Abstract
Original language | English |
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Journal | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2012 |
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Molecular epidemiologic investigation of an anthrax outbreak among heroin users, Europe. / Price, Erin; Seymour, Meagan; Sarovich, Derek; latham, j; Wolken, Spenser; Mason, J; Vincent, Gemma; drees, k; Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen; Phillippy, A; Koren, S; Okinaka, R; Chung, Wai-Kwan; Schupp, James; Wagner, David M; vipond, r; Foster, T; Bergman, Nicholas H; Burans, j; Pearson, Talima; Brookes, t; Keim, Paul S.
In: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 18, No. 8, 08.2012.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular epidemiologic investigation of an anthrax outbreak among heroin users, Europe
AU - Price, Erin
AU - Seymour, Meagan
AU - Sarovich, Derek
AU - latham, j
AU - Wolken, Spenser
AU - Mason, J
AU - Vincent, Gemma
AU - drees, k
AU - Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen
AU - Phillippy, A
AU - Koren, S
AU - Okinaka, R
AU - Chung, Wai-Kwan
AU - Schupp, James
AU - Wagner, David M
AU - vipond, r
AU - Foster, T
AU - Bergman, Nicholas H
AU - Burans, j
AU - Pearson, Talima
AU - Brookes, t
AU - Keim, Paul S
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - In December 2009, two unusual cases of anthrax were diagnosed in heroin users in Scotland. A subsequent anthrax outbreak in heroin users emerged throughout Scotland and expanded into England and Germany, sparking concern of nefarious introduction of anthrax spores into the heroin supply. To better understand the outbreak origin, we used established genetic signatures that provided insights about strain origin. Next, we sequenced the whole genome of a representative Bacillus anthracis strain from a heroin user (Ba4599), developed Ba4599-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism assays, and genotyped all available material from other heroin users with anthrax. Of 34 case-patients with B. anthracis-positive PCR results, all shared the Ba4599 single-nucleotide polymorphism genotype. Phylogeographic analysis demonstrated that Ba4599 was closely related to strains from Turkey and not to previously identified isolates from Scotland or Afghanistan, the presumed origin of the heroin. Our results suggest accidental contamination along the drug trafficking route through a cutting agent or animal hides used to smuggle heroin into Europe.
AB - In December 2009, two unusual cases of anthrax were diagnosed in heroin users in Scotland. A subsequent anthrax outbreak in heroin users emerged throughout Scotland and expanded into England and Germany, sparking concern of nefarious introduction of anthrax spores into the heroin supply. To better understand the outbreak origin, we used established genetic signatures that provided insights about strain origin. Next, we sequenced the whole genome of a representative Bacillus anthracis strain from a heroin user (Ba4599), developed Ba4599-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism assays, and genotyped all available material from other heroin users with anthrax. Of 34 case-patients with B. anthracis-positive PCR results, all shared the Ba4599 single-nucleotide polymorphism genotype. Phylogeographic analysis demonstrated that Ba4599 was closely related to strains from Turkey and not to previously identified isolates from Scotland or Afghanistan, the presumed origin of the heroin. Our results suggest accidental contamination along the drug trafficking route through a cutting agent or animal hides used to smuggle heroin into Europe.
KW - diamorphine
KW - anthrax
KW - article
KW - Bacillus anthracis
KW - clinical article
KW - controlled study
KW - drug use
KW - epidemic
KW - Europe
KW - gene sequence
KW - genetic distance
KW - genotype
KW - geographic origin
KW - human
KW - nonhuman
KW - nucleotide sequence
KW - phylogenetic tree
KW - phylogeography
KW - real time polymerase chain reaction
KW - single nucleotide polymorphism
KW - Anthrax
KW - Bacterial Typing Techniques
KW - Disease Outbreaks
KW - DNA, Bacterial
KW - Female
KW - Genome, Bacterial
KW - Genotype
KW - Heroin
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Molecular Epidemiology
KW - Phylogeny
KW - Polymerase Chain Reaction
KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
KW - Sequence Analysis, DNA
KW - Substance Abuse, Intravenous
U2 - 10.3201/eid1808.111343
DO - 10.3201/eid1808.111343
M3 - Article
VL - 18
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
SN - 1080-6040
IS - 8
ER -