters, indicating a lower proportion compared with the previous studies, which indicated that DR-TB is more associated with the de novo evolution of resistance within patients. Spatial analysis showed that the TB epidemic was concentrated in densely populated areas in eastern HL. The findings identified epidemiological differences within HL, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and surveillance to control the spread of TB in HL.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00169-25Mycobacterium tuberculosisgenotypicspatialwhole-genome sequencingtransmission
spellingShingle Xichao Ou
Xiangchen Li
Shaojun Pei
Bing Zhao
Liping Feng
Chong Teng
Yewei Lu
Hanfang Zhu
Yang Zhou
Hui Xia
Zhengwei Liu
Xiaomeng Wang
Yanling Wang
Richard Anthony
Yanlin Zhao
High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China
Microbiology Spectrum
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
genotypic
spatial
whole-genome sequencing
transmission
title High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China
title_full High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China
title_fullStr High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China
title_full_unstemmed High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China
title_short High proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of Northeastern China: a 3-year prospective population-based genotypic and spatial analysis in Hinggan League, China
title_sort high proportion of tuberculosis recent transmission in rural areas of northeastern china a 3 year prospective population based genotypic and spatial analysis in hinggan league china
topic Mycobacterium tuberculosis
genotypic
spatial
whole-genome sequencing
transmission
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00169-25
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