Mizan Veterinary Laboratory Center, South West Ethiopia Region, Mizan P.O. Box 251, Ethiopia
Adanech Wakjira
Negelle Health Science College, Negelle P.O. Box 186, Ethiopia
Getachew Abichu
Animal Health Institute, Sebeta P.O. Box 04, Ethiopia
Baye Ashenafi
Department of Public Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O. Box 196, Ethiopia
Nigatu Kebede
Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
Aklilu Feleke Haile
Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
Fufa Dawo Bari
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
Laura Del Sambro
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Tadesse Eguale
Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease characterized by rapid onset with usual fatal outcomes in livestock and wildlife. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a persistent disease; however, there are limited data on the isolation and molecular characterization of Bacillus anthracis strains. This study aimed to characterize B. anthracis isolated from animal anthrax outbreaks between 2019 and 2024, from different localities in Ethiopia. B. anthracis was identified using standard microbiology techniques and confirmed by real-time PCR. For the first time in Ethiopia, the genetic diversity of five Bacillus anthracis strains, isolated from dead cattle and goats, was investigated by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analyses. The five sequenced strains were compared to one Ethiopian B. anthracis genome and the other 29 B. anthracis genomes available in the global genetic databases to determine their phylogeny. The genomes of the strains were also analyzed to detect the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. The whole genome SNP analysis showed that the Ethiopian B. anthracis strains were grouped in the A clade. Three strains (BA2, BA5, and BA6) belonged to the A.Br.034 subgroup (A.Br.005/006), and two strains (BA1 and BA4) belonged to the A.Br.161 (Heroin) clade of the Trans-Eurasian (TEA) group. The findings of this study will contribute to expanding the current understanding of the anthrax hotspots in Ethiopia, and the phylogenetic correlation and/or diversity of the circulating strains.
