MIRU-VNTR allelic variability depends on Mycobacterium bovis clonal group identity

Abstract

The description of the population of M. bovis strains circulating in France from 1978 to 2013 has highlighted the discriminating power of the MLVA among predominant spoligotype groups. In the present study we aimed to characterize clonal groups via MLVA and to better understand the strain's population structure. MLVA was performed with eight MIRU-VNTR loci, most of them defined by the Venomyc European consortium. The discriminatory index of each MLVA loci was calculated for SB0120, SB0134, SB0121 and the "F4-family", the main spoligotype groups in France. Differences in global DI per spoligotype, but also by locus within each spoligotype, were observed, which strongly suggest the clonal complex nature of these major groups. These MLVA results were compared to those of other European countries where strain collections had been characterized (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Northern Ireland and Belgium). Overall, QUB 3232 and ETR D are respectively the most and the least discriminative loci, regardless of the strains geographical origin. However, marked DI differences are observed in the rest of the MIRU-VNTR loci, again highlighting that strain genetic variability in a country depends on the dominant existing clonal complexes. A web application for M. bovis, including spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing data, was developed to allow inter-laboratory comparison of field isolates. In conclusion, combination of typing methods is required for M. bovis optimum discrimination and differentiation of groups of strains. Thus, the loci employed for MLVA in a country should be those which are the most discriminative for the clonal complexes which characterize their M. bovis population.

Infection of Wildlife by Mycobacterium bovis in France Assessment Through a National Surveillance System, Sylvatub

“…In areas where two different genotypes are isolated in wildlife, we observe exactly the same two genotypes in cattle. Strains with the SB0120 or the SB0134 spoligotypes are present in cattle and wildlife in different regions in France albeit presenting different VNTR profiles ( 26 , 27 ). These results highlight the epidemiological relationship between wildlife and cattle, and evidence that M. bovis infection spreads within a multi-species system in these areas as also observed in the UK, Ireland and Spain ( 28 – 31 ).…”

Accurate Phylogenetic Relationships Among Mycobacterium bovis Strains Circulating in France Based on Whole Genome Sequencing and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis

“…Spoligotypes were named according to an agreed international convention 1 (Smith, 2012). MLVA typing (Frothingham and Meeker-O’Connell, 1998; Roring et al, 2002) was performed by Genoscreen (Lille, France), on 8 MIRU – VNTR loci: ETR A (2165), ETR B (2461), ETR C (577), ETR D (580), QUB 11a (2163a), QUB 11b (2163b), QUB 26 (4052), QUB 3232 (3232) chosen upon the Venomyc European consortium and described by Hauer et al (2015, 2016).…”

Animal tuberculosis: impact of disease heterogeneity in transmission, diagnosis, and control

“…Recently, Hauer et al (2016) evaluated whether MIRU‐VNTR allelic variability in French isolates is related to clonal group identity, showing that each spoligo signature presents a different MIRU locus as the most discriminatory (Hauer et al, 2016). In contrast with M. bovis , M. caprae isolates reported by large surveys in Europe (Boniotti et al, 2009; Duarte, Domingos, Amado, & Botelho, 2008; Haddad et al, 2001; Rodriguez et al, 2011) seem to be considerably less diverse, with only two main clusters, the Iberian and the Central and Eastern European, identified by differences in spoligotyping profiles (Aranaz et al, 2003; Duarte et al, 2008; Erler et al, 2004; Kubica et al, 2003; Pavlik, Dvorska, & Matlova, 2002; Prodinger et al, 2002; Rodriguez et al, 2011).…”