Analysis of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium bovis from three clinical samples from Scotland.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium bovis isolated from patients in Scotland were genotypically related.


METHODS
Genotypes of MDR strains were determined using three molecular fingerprinting techniques: pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), spoligotyping and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). PFGE profiles were also obtained for all medical and veterinary isolates occurring in Scotland in 1997-1998.


RESULTS
MDR strains showed individual Dra I PFGE profiles. Case III/98 had a profile represented in both veterinary and medical populations, Case I/94 had a profile observed in medical but not veterinary isolates, and Case II/98 had a profile unique to this study. Afl II PFGE discriminated the resistant strains. Spoligotyping grouped Cases I/94 and II/98 (ST-134). Case III/98 had a spoligotype ST-140, which is commonly observed in veterinary isolates. Similarly, DRr-RFLP analysis grouped cases I/94 and II/98, whereas Case III/98 had a common veterinary profile. DRX(PGRS) RFLP gave three unique profiles.


CONCLUSIONS
Three resistant strains were discriminated by PFGE and DRX(PGRS) RFLP, indicating that the three strains are not related in an epidemiologically relevant time scale. However, Cases I/94 and II/98 were more closely linked by spoligotyping and DRr-RFLP data. PFGE and DRr-RFLP linked Case III/98 profiles to the most common veterinary isolate.
Hughes
V M
VM
Moredun Research Institute, Bacteriology, International Research Centre, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom. hughv@mri.sari.ac.uk
Skuce
R
R
Doig
C
C
Stevenson
K
K
Sharp
J M
JM
Watt
B
B
D000818:Animals; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012606:Scotland; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial