Yersinia pestis DNA from Skeletal Remains from the 6(th) Century AD Reveals Insights into Justinianic Plague.

Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of the disease plague, has been implicated in three historical pandemics. These include the third pandemic of the 19(th) and 20(th) centuries, during which plague was spread around the world, and the second pandemic of the 14(th)-17(th) centuries, which included the infamous epidemic known as the Black Death. Previous studies have confirmed that Y. pestis caused these two more recent pandemics. However, a highly spirited debate still continues as to whether Y. pestis caused the so-called Justinianic Plague of the 6(th)-8(th) centuries AD. By analyzing ancient DNA in two independent ancient DNA laboratories, we confirmed unambiguously the presence of Y. pestis DNA in human skeletal remains from an Early Medieval cemetery. In addition, we narrowed the phylogenetic position of the responsible strain down to major branch 0 on the Y. pestis phylogeny, specifically between nodes N03 and N05. Our findings confirm that Y. pestis was responsible for the Justinianic Plague, which should end the controversy regarding the etiology of this pandemic. The first genotype of a Y. pestis strain that caused the Late Antique plague provides important information about the history of the plague bacillus and suggests that the first pandemic also originated in Asia, similar to the other two plague pandemics

Mycobacterium microti Infections in Free-Ranging Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Infections with Mycobacterium microti, a member of the M. tuberculosis complex, have been increasingly reported in humans and in domestic and free-ranging wild animals. At postmortem examination, infected animals may display histopathologic lesions indistinguishable from those caused by M. bovis or M. caprae, potentially leading to misidentification of bovine tuberculosis. We report 3 cases of M. microti infections in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) from western Austria and southern Germany. One diseased animal displayed severe pyogranulomatous pleuropneumonia and multifocal granulomas on the surface of the pericardium. Two other animals showed alterations of the lungs and associated lymph nodes compatible with parasitic infestation. Results of the phylogenetic analysis including multiple animal strains from the study area showed independent infection events, but no host-adapted genotype. Personnel involved in bovine tuberculosis–monitoring programs should be aware of the fastidious nature of M. microti, its pathogenicity in wildlife, and zoonotic potential

A Novel Mutation Involving the Initiation Codon of FGF3 in a Family Described with Complete Inner Ear Agenesis, Microtia and Major Microdontia (LAMM Syndrome)

LAMM syndrome (OMIM #610706) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by the association of Michel aplasia, microdontia and malformation of the external ear. Different mutations in FGF3 gene were reported in several families presenting with this syndrome. Clinical features and genetic results observed in a family with LAMM syndrome are reported. The diagnosis of isolated Michel aplasia was initially made in this family composed of two affected children. Microtia and microdontia was recently evidenced in both patients suggesting the diagnosis of LAMM syndrome. New auditory and orodental iconography was performed permitting to describe the patients’ phenotype in depth and to report rare findings of LAMM syndrome. The sequencing of FGF3 gene identified a novel missense mutation (c.2T>G), substituting the first initiator methionine in arginine, in the fibroblast growth factor 3 (FGF3) at the homozygous state in both patients. LAMM syndrome was confirmed and appropriate genetic counseling performed

Yersinia pestis Lineages in Mongolia

BACKGROUND: Whole genome sequencing allowed the development of a number of high resolution sequence based typing tools for Yersinia (Y.) pestis. The application of these methods on isolates from most known foci worldwide and in particular from China and the Former Soviet Union has dramatically improved our understanding of the population structure of this species. In the current view, Y. pestis including the non or moderate human pathogen Y. pestis subspecies microtus emerged from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis about 2,600 to 28,600 years ago in central Asia. The majority of central Asia natural foci have been investigated. However these investigations included only few strains from Mongolia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Prokaryotic Repeats (CRISPR) analysis and Multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) with 25 loci was performed on 100 Y. pestis strains, isolated from 37 sampling areas in Mongolia. The resulting data were compared with previously published data from more than 500 plague strains, 130 of which had also been previously genotyped by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. The comparison revealed six main clusters including the three microtus biovars Ulegeica, Altaica, and Xilingolensis. The largest cluster comprises 78 isolates, with unique and new genotypes seen so far in Mongolia only. Typing of selected isolates by key SNPs was used to robustly assign the corresponding clusters to previously defined SNP branches. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We show that Mongolia hosts the most recent microtus clade (Ulegeica). Interestingly no representatives of the ancestral Y. pestis subspecies pestis nodes previously identified in North-western China were identified in this study. This observation suggests that the subsequent evolution steps within Y. pestis pestis did not occur in Mongolia. Rather, Mongolia was most likely re-colonized by more recent clades coming back from China contemporary of the black death pandemic, or more recently in the past 600 years

Parallel independent evolution of pathogenicity within the genus Yersinia

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Antimicrobial Susceptibility from a One Health Perspective Regarding Porcine <i>Escherichia coli</i> from Bavaria, Germany

