Whole Genome Sequence Typing to Investigate the Apophysomyces Outbreak following a Tornado in Joplin,Missouri, 2011 |
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| Authors: | Kizee A Etienne John Gillece Remy Hilsabeck Jim M Schupp Rebecca Colman Shawn R Lockhart Lalitha Gade Elizabeth H Thompson Deanna A Sutton Robyn Neblett-Fanfair Benjamin J Park George Turabelidze Paul Keim Mary E Brandt Eszter Deak David M Engelthaler |
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| Institution: | 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.; 2. Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America.; 3. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.; 4. Missouri Department of Health, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.; Georgia Institute of Technology, United States of America, |
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| Abstract: | Case reports of Apophysomyces spp. in immunocompetent hosts have been a result of traumatic deep implantation of Apophysomyces spp. spore-contaminated soil or debris. On May 22, 2011 a tornado occurred in Joplin, MO, leaving 13 tornado victims with Apophysomyces trapeziformis infections as a result of lacerations from airborne material. We used whole genome sequence typing (WGST) for high-resolution phylogenetic SNP analysis of 17 outbreak Apophysomyces isolates and five additional temporally and spatially diverse Apophysomyces control isolates (three A. trapeziformis and two A. variabilis isolates). Whole genome SNP phylogenetic analysis revealed three clusters of genotypically related or identical A. trapeziformis isolates and multiple distinct isolates among the Joplin group; this indicated multiple genotypes from a single or multiple sources. Though no linkage between genotype and location of exposure was observed, WGST analysis determined that the Joplin isolates were more closely related to each other than to the control isolates, suggesting local population structure. Additionally, species delineation based on WGST demonstrated the need to reassess currently accepted taxonomic classifications of phylogenetic species within the genus Apophysomyces. |
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