Investigation of Anthrax Cases in North-East China, 2010-2014

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 26;10(8):e0135777. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135777. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

We determined the genotypes of seven Bacillus anthracis strains that were recovered from nine anthrax outbreaks in North-East China from 2010 to 2014, and two approved vaccine strains that are currently in use in China. The causes of these cases were partly due to local farmers being unaware of the presence of anthrax, and butchers with open wounds having direct contact with anthrax-contaminated meat products. The genotype of five of the seven recovered strains was A.Br.001/002 sub-lineage, which was concordant with previously published research. The remaining two cases belongs to the A.Br.Ames sub-lineage. Both of these strains displayed an identical SNR pattern, which was the first time that this genotype was identified in North-East China. Strengthening education in remote villages of rural China is an important activity aimed at fostering attempts to prevent and control anthrax. The genotype of the vaccine strain Anthrax Spore Vaccine No.II was A.Br.008/009 and A.Br.001/002 for the vaccine strain Anthrax Spore Vaccine Non-capsulated. Further studies of their characteristics are clearly warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthrax / epidemiology*
  • Anthrax / microbiology
  • Anthrax / prevention & control*
  • Anthrax Vaccines / immunology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / classification*
  • Bacillus anthracis / genetics
  • Bacillus anthracis / isolation & purification
  • China / epidemiology
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Anthrax Vaccines

Grants and funding

The authors are thankful for research funding from The National High Technology Research and Development Program ("863" Program) of China (No.2012AA022006) (http://www.863.gov.cn/) and The Military Medical Health Project (No. 13CXZ024). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.