Abstract: Iceland is free of the major infectious diseases of horses. However, in 2010 an epidemic of respiratory disease of unknown cause spread through the country's native horse population of 77,000. Microbiological investigations ruled out known viral agents but identified the opportunistic pathogen subsp. () in diseased animals. We sequenced the genomes of 257 isolates of to differentiate epidemic from endemic strains. We found that although multiple endemic clones of were present, one particular clone, sequence type 209 (ST209), was likely to have been responsible for the epidemic. Concurrent with the epidemic, ST209 was also recovered from a human case of septicemia, highlighting the pathogenic potential of this strain. Epidemiological investigation revealed that the incursion of this strain into one training yard during February 2010 provided a nidus for the infection of multiple horses that then transmitted the strain to farms throughout Iceland. This study represents the first time that whole-genome sequencing has been used to investigate an epidemic on a national scale to identify the likely causative agent and the link to an associated zoonotic infection. Our data highlight the importance of national biosecurity to protect vulnerable populations of animals and also demonstrate the potential impact of transmission to other animals, including humans. An epidemic of respiratory disease affected almost the entire native Icelandic horse population of 77,000 animals in 2010, resulting in a self-imposed ban on the export of horses and significant economic costs to associated industries. Although the speed of transmission suggested that a viral pathogen was responsible, only the presence of the opportunistic pathogen was consistent with the observed clinical signs. We applied genomic sequencing to differentiate epidemic from endemic strains and to shed light on the rapid transmission of the epidemic strain throughout Iceland. We further highlight the ability of epidemic and endemic strains of to infect other animals, including humans. This study represents the first time that whole-genome sequencing has been used to elucidate an outbreak on a national scale and identify the likely causative agent.
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The research article discusses the investigation into a 2010 epidemic of a respiratory disease in Iceland’s native horse population using genomic sequencing. The study found that one specific strain of an opportunistic pathogen, Streptococcus equi, was the primary cause of the epidemic and it was also associated with a case of human septicemia.
Overview of the Study
The research focuses on a significant outbreak of a respiratory disease that occurred in 2010 in the native horse population of Iceland. Despite the country being free from major infectious diseases in horses, this epidemic affected nearly all of the 77,000 horses in the nation.
Conventional microbiological investigations couldn’t identify any known viral agents as causative. Instead, they found the opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) in the affected animals.
Genetic Dissection of the Epidemic
By sequencing the genomes of 257 isolates of S. equi, researchers sought to differentiate between the strains causing the epidemic and endemic strains.
While various endemic clones of S. equi were identified, one particular clone named sequence type 209 (ST209) was deduced to be the primary cause of the epidemic.
This strain not only caused the equine disease but was also found in a human case of septicemia, demonstrating its capacity for zoonotic transfer (disease transmission from animals to humans).
Spread of the Epidemic and Implications
Epidemiological investigations demonstrated that the entry of this strain into a training yard in February 2010 served as the epicenter. Infected horses from this yard subsequently spread the strain to farms across Iceland.
This research marks the first time whole-genome sequencing has been used to pin-point the cause of an epidemic on a national scale and establish a connection with a zoonotic infection.
These findings underline the necessity of national biosecurity measures to protect susceptible animal populations, and the potential impacts of S. equi transmission to other animals and humans.
The financial repercussions of the epidemic were significant and resulted in a self-imposed ban on horse export, deeply affecting the associated industries.
The team used genomic sequencing to differentiate between the strains causing the epidemic and the endemic ones, which led to the discovery of the fast transmission of the epidemic strain across Iceland.
Cite This Article
APA
Björnsdóttir S, Harris SR, Svansson V, Gunnarsson E, Sigurðardóttir ÓG, Gammeljord K, Steward KF, Newton JR, Robinson C, Charbonneau ARL, Parkhill J, Holden MTG, Waller AS.
(2017).
Genomic Dissection of an Icelandic Epidemic of Respiratory Disease in Horses and Associated Zoonotic Cases.
mBio, 8(4), e00826-17.
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00826-17
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