Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Bacillus anthracis Strains Isolated in an Active Wool-Cleaning Factory

Abstract

Culturable microorganisms from various samples taken at an active factory performing wool and goat hair cleaning were isolated and analyzed. Bacillus anthracis was found in air filter dust, wastewater, and goat hairs, where it accounted for approximately 1% of the total counts of viable bacteria. Consistent with the countries of origin of the processed material (South Caucasian and Middle Eastern), all B. anthracis isolates belonged to the same phylogenetic cluster, as determined by variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) typing at eight loci. Within this cluster, five closely related VNTR subtypes could be identified, of which two were previously unreported. Additional diversity was observed when more sensitive genetic markers were assayed, demonstrating the multifocal nature of goat hair contamination. Goat hair originating from areas where anthrax is endemic remains a material with high biological risk for modern woolworkers.

Characterization of Genetic Diversity of Bacillus anthracis in France by Using High-Resolution Melting Assays and Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis

“…Our data, consistent with other MLVA studies reporting new additional genotypes among Italian, Polish, and Swiss isolates (7)(8)(9)26) (33). The strains found in Europe (36,38) may represent old imported infections from Asia via animals or human activities, such as trading (33). A.Br.001/002 is a minor group (16%) in France that seems to be geographically restricted to the northeast.…”

Anthrax in animals

“…This 8-marker MLVA could differentiate between 89 genotypes among 426 isolates. The resulting database became the blueprint for several typing projects worldwide Keim et al, 2001;Fouet et al, 2002;Gierczynski et al, 2004;Cheung et al, 2005;Fasanella et al, 2005;Ryu et al, 2005;Maho et al, 2006;Sue et al, 2007;Wattiau et al, 2008;Pilo et al, 2008), including profiling the B. anthracis used in the infamous letter events in 2001 (Hoffmaster et al, 2002). Meanwhile, the 8-marker system was supplemented by further 7 VNTR-markers (5 chromosomal and 2 on pXO2), by Van Ert et al (2007) and already improved by Lista et al (2006) by adding another 17 chromosomal markers.…”

The antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis strains isolated in Croatia

“…The inhalation route of infection is rare and always leads to death (Friedlander et al, 1993). The virulence mechanism of virulent strains stems from the secretion of lethal factor and oedema factor toxins along with a spore-forming unit known as the protective antigen (Wattiau et al, 2008).…”