Brucella abortus: determination of survival times and evaluation of methods for detection in several matrices.

BACKGROUND: Brucella abortus is a highly pathogenic zoonotic agent, tempting for the development of a rapid diagnostic method to enable adequate treatment and prevent further spread. Enrichment of the bacteria is often used as a first step in diagnostics to increase the bacterial number above the detection limit of the real-time PCR. The enrichment of Brucella spp. takes at least 3 days, which might be avoidable if sensitive PCR methods can be used. Since many matrices contain PCR inhibitors, the limit of detection (LOD) must be determined for each separate matrix. Another aim of this study was the determination of survival of Brucella abortus in the analyzed matrices. METHODS: The LOD for the detection of B. abortus in 14 matrices, relevant for human medicine, veterinary medicine and food and feed safety, was determined to evaluate the need of a pre-enrichment step prior to real-time PCR. The survival of B. abortus in the spiked matrices was tested by plate count in a 7-day interval for 132 days. RESULTS: The limit of detection for B. abortus in most matrices was in the range of 103-104 CFU/g for cultivation and 104-105 CFU/g for direct real-time PCR. The survival time of B. abortus was less than 21 days in apple purée and stomach content and 28 days in water while B. abortus remained viable at day 132 in milk, blood, spinach and minced meat. CONCLUSIONS: A direct PCR analysis without enrichment of bacteria saves at least 3 days. However, the limit of detection between direct PCR and plate count differs in a 10 fold range. We conclude that this lower sensitivity is acceptable in most cases especially if quick analysis are required.

Brucellosis outbreak in a Swedish kennel in 2013: determination of genetic markers for source tracing.

Brucellosis is a highly infectious zoonotic disease but rare in Sweden. Nonetheless, an outbreak of canine brucellosis caused by an infected dog imported to Sweden was verified in 2013. In total 25 dogs were tested at least duplicated by the following approaches: real-time PCR for the detection of Brucella canis, a Brucella genus-specific real-time PCR, selective cultivation, and microscopic examination. The whole genome of B. canis strain SVA13 was analysed regarding genetic markers for epidemiological examination. The genome of an intact prophage of Roseobacter was detected in B. canis strain SVA13 with whole genome sequence prophage analysis (WGS-PA). It was shown that the prophage gene content in the American, African and European isolates differs remarkably from the Asian strains. The prophage sequences in Brucella may therefore serve of use as genetic markers in epidemiological investigations. Phage DNA fragments were also detected in clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in the genome of strain SVA13. In addition to the recommendations for genetic markers in Brucella outbreak tracing, our paper reports a validated two-step stand-alone real-time PCR for the detection of B. canis and its first successful use in an outbreak investigation.

Draft Genome Sequences of Brucella suis Biovar 4 Strain NCTC 10385, Brucella ceti Strain NCTC 12891T, Brucella inopinata Strain CAMP 6436T, and Brucella neotomae Strain ATCC 23459T.

With the aim of developing quantitative PCR methods for the detection and differentiation of Brucella species, the genomes of Brucella ceti, Brucella inopinata, Brucella netotomae, and Brucella suis biovar 4 were sequenced and analyzed.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Brucella canis Strain SVA13, Isolated from an Infected Dog.

An outbreak of canine brucellosis in Sweden was confirmed by the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in August 2013. The whole genome of the causative agent was sequenced, assembled, and analyzed.