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mBio2017; 8(5); doi: 10.1128/mBio.01613-17

Straight from the Horse’s “Mouth”: Genomic Epidemiology of an Icelandic Equine Epidemic.

Abstract: Despite tight biosecurity measures, an outbreak of respiratory disease rapidly spread across the Icelandic equine population in 2010. Horse transportation was brought to a halt in order to contain the spread of the infectious agent. In a recent article, Björnsdóttir and colleagues (S. Björnsdóttir et al., mBio 8:e00826-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00826-17) employ the power and resolution of "genomic epidemiology," the combination of whole genomic sequencing and epidemiological approaches, to examine the source and spread of the outbreak. Intriguingly, the outbreak was not viral in origin, but linked to a bacterial "commensal" Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infection. A national sampling strategy coupled with population genomics revealed that the outbreak was most likely driven by a S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus sequence type 209 (ST209) infection that spread nationally from a single source. This retrospective study demonstrates the power of genomics applied on a national scale to unravel the cause of a significant biosecurity threat.
Copyright © 2017 Davies.
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Publication Date: 2017-10-10 PubMed ID: 29018124PubMed Central: PMC5635694DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01613-17Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates a 2010 Icelandic horse respiratory disease outbreak using whole genome sequencing and epidemiological analysis. The study discovered that the disease was not virus-based, but was related to a bacterial infection, and demonstrated how genome sequencing on a national scale can help identify the origins of such outbreaks.

Genomic Epidemiology and the Icelandic Equine Epidemic

In 2010, a severe respiratory disease quickly spread among the horse population in Iceland, despite strict biosecurity precautions. The sudden outbreak led to a halt in horse transportation to prevent further spreading of the infectious agent. This research, conducted by Björnsdóttir and her colleagues, used “genomic epidemiology” – a technique that pairs whole genomic sequencing with epidemiological methods to examine the source and progression of the outbreak.

  • The team began by collecting samples nationwide, forming a comprehensive data set to allow for a thorough population genomic analysis.
  • Contrary to initial thoughts that the outbreak would be viral, the team discovered it was in fact bacterial, specifically, a “commensal” subsp. infection.
  • The results showed that the disease outbreak was likely caused by a subsp. sequence type 209 (ST209) infection. This is a type of bacterial infection, contradicting the initial viral hypothesis.
  • The analysis suggested that the infection had spread from a single source across the national horse population.

Significance of Genomic Epidemiology Techniques

This study illustrates the potential power of genomic epidemiology, especially when applied on a national scale, to uncover the causes of significant biosecurity threats.

  • By combining traditional epidemiological methods with advanced genomic sequencing techniques, researchers can more accurately identify the cause of outbreaks.
  • This approach allows for more effective strategies to combat the issue in the future.
  • The study’s results clarify the cause of the 2010 outbreak and provide valuable insights for future prevention and management strategies for equivalent infectious diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Davies MR. (2017). Straight from the Horse’s “Mouth”: Genomic Epidemiology of an Icelandic Equine Epidemic. mBio, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01613-17

Publication

mBio
ISSN: 2150-7511
NlmUniqueID: 101519231
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Davies, Mark R
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia mark.davies1@unimelb.edu.au.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Genomics
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Iceland
  • Mouth
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Streptococcal Infections

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