Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China

Abstract Brucellosis poses a severe threat to public health in Northwest China; however, the genome phylogeny and transmission pattern of Brucella melitensis from sheep and yaks in this region remain unclear. In this study, bacteriology, conventional biototyping, and whole-genome single-nucleotide p...

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Main Authors: Xiaoan Cao, Ping Liu, Jinyan Wu, Zhijie Liu, Yuling Zhang, Cai Yin, Lan Ying, Jinrui Ma, Jijun He, Youjun Shang, Rui Du, Zhiguo Liu, Zhenjun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Microbiology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03943-3
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author Xiaoan Cao
Ping Liu
Jinyan Wu
Zhijie Liu
Yuling Zhang
Cai Yin
Lan Ying
Jinrui Ma
Jijun He
Youjun Shang
Rui Du
Zhiguo Liu
Zhenjun Li
author_facet Xiaoan Cao
Ping Liu
Jinyan Wu
Zhijie Liu
Yuling Zhang
Cai Yin
Lan Ying
Jinrui Ma
Jijun He
Youjun Shang
Rui Du
Zhiguo Liu
Zhenjun Li
author_sort Xiaoan Cao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Brucellosis poses a severe threat to public health in Northwest China; however, the genome phylogeny and transmission pattern of Brucella melitensis from sheep and yaks in this region remain unclear. In this study, bacteriology, conventional biototyping, and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (WGS-SNP) were applied to depict the phylogenetic profiles of strains from Northwest China. A total of 46 Brucella strains were identified as B. melitensis bv. 3, which was isolated from at least three animal (livestock and wildlife) hosts, implying that B. melitensis infection is prevalent in the Northwest and suggesting that host diversity provides an optimal niche for the spread and maintenance of B. melitensis in this region. WGS-SNP analysis divided the 46 B. melitensis strains into four clades (C-I–IV) that harbored eight SNP genotypes (STs), implying that at least four lineages are prevalent in the Northwest. Global WGS-SNP phylogenetic analysis of strains revealed that all Northwest strains belong to genotype II. Strains from different clades presented high genetic similarity with strains previously collected from the Northwest. This study provides robust evidence supporting the notion that multiple similar B. melitensis lineages are persistently prevalent in human populations and animals in the Northwest. The economic development of animal husbandry has accelerated the cross-regional flow of livestock and livestock products, driving the spread and reach of the disease. Therefore, tailoring a targeted control strategy is necessary to counter the current serious epidemic trend.
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spelling doaj-art-c868aab2a9064c5da7b42b098f02eaa52025-08-20T02:17:05ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802025-04-012511810.1186/s12866-025-03943-3Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest ChinaXiaoan Cao0Ping Liu1Jinyan Wu2Zhijie Liu3Yuling Zhang4Cai Yin5Lan Ying6Jinrui Ma7Jijun He8Youjun Shang9Rui Du10Zhiguo Liu11Zhenjun Li12State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesNingxia Animal Disease Prevention and Control CenterNingxia Animal Disease Prevention and Control CenterQinghai Animal Disease Prevention and Control CenterState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesCollege of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural UniversityNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institution for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institution for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Brucellosis poses a severe threat to public health in Northwest China; however, the genome phylogeny and transmission pattern of Brucella melitensis from sheep and yaks in this region remain unclear. In this study, bacteriology, conventional biototyping, and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (WGS-SNP) were applied to depict the phylogenetic profiles of strains from Northwest China. A total of 46 Brucella strains were identified as B. melitensis bv. 3, which was isolated from at least three animal (livestock and wildlife) hosts, implying that B. melitensis infection is prevalent in the Northwest and suggesting that host diversity provides an optimal niche for the spread and maintenance of B. melitensis in this region. WGS-SNP analysis divided the 46 B. melitensis strains into four clades (C-I–IV) that harbored eight SNP genotypes (STs), implying that at least four lineages are prevalent in the Northwest. Global WGS-SNP phylogenetic analysis of strains revealed that all Northwest strains belong to genotype II. Strains from different clades presented high genetic similarity with strains previously collected from the Northwest. This study provides robust evidence supporting the notion that multiple similar B. melitensis lineages are persistently prevalent in human populations and animals in the Northwest. The economic development of animal husbandry has accelerated the cross-regional flow of livestock and livestock products, driving the spread and reach of the disease. Therefore, tailoring a targeted control strategy is necessary to counter the current serious epidemic trend.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03943-3Brucella melitensisWGS-SNPPhylogenetic analysisSheepNorthwest China
spellingShingle Xiaoan Cao
Ping Liu
Jinyan Wu
Zhijie Liu
Yuling Zhang
Cai Yin
Lan Ying
Jinrui Ma
Jijun He
Youjun Shang
Rui Du
Zhiguo Liu
Zhenjun Li
Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China
BMC Microbiology
Brucella melitensis
WGS-SNP
Phylogenetic analysis
Sheep
Northwest China
title Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China
title_full Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China
title_fullStr Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China
title_full_unstemmed Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China
title_short Genome phylogenetic analysis of Brucella melitensis in Northwest China
title_sort genome phylogenetic analysis of brucella melitensis in northwest china
topic Brucella melitensis
WGS-SNP
Phylogenetic analysis
Sheep
Northwest China
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03943-3
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