scholarly journals 189. Potential Tiger-to-Human Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at a Tennessee Zoo: A One Health Approach to Outbreak Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S114-S115
Author(s):  
Heather N Grome ◽  
Becky Meyer ◽  
Erin Read ◽  
Martha Buchanan ◽  
Andrew C Cushing ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Human-to-feline and airborne transmission among cats of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been described, though documented feline-to-human transmission has not been reported. In October 2020, all 3 Malayan tigers at a Tennessee AZA accredited zoo were diagnosed with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated to determine source and prevent further transmission. Methods Tiger nasal swab specimens were tested at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). An environmental assessment at the zoo was completed. We interviewed 18 staff who interacted with the tigers during the 2 weeks before animal symptom onset. Confirmed human cases were defined as persons testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR during September 28–October 29, with tiger interaction during their 14-day incubation period. Interviewed staff had repeat SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and serum IgG testing on October 29. Tigers and staff testing positive had specimens sent to CDC for genomic sequencing. Tiger sequences were compared phylogenetically with 30 geographically associated human cases collected within 2 weeks of the outbreak and > 200 background sequences from TN. Results NVSL confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in all 3 tigers. Environmental assessment identified fencing between humans and animals allowing airflow and an open outdoor exhibit observation point above the habitat. Confirmed cases were identified in a tiger keeper and veterinary assistant; both developed symptoms after exposure to symptomatic tigers and one sample was genotyped. Staff did not report known contact with ill visitors. All staff were negative for SARS-CoV-2 IgG. The tigers and most temporally and geographically associated cases had genetic sequences in clade 20G and B.1.2. Tiger sequences were 3-6 single nucleotide polymorphisms different from the positive tiger keeper (Figure). Figure. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis from a portion of clade 20G showing divergence estimates from SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 reference genome with sequences from humans living in Tennessee and Malayan tigers sampled during the outbreak investigation in October 2020. Sequence analysis showed 3-6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differences between one human tiger keeper and all three tiger sequences. Differences are indicated by one-step edges (lines) between colored dots (individual SARS-CoV-2 sequenced infections). Numbers indicate unique sequences. Note not all analyzed sequences are shown in this figure. Conclusion Using a One Health approach, we concluded the index tiger was likely infected via transmission from an ill visitor at an exhibit observation point or unidentified asymptomatic staff. Infection spread to the other 2 tigers and tiger-to-human transmission to 2 staff is possible thereafter. The zoo was advised on infection control practices for humans and animals, and no additional cases were identified. Disclosures William Schaffner, MD, VBI Vaccines (Consultant)

Author(s):  
Emmanuel Lecorche ◽  
Côme Daniau ◽  
Kevin La ◽  
Faiza Mougari ◽  
Hanaa Benmansour ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Post-surgical infections due to Mycobacterium chimaera appeared as a novel nosocomial threat in 2015, with a worldwide outbreak due to contaminated heater-cooler units used in open chest surgery. We report the results of investigations conducted in France including whole genome sequencing comparison of patient and HCU isolates. Methods We sought M. chimaera infection cases from 2010 onwards through national epidemiological investigations in healthcare facilities performing cardiopulmonary bypass together with a survey on good practices and systematic heater-cooler unit microbial analyses. Clinical and HCU isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing analyzed with regards to the reference outbreak strain Zuerich-1. Results Only two clinical cases were shown to be related to the outbreak, although 23% (41/175) heater-cooler units were declared positive for M. avium complex. Specific measures to prevent infection were applied in 89% (50/56) healthcare facilities although only 14% (8/56) of them followed the manufacturer maintenance recommendations. Whole genome sequencing comparison showed that the clinical isolates and 72% (26/36) of heater-cooler unit isolates belonged to the epidemic cluster. Within clinical isolates, 5 to 9 non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed, among which an in vivo mutation in a putative efflux pump gene observed in a clinical isolate obtained for one patient under antimicrobial treatment. Conclusions Cases of post-surgical M. chimaera infections were declared to be rare in France, although heater-cooler units were contaminated as in other countries. Genomic analyses confirmed the connection to the outbreak and identified specific single nucleotide polymorphisms, including one suggesting fitness evolution in vivo.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingbin Liu ◽  
Zhifu Cui ◽  
Qihai Xiao ◽  
Haihan Zhang ◽  
Xiaoling Zhao ◽  
...  

The aim of the study was to investigateGDF9gene polymorphisms and their association with reproductive traits in chicken using DNA sequencing. A total of 279 Dongxiang blue-shelled (DX) chickens and 232 Luhua (LH) chickens were used for validation. We detected 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): nine SNPs were previously unreported in chicken, two were missense mutations, and only three exhibited significant associations with reproductive traits. G.17156387C>T was significantly associated with age at first egg (AFE) and weight of first egg (WFE) in both breeds. Birds carrying the CC genotype exhibited higher AFE and WFE values than those with the TT genotype. The SNP g.17156427A>G exhibited an association with egg weight at 300 days of age (EWTA) in DX but not in LH chickens. The SNP g.17156703A>C affected the AFE and EN (total number of eggs at 300 days of age) in DX chickens. In addition, certain diplotypes significantly affected AFE, BWTA (body weight at 300 days of age), and EN in both breeds. RT-PCR results showed that theGDF9gene was highly expressed in stroma with cortical follicles (STR) and prehierarchal follicles. These results provided further evidence that theGDF9gene is involved in determining reproductive traits in chicken.


