title: Molecular characterization of the circulating Bacillus anthracis in Jordan.
abstract: To understand the biomolecular charcteristics of Bacillus anthracis in Jordan, 20 blood smear slides from dead animals with suspected anthrax were analyzed using conventional and molecular approaches. All slides were positive for B. anthracis by conventional staining but no growth of the organism on selective media was detected. However, of the 20 samples, 16 were B. anthracis DNA-positive using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seven samples provided enough quantity and quality of DNA, and their multilocus variable tandem repeat analysis (MLVA)-15 loci analysis revealed two different genotypes. All genotypes were belonging to A.B..r. 008/009 which is very common in Asia and Europe. Single nucleotide repeat (SNR) analysis revealed that there were no sub genotypes. Molecular diagnosis of animal anthrax in Jordan is not used routinely; henceforth, official diagnosis of anthrax is based on the observation of the slides by optical microscope and this can often cause reading errors. Therefore, the prevalence of the disease in Jordan might be slightly lower than that reported by the official bodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mu'tah University, P. O. Box 7, Mu'tah, 61710, Al-Karak, Jordan. aminaqel@hotmail.com.|Al-Ghad International Medical Science Colleges, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. aminaqel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Amin Abdelfattah
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aqel
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Department, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ekhlas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hailat
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Puglia and Basilicata, Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serrecchia
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Department, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Suad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aqel
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Puglia and Basilicata, Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campese
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Department of Pavia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Lombardia and Emilia Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Puglia and Basilicata, Anthrax Reference Institute of Italy, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasanella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D004285:Dogs; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006041:Goats; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Jordan; MLVA; SNR