Relationship between Distinct African Cholera Epidemics Revealed via MLVA Haplotyping of 337 Vibrio cholerae Isolates

摘要: Background Since cholera appeared in Africa during the 1970s, cases have been reported on continent every year. In Sub-Saharan Africa, outbreaks primarily cluster at certain hot-spots including African Great Lakes Region and West Africa. Methodology/Principal Findings this study, we applied MLVA (Multi-Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis) typing of 337 Vibrio cholerae isolates from recent epidemics Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Zambia, Guinea Togo. We aimed to assess relationship between outbreaks. Applying method, identified 89 unique haplotypes across our isolate collection. revealed short-term divergence microevolution these populations provide insight into dynamics each country. Our analyses also strong geographical clustering. Isolates (DRC Zambia) formed a closely related group, while (Togo Guinea) constituted separate cluster. At country-level scale several distinct groups, most notably DRC 2011/2012, 2009, Zambia 2012 2012. found that types collected persisted country for years, occasionally giving rise expansive epidemics. Finally, six environmental panel were unrelated epidemic isolates. Conclusions/Significance To effectively combat disease, it is critical understand mechanisms emergence diffusion region-specific manner. Overall, findings demonstrate Region. This study highlights importance monitoring analyzing