MLVA-16 Genotyping of <i>Brucella abortus</i> and <i>Brucella melitensis</i> Isolates from Different Animal Species in Egypt: Geographical Relatedness and the Mediterranean Lineage
Gamal Wareth,
Mohamed El-Diasty,
Falk Melzer,
Gernot Schmoock,
Shawky A. Moustafa,
Mohamed El-Beskawy,
Dali F. Khater,
Mahmoud E.R. Hamdy,
Hoda M. Zaki,
Ana Cristina Ferreira,
Loukia V. Ekateriniadou,
Evridiki Boukouvala,
Mostafa Y. Abdel-Glil,
Ahmed M.S. Menshawy,
Marta Pérez Sancho,
Sonia Sakhria,
Mathias W. Pletz,
Heinrich Neubauer
Affiliations
Gamal Wareth
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany
Mohamed El-Diasty
Department of Brucellosis, Animal Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 264-Giza, Cairo 12618, Egypt
Falk Melzer
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany
Gernot Schmoock
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany
Shawky A. Moustafa
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh 13736, Egypt
Mohamed El-Beskawy
Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Matrouh University, Matrouh 51744, Egypt
Dali F. Khater
Department of Brucellosis, Animal Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 264-Giza, Cairo 12618, Egypt
Mahmoud E.R. Hamdy
Department of Brucellosis, Animal Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 264-Giza, Cairo 12618, Egypt
Hoda M. Zaki
Department of Brucellosis, Animal Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 264-Giza, Cairo 12618, Egypt
Ana Cristina Ferreira
National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV, IP), 157 Oeiras, Portugal
Loukia V. Ekateriniadou
Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization- DEMETER, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Evridiki Boukouvala
Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization- DEMETER, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Mostafa Y. Abdel-Glil
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany
Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease in Egypt. However, there are limited data available on the genetic diversity of brucellae circulating in Egypt and other Mediterranean areas. One hundred and nine Brucella (B.) strains were isolated from different animal species in thirteen Egyptian governorates. Multi-locus variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) analysis (MLVA-16) was employed to determine the geographical relatedness and the genetic diversity of a panel of selected Egyptian strains (n = 69), with strains originating from Italy (n = 49), Portugal (n = 52), Greece (n = 63), and Tunisia (n = 4). Egyptian B. melitensis strains clustered into two main clusters containing 21 genotypes. Egyptian B. abortus strains clustered into three main clusters containing nine genotypes. The genotypes were irregularly distributed over time and space in the study area. Egyptian strains of B. melitensis showed MLVA-16 patterns closer to that of Italian strains. Egyptian B. abortus strains isolated from cattle share the same genotype with strains from Portugal and similar to strains from Italy with low genetic diversity. Strains with similar MLVA patterns isolated from different governorates highlight the movement of the pathogen among governorates. Hence, it may also reflect the long endemicity of brucellosis in Egypt with earlier dispersal of types and great local genetic diversity. Open markets may contribute to cross-species transmission and dissemination of the new types nationwide. The presence of West Mediterranean lineages of B. melitensis and relatedness of B. abortus strains from the studied countries is a result of the socio-historical connections among the Mediterranean countries. Transnational eradication of brucellosis in the Mediterranean basin is highly demanded.