2020 ◽  
Vol 189 (8) ◽  
pp. 841-849
Author(s):  
Fermín Acosta ◽  
Ana Fernández-Cruz ◽  
Sandra R Maus ◽  
Pedro J Sola-Campoy ◽  
Mercedes Marín ◽  
...  

Abstract In 2013–2014, an outbreak involving 14 patients infected by an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in a hospital in Madrid, Spain. Our objective was to evaluate an alternative strategy for investigating the outbreak in depth by means of molecular and genomic approaches. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was applied as a first-line approach, followed by a more refined whole genome sequencing analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms identified by whole genome sequencing were used to design a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for screening unsuspected cases infected by the outbreak strain. Whole genome sequencing alerted us to the existence of greater genetic diversity than was initially assumed, splitting the PFGE-associated outbreak isolates into 4 groups, 2 of which represented coincidental transmission unrelated to the outbreak. A multiplex allele-specific PCR targeting outbreak-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms was applied to 290 isolates, which allowed us to identify 25 additional cases related to the outbreak during 2011–2017. Whole genome sequencing coupled with an outbreak-strain-specific PCR enabled us to markedly redefine the initial picture of the outbreak by 1) ruling out initially suspected cases, 2) defining likely independent coincidental transmission events, 3) predating the starting point of the outbreak, 4) capturing new unsuspected cases, and 5) revealing that the outbreak was still active.


2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weston C Hymas ◽  
Wade K Aldous ◽  
Edward W Taggart ◽  
Jeffery B Stevenson ◽  
David R Hillyard

Abstract Background: Enteroviruses are a leading cause of aseptic meningitis in adult and pediatric populations. We describe the development of a real-time RT-PCR assay that amplifies a small target in the 5′ nontranslated region upstream of the classical Rotbart enterovirus amplicon. The assay includes an RNA internal control and incorporates modified nucleotide chemistry. Methods: We evaluated the performance characteristics of this design and performed blinded parallel testing on clinical samples, comparing the results with a commercially available RT-PCR assay (Pan-Enterovirus OligoDetect kit) that uses an enzyme immunoassay–like plate end detection. Results: We tested 778 samples and found 14 discrepant samples between the 2 assays. Of these, the real-time assay detected 6 samples that were negative by the OligoDetect kit, 5 of which were confirmed as positive by sequence analysis using an alternative primer set. Eight discrepant samples were positive by the OligoDetect kit and real-time negative, with 6 confirmed by sequencing. Overall, detection rates of 97% and 96% were obtained for the OligoDetect kit and real-time assays, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the targeted region. The comparative sensitivities of the 2 assays were equivalent, with the limit of detection for the real-time assay determined to be approximately 430 copies per milliliter in cerebrospinal fluid. Conclusions: This novel real-time enterovirus assay is a sensitive and suitable assay for routine clinical testing. The presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms can affect real-time PCR assays.


F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Md. Bazlur Rahman Mollah ◽  
Md. Shamsul Alam Bhuiyan ◽  
M.A.M. Yahia Khandoker ◽  
Md. Abdul Jalil ◽  
Gautam Kumar Deb ◽  
...  

The Black Bengal goat (BBG) is a dwarf sized heritage goat (Capra hircus) breed from Bangladesh, and is well known for its high fertility, excellent meat and skin quality. Here we present the first whole genome sequence and genome-wide distributed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the BBG. A total of 833,469,900 raw reads consisting of 125,020,485,000 bases were obtained by sequencing one male BBG sample. The reads were aligned to the San Clemente and the Yunnan black goat genome which resulted in 98.65% (properly paired, 94.81%) and 98.50% (properly paired, 97.10%) of the reads aligning, respectively. Notably, the estimated sequencing coverages were 48.22X and 44.28X compared to published San Clemente and the Yunnan black goat genomes respectively. On the other hand, a total of 9,497,875 high quality SNPs (Q ≥ 20) along with 1,023,359 indels, and 8,746,849 high quality SNPs along with 842,706 indels were identified in BBG against the San Clemente and Yunnan black goat genomes respectively. The dataset is publicly available from NCBI BioSample (SAMN10391846), Sequence Read Archive (SRR8182317, SRR8549413 and SRR8549904), with BioProject ID PRJNA504436. These data might be useful genomic resources in conducting genome wide association studies, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and functional genomic analysis of the Black Bengal goat.


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