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most crucial One Health topics worldwide. Consequently, various national and international surveillance programs collect data and report trends regularly. Ceftiofur, colistin and enrofloxacin belong to the most important and critical class of anti-infective medications in both human and veterinary medicine. In the present study, antimicrobial resistance was analyzed using the epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) value on 6569 Escherichia coli isolated from pigs in Bavaria, Germany, during five years, from 2016 to 2020. The statistically relevant results regarding antimicrobial resistance revealed a decrease for colistin, an increase for enrofloxacin, and a constant level for ceftiofur. In Germany, the usage of all three antimicrobial substances in livestock has fallen by 43.6% for polypeptides, 59.0% for fluoroquinolones and 57.8% for the 3rd + 4th generation cephalosporines during this time. Despite the decline in antimicrobial usage, a reduction regarding antimicrobial resistance was solely observed for colistin. This finding illustrates that in addition to the restriction of pharmaceutical consumption, further measures should be considered. Improved biosecurity concepts, a reduction in crowding, and controlled animal movements on farms may play a key role in finally containing the resistance mechanisms of bacteria in farm animals

Whole-Genome Investigation of <i>Salmonella</i> Dublin Considering Mountain Pastures as Reservoirs in Southern Bavaria, Germany

Worldwide, Salmonella Dublin (S. Dublin) is responsible for clinical disease in cattle and also in humans. In Southern Bavaria, Germany, the serovar was identified as a causative agent for 54 animal disease outbreaks in herds between 2017 and 2021. Most of these emerged from cattle herds (n = 50). Two occurred in pig farms and two in bovine herds other than cattle. Genomic analysis of 88 S. Dublin strains isolated during these animal disease outbreaks revealed 7 clusters with 3 different MLST-based sequence types and 16 subordinate cgMLST-based complex types. Antimicrobial susceptibility investigation revealed one resistant and three intermediate strains. Furthermore, only a few genes coding for bacterial virulence were found among the isolates. Genome analysis enables pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility, serotyping, phylogeny, and follow-up traceback analysis. Mountain pastures turned out to be the most likely locations for transmission between cattle of different herd origins, as indicated by epidemiological data and genomic traceback analyses. In this context, S. Dublin shedding was also detected in asymptomatic herding dogs. Due to the high prevalence of S. Dublin in Upper Bavaria over the years, we suggest referring to this administrative region as “endemic”. Consequently, cattle should be screened for salmonellosis before and after mountain pasturing

A traveller presenting with severe melioidosis complicated by a pericardial effusion: a case report

Abstract Background Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiologic agent of melioidosis, is endemic to tropic regions, mainly in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Melioidosis occurs only sporadically in travellers returning from disease-endemic areas. Severe clinical disease is seen mostly in patients with alteration of immune status. In particular, pericardial effusion occurs in 1-3% of patients with melioidosis, confined to endemic regions. To our best knowledge, this is the first reported case of melioidosis in a traveller complicated by a hemodynamically significant pericardial effusion without predisposing disease. Case presentation A 44-year-old Caucasian man developed pneumonia, with bilateral pleural effusions and complicated by a hemodynamically significant pericardial effusion, soon after his return from Thailand to Switzerland. Cultures from different specimens including blood cultures turned out negative. Diagnosis was only accomplished by isolation of Burkholderia pseudomallei from the pericardial aspirate, thus finally enabling the adequate antibiotic treatment. Conclusions Melioidosis is a great mimicker and physicians in non-endemic countries should be aware of its varied manifestations. In particular, melioidosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion in travellers , even without risk factors predisposing to severe disease.</p

Epidemiological investigation of a tularaemia outbreak after a hare hunt in Bavaria, Germany, 2018

In November 2018, a tularaemia outbreak occurred in Bavaria, Germany, among participants of a hare hunt and butchery employees handling the hares. We con-ducted an epidemiological outbreak investigation, including a retrospective cohort study among hunting participants, to identify likely transmission routes and activi-ties associated with infection. Twelve of 41 participants were antibody- positive for Francisella (F.) tularensis (attack rate: 29%). Cases reported influenza- like symptoms (n= 11), lymphadenopathy (n= 1) and conjunctivitis (n= 1). Infection only occurred in those hunting participants present while hares were processed, while risk of infec-tion was highest when directly involved (RR = 10.0; 95%CI: 2.6–392). F. tularensiswas isolated from 1/4 hares. Only two individuals reported using some of the rec-ommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Occurrence of mainly non-specific symptoms, likely due to early treatment, was not indicative of a specific transmis-sion route. Transmissions via direct (skin/mucosa) contact and by inhalation of con-taminated aerosols seem plausible. Promoting and increasing appropriate use of PPE among people processing hares is crucial to prevent future outbreaks.Peer Reviewe