Molecular diversity of Bacillus anthracis in Italy.
We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) to type 64 Bacillus anthracis isolates from outbreaks that have occurred during the past 40 years in Italy. MLVA of the 64 isolates revealed 10 unique genotypes; 9 of these genotypes and the majority of isolates (63/64) belonged to the previously described genetic cluster A1.a. Within the A1.a isolates, two previously described genotypes (G1 and G3), which differ by a single mutation in the pX01 locus, account for the majority of isolates in the country (53/63). The low diversity of B. anthracis genotypes in Italy suggests a single, dominant historical introduction, followed by limited localized differentiation.
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata-Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, Foggia 71100, Italy. a.fasanella@izsfg.it
Antonio
A
Fasanella
Matthew
M
Van Ert
Settimia A
SA
Altamura
Giuliano
G
Garofolo
Canio
C
Buonavoglia
Guido
G
Leori
Lynn
L
Huynh
Shaylan
S
Zanecki
Paul
P
Keim
D000881:Anthrax / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D004269:DNA, Bacterial