Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease characterized by rapid onset with usual fatal outcomes in livestock and wildlife. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a persistent disease; however, there are limited data on the isolation and molecular characterization of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> strains. This study a...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Abebe Olani Domenico Galante Matios Lakew Bayeta Senbeta Wakjira Getnet Abie Mekonnen Tesfaye Rufael Tsegaye Teklemariam Wondwosen Kumilachew Shimalis Dejene Ayele Woldemeskel Adanech Wakjira Getachew Abichu Baye Ashenafi Nigatu Kebede Aklilu Feleke Haile Fufa Dawo Bari Laura Del Sambro Tadesse Eguale |
| author_facet | Abebe Olani Domenico Galante Matios Lakew Bayeta Senbeta Wakjira Getnet Abie Mekonnen Tesfaye Rufael Tsegaye Teklemariam Wondwosen Kumilachew Shimalis Dejene Ayele Woldemeskel Adanech Wakjira Getachew Abichu Baye Ashenafi Nigatu Kebede Aklilu Feleke Haile Fufa Dawo Bari Laura Del Sambro Tadesse Eguale |
| author_sort | Abebe Olani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthrax is a zoonotic disease characterized by rapid onset with usual fatal outcomes in livestock and wildlife. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a persistent disease; however, there are limited data on the isolation and molecular characterization of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> strains. This study aimed to characterize <i>B. anthracis</i> isolated from animal anthrax outbreaks between 2019 and 2024, from different localities in Ethiopia. <i>B. anthracis</i> was identified using standard microbiology techniques and confirmed by real-time PCR. For the first time in Ethiopia, the genetic diversity of five <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> strains, isolated from dead cattle and goats, was investigated by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analyses. The five sequenced strains were compared to one Ethiopian <i>B. anthracis</i> genome and the other 29 <i>B. anthracis</i> genomes available in the global genetic databases to determine their phylogeny. The genomes of the strains were also analyzed to detect the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. The whole genome SNP analysis showed that the Ethiopian <i>B. anthracis</i> strains were grouped in the A clade. Three strains (BA2, BA5, and BA6) belonged to the A.Br.034 subgroup (A.Br.005/006), and two strains (BA1 and BA4) belonged to the A.Br.161 (Heroin) clade of the Trans-Eurasian (TEA) group. The findings of this study will contribute to expanding the current understanding of the anthrax hotspots in Ethiopia, and the phylogenetic correlation and/or diversity of the circulating strains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b72ace47af684783b787cef6528adac1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b72ace47af684783b787cef6528adac12025-01-24T13:44:41ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-01-011413910.3390/pathogens14010039Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome SequencingAbebe Olani0Domenico Galante1Matios Lakew2Bayeta Senbeta Wakjira3Getnet Abie Mekonnen4Tesfaye Rufael5Tsegaye Teklemariam6Wondwosen Kumilachew7Shimalis Dejene8Ayele Woldemeskel9Adanech Wakjira10Getachew Abichu11Baye Ashenafi12Nigatu Kebede13Aklilu Feleke Haile14Fufa Dawo Bari15Laura Del Sambro16Tadesse Eguale17Animal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, 71121 Foggia, ItalyAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaMizan Veterinary Laboratory Center, South West Ethiopia Region, Mizan P.O. Box 251, EthiopiaBahir-Dar Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Bahir-Dar P.O. Box 70, EthiopiaSodo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Sodo P.O. Box 82, EthiopiaMizan Veterinary Laboratory Center, South West Ethiopia Region, Mizan P.O. Box 251, EthiopiaNegelle Health Science College, Negelle P.O. Box 186, EthiopiaAnimal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, EthiopiaAklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaAklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, 71121 Foggia, ItalyAklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaAnthrax is a zoonotic disease characterized by rapid onset with usual fatal outcomes in livestock and wildlife. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a persistent disease; however, there are limited data on the isolation and molecular characterization of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> strains. This study aimed to characterize <i>B. anthracis</i> isolated from animal anthrax outbreaks between 2019 and 2024, from different localities in Ethiopia. <i>B. anthracis</i> was identified using standard microbiology techniques and confirmed by real-time PCR. For the first time in Ethiopia, the genetic diversity of five <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> strains, isolated from dead cattle and goats, was investigated by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analyses. The five sequenced strains were compared to one Ethiopian <i>B. anthracis</i> genome and the other 29 <i>B. anthracis</i> genomes available in the global genetic databases to determine their phylogeny. The genomes of the strains were also analyzed to detect the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. The whole genome SNP analysis showed that the Ethiopian <i>B. anthracis</i> strains were grouped in the A clade. Three strains (BA2, BA5, and BA6) belonged to the A.Br.034 subgroup (A.Br.005/006), and two strains (BA1 and BA4) belonged to the A.Br.161 (Heroin) clade of the Trans-Eurasian (TEA) group. The findings of this study will contribute to expanding the current understanding of the anthrax hotspots in Ethiopia, and the phylogenetic correlation and/or diversity of the circulating strains.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/39<i>Bacillus anthracis</i>epidemiologyEthiopiamolecular characterizationwhole genome sequencing |
| spellingShingle | Abebe Olani Domenico Galante Matios Lakew Bayeta Senbeta Wakjira Getnet Abie Mekonnen Tesfaye Rufael Tsegaye Teklemariam Wondwosen Kumilachew Shimalis Dejene Ayele Woldemeskel Adanech Wakjira Getachew Abichu Baye Ashenafi Nigatu Kebede Aklilu Feleke Haile Fufa Dawo Bari Laura Del Sambro Tadesse Eguale Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing Pathogens <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> epidemiology Ethiopia molecular characterization whole genome sequencing |
| title | Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing |
| title_full | Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing |
| title_fullStr | Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing |
| title_short | Identification of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing |
| title_sort | identification of i bacillus anthracis i strains from animal cases in ethiopia and genetic characterization by whole genome sequencing |
| topic | <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> epidemiology Ethiopia molecular characterization whole genome sequencing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/39 |
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