Presence of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica DNA in the Aquatic Environment in France

Microorganisms

Isabelle Pelloux¹  Aurélie Hennebique²  Yvan Caspar²  Julien Peyroux²  Max Maurin²  Camille D. Brunet² 

[1] Centre National de Référence des Francisella, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France;Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, UMR5525, 38000 Grenoble, France;

关键词: Tularemia;    Francisella tularensis;    zoonosis;    water;    France;    environment and public health;   

DOI  :  10.3390/microorganisms9071398

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In 2018, the incidence of tularemia increased twofold in the west of France, with many pneumonic forms, suggesting environmental sources of infection. We investigated the presence of Francisellatularensis subsp. holarctica and other Francisella species DNA in the natural aquatic environment of this geographic area. Two sampling campaigns, in July 2019 and January 2020, allowed the collection of 87 water samples. Using a combination of real-time PCR assays, we tested the presence of either Francisella sp., F. tularensis/F. novicida, and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, the latter being the only tularemia agent in Europe. Among 57 water samples of the first campaign, 15 (26.3%) were positive for Francisella sp., nine (15.8%) for F. tularensis and/or F. novicida, and four (7.0%) for F. tularensis subsp. holarctica. Ratios were 25/30 (83.3%), 24/30 (80.0%), and 4/30 (13.3%) for the second campaign. Among the thirty sites sampled during the two campaigns, nine were positive both times for Francisella sp., seven for F. tularensis and/or F. novicida, and one for F. tularensis subsp. holarctica. Altogether, our study reveals a high prevalence of Francisella sp. DNA (including the tularemia agent) in the studied aquatic environment. This aquatic environment could therefore participate in the endemicity of tularemia in the west of France.

【 授权许可】

Unknown