Evolutionary History of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia Using Next Generation Sequencing of Mycoplasma mycoides Subsp. mycoides “Small Colony”

Abstract

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides “Small Colony” (MmmSC) is responsible for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in bovidae, a notifiable disease to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Although its origin is not documented, the disease was known in Europe in 1773. It reached nearly world-wide distribution in the 19th century through the cattle trade and was eradicated from most continents by stamping-out policies. During the 20th century it persisted in Africa, and it reappeared sporadically in Southern Europe. Yet, classical epidemiology studies failed to explain the re-occurrence of the disease in Europe in the 1990s. The objectives of this study were to obtain a precise phylogeny of this pathogen, reconstruct its evolutionary history, estimate the date of its emergence, and determine the origin of the most recent European outbreaks. A large-scale genomic approach based on next-generation sequencing technologies was applied to construct a robust phylogeny of this extremely monomorphic pathogen by using 20 representative strains of various geographical origins. Sixty two polymorphic genes of the MmmSC core genome were selected, representing 83601 bp in total and resulting in 139 SNPs within the 20 strains. A robust phylogeny was obtained that identified a lineage specific to European strains; African strains were scattered in various branches. Bayesian analysis allowed dating the most recent common ancestor for MmmSC around 1700. The strains circulating in Sub-Saharan Africa today, however, were shown to descend from a strain that existed around 1810. MmmSC emerged recently, about 300 years ago, and was most probably exported from Europe to other continents, including Africa, during the 19th century. Its diversity is now greater in Africa, where CBPP is enzootic, than in Europe, where outbreaks occurred sporadically until 1999 and where CBPP may now be considered eradicated unless MmmSC remains undetected.

Development of a Novel Cocktail Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and a Field-Applicable Lateral-Flow Rapid Test for Diagnosis of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia

“…mycoides in vitro surface core proteome and hence likely to be involved in host-pathogen interactions (38). Due to the limited genetic diversity within the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster (36,(39)(40)(41), cross-reactivity with antibodies induced by other Mycoplasma species is likely to be detected and has been reported previously (18). The four selected immunogens reacted with sera from rabbits immunized with type strains of Mycoplasma alkalescens, Mycoplasma leachii, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp.…”

“…This study is based on a thorough comparison of recombinant immunogens, using a standardized expression system employing synthetic, codon-optimized genes. The Mycoplasma protein sequences were furthermore based on African outbreak strains and not only on the widely used laboratory type strain PG1, which has been shown to be phylogenetically different from African field strains (36). The removal of the N-terminal signal peptides in lipoproteins and large transmembrane regions led to improved expression and solubility of the recombinant proteins, thus making them more suitable for a future large-scale production.…”

Pathogens, disease, and the social-ecological resilience of protected areas

“…Epidemics of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in the 1850s (Dupuy et al 2012), rinderpest in 1896-97 (Mariner et al 2012), and overhunting led to severe depletion of herds of domestic stock, as well as wildlife (Dupuy et al 2012, Mariner et al 2012. Protected areas were therefore established for wildlife (Cumming 2004) using fences to separate wild and domestic ungulates (D'Amico Hales et al 2004).…”

“…Protected areas were therefore established for wildlife (Cumming 2004) using fences to separate wild and domestic ungulates (D'Amico Hales et al 2004). The commercial and subsistence use of wildlife was banned, thereby alienating commercial and communal farmers from wildlife (Dupuy et al 2012). In many southern African countries, legislative changes in the 1960s gave private land-owners the right to manage and benefit from their wildlife (Bond et al 2004) and resulted in a diversification of the scale, type, and ownership of protected areas in the region.…”

A review of mycoplasma diagnostics in cattle

“…mycoides small colony) was characterized as the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia . After reaching near global spread in the 19th century, it was eradicated from most continents through “stamping‐out” policies; however, it remains in many African countries . Mycoplasma bovis is currently recognized as one of the most important and frequently isolated Mycoplasma species associated with disease in cattle worldwide .…”