Genetic Diversity of Brucella melitensis Isolated from Domestic Ruminants in Iraq

Control and eradication of brucellosis is an objective for Veterinary and Health Authorities in several countries worldwide. Efficient surveillance programs are crucial for detecting and managing outbreaks, and epidemiological investigations may take advantage from the presence of standardized and efficient molecular typing techniques and analytical tools that enable public health laboratories to identify the origin of an outbreak. The aim of this study was to sequence Brucella spp. strains isolated in Iraq from different ruminant species, to verify whether there was a spatial or temporal clustering and, above all, shedding light on how these Iraqi isolates are positioned in the phylogenetic context of Brucella spp. The isolates under study (N=35) were from abortion, milk, placenta and fetal membrane of sheep, cattle and buffalo. Samples were genotyped using different techniques, namely MLVA-16, Whole Genome Sequencing, MLST and cgMLST. The findings of this study suggests that even relatively small investigations can provide sufficient evidence to justify improvements in existing control strategies. The application of different control measures in different territories, based on molecular epidemiological studies, would increase the chances to maximize public health benefits and minimize the spread of infection to areas free from the disease or with lower prevalence.