What is it about?
For the first time ever, whole genome sequencing was used to identify the cause of a zoonotic infection that sparked a national epidemic of respiratory disease that spread through the population of 80,000 native horses in Iceland during 2010. The bacterium Streptococcus zooepidemicus was recovered from affected horses, humans, dogs and cats. Sequencing these bacteria enabled the differentiation of the epidemic strain, ST209, from endemic strains, revealing its disease-causing potential.
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Why is it important?
Previously, researchers have used whole genome sequencing to determine how pathogens spread through a hospital, but this is the first time the technology has been used to track the outbreak of a zoonotic disease.
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Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Genomic Dissection of an Icelandic Epidemic of Respiratory Disease in Horses and Associated Zoonotic Cases, mBio, August 2017, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00826-17.
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Resources
AHT HELPS TO SOLVE MYSTERY EPIDEMIC THAT CROSSED SPECIES IN ICELAND
AHT press release
Mystery epidemic that crossed species in Iceland is solved
Sanger Institute press release
Solved: Scientists identify mystery bug that infected Iceland’s horses
Horse Talk article
Study reveals likely cause of mystery epidemic
MRCVS article
ANIMAL HEALTH TRUST HELPS TO SOLVE MYSTERY EPIDEMIC THAT CROSSED SPECIES IN ICELAND
Horse Hour article
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