Characteristics and Philogenetic Analysis of <I>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</I> Strains from the Sarydzhaz High-Mountain Focus in the Tien-Shan

Abstract

The aim of the study was to characterize and carry out molecular-genetic identification of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains isolated in the Sarydzhaz high-mountain focus of the Tien-Shan.Materials and methods. The Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis cultures were differentiated according to their sensitivity to diagnostic bacteriophages, motility, urea fermentation, and pesticin production. Whole genome sequencing was performed using the Ion S5 XL System (Thermo Fischer Scientific). Ion Torrent Suite software package, 5.12 and Newbler gsAssembler 2.6 were used for data processing and de novo assembly of raw read sequences. The dendrogram was constructed using the Maximum Likelihood method applying the PhyML 3.1 software.Results and discussion. Strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis were isolated from museum mixed with Y. pestis cultures obtained from marmots in the Sarydzhaz high-mountain focus. According to whole genome SNP analysis, they belong to the phylogenetic group O:3 serovar, which is widespread throughout the world. Y. pseudotuberculosis is often present in mixed with Y. pestis cultures, isolated from rodents, which should be taken into account when carrying out laboratory diagnostics of plague in natural foci.

Keywords

• causative agents of pseudotuberculosis and plague
• tien-shan high-mountain focus
• phylogenetic analysis of strains
• pathogenicity