Francisella tularensis in the United States

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Farlow, Jason ; Wagner, David M. ; Dukerich, Meghan ; Stanley, Miles ; Chu, May ; Kubota, Kristy ; Petersen, Jeannine ; Keim, Paul
• Description:
  The causative agent of tularemia, Francisella tularensis, is a formidable biologic agent that occurs naturally throughout North America. We examined genetic and spatial diversity patterns among 161 US F. tularensis isolates by using a 24-marker multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) system. MLVA identified 126 unique genotypes. Phylogenetic analyses showed patterns similar to recently reported global-scale analyses. We observed clustering by subspecies, low genetic diversity within F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, and division of F. tularensis subsp. tularensis into 2 distinct subpopulations: A.I. and A.II. The 2 F. tularensis subsp. tularensis subpopulations also represent geographically distinct groups; A.I. occurs primarily in the central United States, and A.II. occurs primarily in the western United States. These spatial distributions are correlated with geographic ranges of particular vectors, hosts of tularemia, and abiotic factors. These correlates provide testable hypotheses regarding ecologic factors associated with maintaining tularemia foci.
• Subjects:
  Animals Arthropod Vectors Disease Reservoirs Francisella Tularensis Genetic Diversity Geography Phylogeny Population Distribution Synopsis Tularemia Variable Number Tandem Repeat Loci

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• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 11(12):1835-1841.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North America ; United States
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  12
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:9030ba4500bb8a3848bf261706c9b07adf77e44b5e06560871e97519569b8ffa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/7890/cdc_7890_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 547.01 KB ]