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Genetic source tracking of human plague cases in Inner Mongolia-Beijing, 2019

Jianyun Li1, Yumeng Wang2,3, Fang Liu1

  • 1General Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Huhehot, China.

Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|August 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Plague outbreaks in Inner Mongolia were linked to local rodent reservoirs. Genome-wide SNP analysis revealed novel Yersinia pestis lineages, indicating distinct epizootic events rather than a single widespread outbreak.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, remains a public health concern.
  • Understanding the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics of Yersinia pestis is crucial for effective control.

Observation:

  • Human plague cases, including pneumonic and bubonic forms, were reported in Beijing and Inner Mongolia in late 2019.
  • Yersinia pestis strains were isolated from human patients and local rodent populations.

Findings:

  • Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis identified three Yersinia pestis lineages: 2.MED3m, and two novel lineages (2.MED3q, 2.MED3r).
  • Human and rodent Yersinia pestis strains from the same locality clustered into the same lineage, suggesting local transmission.
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicated that rodent plague strains in different Inner Mongolia regions originated from separate epizootic events.

Implications:

  • Human plague cases in Inner Mongolia likely originated from local rodent reservoirs.
  • The findings highlight the importance of monitoring distinct epizootic events in different geographical areas.
  • This research contributes to understanding Yersinia pestis evolution and plague epidemiology in the region.

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