Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Aug 2022)

Molecular diversity of Paenibacillus larvae strains isolated from Lithuanian apiaries

  • Paulina Amšiejute,
  • Paulina Amšiejute,
  • Vaclovas Jurgelevičius,
  • Petras Mačiulskis,
  • Ceslova Butrimaite-Ambrozevičiene,
  • Simona Pilevičiene,
  • Zygimantas Janeliunas,
  • Zygimantas Janeliunas,
  • Tatjana Kutyriova,
  • Ingrida Jacevičiene,
  • Algimantas Paulauskas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.959636
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Paenibacillus larvae bacterium is known to be the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), a widespread, highly contagious and fatal disease in honey bees (Apis mellifera). There are four genotypes of Paenibacillus larvae that are named after their enterobacterial repetitive consensus (ERIC), and a fifth ERIC genotype has recently been found. In this study, a total of 108 independent P. larvae isolates from different geographical regions in Lithuania collected between 2011 and 2021 were investigated by molecular methods. The aims of this study were to detect which enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) genotype is the most common in Lithuania apiaries, identify and differentiate subtypes of the defined genotype by using multiple-locus variable number of tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), and review how bacterial molecular diversity has changed over time in different parts of Lithuania. The obtained molecular analysis results showed that 100% of P. larvae bacterial isolates from Lithuania belong to the ERIC I genotype and can be differentiated to nine different subtypes by using the MLVA and capillary electrophoresis methods.

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