Spatial distribution of Mycobacterium bovis spoligotypes in cattle from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Genotyping methods have led to a better understanding of the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection, and its transmission dynamics, as well as the possible phylogenetic relationships between Mycobacterium strains, thus making bovine tuberculosis control programs more efficient. The goal of this study was to characterize the main spoligotypes of M. bovis isolated from cattle in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was carried out in 28 municipalities of “Triângulo Mineiro” and “Alto Paranaíba” regions of the state. Viscera samples were obtained from 58 bovines positive for tuberculosis according to comparative cervical tests, and from another 100 bovines with lesions suggestive of tuberculosis, which were donated by the National Agricultural Laboratory of Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais. Microbiological isolation was performed in Stonebrink medium, and molecular identification of mycobacteria was performed by PCR. Genotyping was performed using the spoligotyping method at the Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Biology Institute of National Agricultural Technology Institute-National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Among the 158 viscera samples, we obtained 40 (25%) isolates of M. bovis, and detected 11 spoligotype patterns, with a predominance of SB1142 (37.5%), SB0121 (25.0%), and SB1145 (10.0%). Other standards, SB0295, SB1050, SB0881, SB1144, SB1802, SB0140, SB0120, and SB0849, varied from 2.5 to 7.5%, heterogeneously distributed among the municipalities. The presence of spoligotypes shared with other Brazilian states and different countries indicates their possible exchange through epidemiological relationships, such as the transit of live animals and/or genetic similarity between strains that share a common ancestor.