We describe here the complete genome sequence of a common clone of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) strain K-10, the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle and other ruminants. The K-10 genome is a single circular chromosome of 4,829,781 base pairs and encodes 4,350 predicted ORFs, 45 tRNAs, and one rRNA operon. In silico analysis identified >3,000 genes with homologs to the human pathogen, M. tuberculosis (Mtb), and 161 unique genomic regions that encode 39 previously unknown Map genes. Analysis of nucleotide substitution rates with Mtb homologs suggest overall strong selection for a vast majority of these shared mycobacterial genes, with only 68 ORFs with a synonymous to nonsynonymous substitution ratio of >2. Comparative sequence analysis reveals several noteworthy features of the K-10 genome including: a relative paucity of the PE͞PPE family of sequences that are implicated as virulence factors and known to be immunostimulatory during Mtb infection; truncation in the EntE domain of a salicyl-AMP ligase (MbtA), the first gene in the mycobactin biosynthesis gene cluster, providing a possible explanation for mycobactin dependence of Map; and Map-specific sequences that are likely to serve as potential targets for sensitive and specific molecular and immunologic diagnostic tests. Taken together, the availability of the complete genome sequence offers a foundation for the study of the genetic basis for virulence and physiology in Map and enables the development of new generations of diagnostic tests for bovine Johne's disease.

Influenza virus is not known to affect wild felids. We demonstrate that avian influenza A (H5N1) virus caused severe pneumonia in tigers and leopards that fed on infected poultry carcasses. This finding extends the host range of influenza virus and has implications for influenza virus epidemiology and wildlife conservation.

During 2015–2016, several outbreaks of tilapia lake virus infection occurred among tilapia in Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus from Thailand grouped with a tilapia virus (family Orthomyxoviridae) from Israel. This emerging virus is a threat to tilapia aquaculture in Asia and worldwide.

Early detection and control curtail outbreaks.

We report H5N1 virus infection in a domestic cat infected by eating a pigeon carcass. The virus isolated from the pigeon and the cat showed the same cluster as the viruses obtained during the outbreak in Thailand. Since cats are common house pets, concern regarding disease transmission to humans exists.

During the second outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 in Thailand, probable horizontal transmission among tigers was demonstrated in the tiger zoo. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of those viruses showed no differences from the first isolate obtained in January 2004. This finding has implications for influenza virus epidemiology and pathogenicity in mammals.

Avian influenza H5N1 virus is known to cross the species barrier and infect humans and felines. We report a fatal H5N1 infection in a dog following ingestion of an H5N1-infected duck during an outbreak in Thailand in 2004. With new reports of H5N1 virus continuing across Asia, Europe, and Africa, this finding highlights the need for monitoring of domestic animals during outbreaks.

We describe a multilocus short sequence repeat (MLSSR) sequencing approach for the genotyping of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) strains. Preliminary analysis identified 185 mono-, di-, and trinucleotide repeat sequences dispersed throughout the M. paratuberculosis genome, of which 78 were perfect repeats. Comparative nucleotide sequencing of the 78 loci of six M. paratuberculosis isolates from different host species and geographic locations identified a subset of 11 polymorphic short sequence repeats (SSRs), with an average of 3.2 alleles per locus. Comparative sequencing of these 11 loci was used to genotype a collection of 33 M. paratuberculosis isolates representing different multiplex PCR for IS900 loci (MPIL) or amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) types. The analysis differentiated the 33 M. paratuberculosis isolates into 20 distinct MLSSR types, consistent with geographic and epidemiologic correlates and with an index of discrimination of 0.96. MLSSR analysis was also clearly able to distinguish between sheep and cattle isolates of M. paratuberculosis and easily and reproducibly differentiated strains representing the predominant MPIL genotype (genotype A18) and AFLP genotypes (genotypes Z1 and Z2) of M. paratuberculosis described previously. Taken together, the results of our studies suggest that MLSSR sequencing enables facile and reproducible high-resolution subtyping of M. paratuberculosis isolates for molecular epidemiologic and population genetic analyses.