RT Journal Article
T1 Whole genome sequencing-based analysis of tuberculosis (TB) in migrants: rapid tools for cross-border surveillance and to distinguish between recent transmission in the host country and new importations.
A1 Abascal, Estefanía
A1 Pérez-Lago, Laura
A1 Martínez-Lirola, Miguel
A1 Chiner-Oms, Álvaro
A1 Herranz, Marta
A1 Chaoui, Imane
A1 Comas, Iñaki
A1 El Messaoudi, My Driss
A1 Cárdenas, José Antonio Garrido
A1 Santantón, Sheila
A1 Bouza, Emilio
A1 García-de-Viedma, Darío
K1 TB
K1 WGS
K1 cross-border surveillance
K1 immigration
K1 importation
K1 migrants
K1 molecular epidemiology
K1 surveillance
K1 transmission
K1 tuberculosis
K1 whole genome sequencing
AB BackgroundThe analysis of transmission of tuberculosis (TB) is challenging in areas with a large migrant population. Standard genotyping may fail to differentiate transmission within the host country from new importations, which is key from an epidemiological perspective.AimTo propose a new strategy to simplify and optimise cross-border surveillance of tuberculosis and to distinguish between recent transmission in the host country and new importationsMethodsWe selected 10 clusters, defined by 24-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR), from a population in Spain rich in migrants from eastern Europe, north Africa and west Africa and reanalysed 66 isolates by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A multiplex-allele-specific PCR was designed to target strain-specific marker single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), identified from WGS data, to optimise the surveillance of the most complex cluster.ResultsIn five of 10 clusters not all isolates showed the short genetic distances expected for recent transmission and revealed a higher number of SNPs, thus suggesting independent importations of prevalent strains in the country of origin. In the most complex cluster, rich in Moroccan cases, a multiplex allele-specific oligonucleotide-PCR (ASO-PCR) targeting the marker SNPs for the transmission subcluster enabled us to prospectively identify new secondary cases. The ASO-PCR-based strategy was transferred and applied in Morocco, demonstrating that the strain was prevalent in the country.ConclusionWe provide a new model for optimising the analysis of cross-border surveillance of TB transmission in the scenario of global migration.
YR 2019
FD 2019
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/13484
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/13484
LA en
DS RISalud
RD Apr 11, 2025