Molecular characterization of Bacillus strains involved in outbreaks of anthrax in France in 1997.
Outbreaks of anthrax zoonose occurred in two regions of France in 1997. Ninety-four animals died, and there were three nonfatal cases in humans. The diagnosis of anthrax was rapidly confirmed by bacteriological and molecular biological methods. The strains of Bacillus anthracis in animal and soil samples were identified by a multiplex PCR assay. They all belonged to the variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) group (VNTR)3. A penicillin-resistant strain was detected. Nonvirulent bacilli related to B. anthracis, of all VNTR types, were also found in the soil.
Unité des Toxines et Pathogénie Bactériennes (URA CNRS 1858), Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France.
G
G
Patra
J
J
Vaissaire
M
M
Weber-Levy
C
C
Le Doujet
M
M
Mock
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014774:Virulence; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial