Comparative analysis of Paenibacillus larvae genotypes isolated in Connecticut

Ninety-six strains of Paenibacillus larvae, causative agent of American foulbrood in honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae, collected from Connecticut, USA (CT), honey bees, and 12 P. larvae strains not from CT, were genotyped via ERIC-PCR and XbaI-RFLP analysis. All CT-isolates, five strains isolated in South America, three strains from North America (not CT), and one strain isolated in Australia grouped into the ERIC I genotype. Three P. larvae formerly subsp. pulvifaciens strains grouped into ERIC III and IV genotypes. XbaI-RFLP genotyping showed three genotypes within the CT-isolates, and two were identified as XbaI-RFLP Type I and III. The third XbaI-RFLP genotype (Type Ib) represented one of four new XbaI-RFLP genotypes identified. Comparison of genotype results for the P. larvae strains tested was used to develop a correlation between ERIC-PCR genotyping and XbaI-RFLP genotyping. Sixteen CT-isolates were tetracycline-resistant and demonstrated PCR amplification using oligonucleotide primers for tetL. All 16 isolates grouped within XbaI-RFLP Type Ib, suggesting limited introduction of a tetracycline-resistant strain into CT.