Molecular characterization of Vibrio cholerae responsible for cholera epidemics in Uganda by PCR, MLVA and WGS

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 12; no. 6; p. e0006492
• Main Authors: Bwire, Godfrey, Sack, David A, Almeida, Mathieu, Li, Shan, Voeglein, Joseph B, Debes, Amanda Kay, Kagirita, Atek, Buyinza, Ambrose Wabwire, Orach, Christopher Garimoi, Stine, O Colin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01-06-2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Cholera; Cholera - epidemiology; Cholera - microbiology; Cholera - transmission; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease transmission; DNA; DNA sequencing; Earth Sciences; Ebola virus; Ebolavirus; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Gene sequencing; Genetic analysis; Genomes; Genomics; Genotype; Health aspects; Humans; Infections; Information systems; Internet; Medical laboratories; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Minisatellite Repeats; Molecular chains; Mortality; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Nucleotide sequence; Outbreaks; Pandemics; PCR; People and Places; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Prevention; Public health; Research and Analysis Methods; Software; Strains; Supervision; Transmission; Tropical diseases; Uganda; Uganda - epidemiology; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio cholerae O1 - classification; Vibrio cholerae O1 - genetics; Vibrio cholerae O1 - isolation & purification; Waterborne diseases; Whole Genome Sequencing - methods; Uganda; United States > US; West Africa; Africa; Maryland; Kampala Uganda; Baltimore Maryland; Sub-Saharan Africa
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006492

For almost 50 years sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, has experienced several outbreaks due to Vibrio cholerae. Our aim was to determine the genetic relatedness and spread of strains responsible for cholera outbreaks in Uganda.
Sixty-three V. cholerae isolates collected from outbreaks in Uganda between 2014 and 2016 were tested using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multi-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Three closely related MLVA clonal complexes (CC) were identified: CC1, 32% (20/63); CC2, 40% (25/63) and CC3, 28% (18/63). Each CC contained isolates from a different WGS clade. These clades were contained in the third wave of the 7th cholera pandemic strain, two clades were contained in the transmission event (T)10 lineage and other in T13. Analysing the dates and genetic relatedness revealed that V. cholerae genetic lineages spread between districts within Uganda and across national borders.
The V. cholerae strains showed local and regional transmission within Uganda and the East African region. To prevent, control and eliminate cholera, these countries should implement strong cross-border collaboration and regional coordination of preventive activities.