Molecular Epidemiology of Blastomyces gilchristii Clusters, Minnesota, USA

Abstract

We characterized 2 clusters of blastomycosis cases in Minnesota, USA, using whole-genome sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism analyses. Blastomyces gilchristii was confirmed as the cause of infection. Genomic analyses corresponded with epidemiologic findings for cases of B. gilchristii infections, demonstrating the utility of genomic methods for future blastomycosis outbreak investigations.

Keywords

• blastomycosis
• fungi
• respiratory infections
• Blastomyces gilchristii
• whole-genome sequencing
• Minnesota