title: High and novel genetic diversity of Francisella tularensis in Germany and indication of environmental persistence.
abstract: In Germany tularemia is a re-emerging zoonotic disease. Therefore, we investigated wild animals and environmental water samples for the presence and phylogenetic diversity of Francisella tularensis in the poorly studied Berlin/Brandenburg region. The phylogenomic analysis of three isolates from wild animals revealed three new subclades within the phylogenetic tree of F. tularensis [B.71 from a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides); B.74 from a red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and B.75 from a Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber albicus)]. The results from histological, PCR, and genomic investigations on the dead beaver showed that the animal suffered from a systemic infection. Indications were found that the bacteria were released from the beaver carcass into the surrounding environment. We demonstrated unexpectedly high and novel phylogenetic diversity of F. tularensis in Germany and the fact that the bacteria persist in the environment for at least one climatic season. These findings support a broader host species diversity than previously known regarding Germany. Our data further support the assumption derived from previous serological studies of an underestimated frequency of occurrence of the pathogen in the environment and in wild animals. F. tularensis was isolated from animal species not previously reported as natural hosts in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Landeslabor Berlin-Brandenburg,Frankfurt (Oder),Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens,Division 2 (ZBS 2),Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms,Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heuner
authors.affiliation: CBRN Defence and Security,Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI),Umeå,Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Myrtennäs
authors.affiliation: CBRN Defence and Security,Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI),Umeå,Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens,Division 2 (ZBS 2),Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms,Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Landeslabor Berlin-Brandenburg,Frankfurt (Oder),Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kutzer
authors.affiliation: Stadt Brandenburg an der Havel,Veterinär- und Lebensmittelüberwachungsamt,Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: GROßE
authors.affiliation: CBRN Defence and Security,Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI),Umeå,Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsman
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens,Division 2 (ZBS 2),Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms,Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grunow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012377:Rodentia; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014406:Tularemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: 
                 Francisella
              ; Ecology; Germany; genotyping; tularemia; wild animals