AUTHOR=Liu Zhi-guo , Wang Li-jun , Piao Dong-ri , Wang Miao , Liu Ri-hong , Zhao Hong-yan , Cui Bu-yun , Jiang Hai 

TITLE=Molecular Investigation of the Transmission Pattern of Brucella suis 3 From Inner Mongolia, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00271

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2018.00271

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Brucellosis is an endemic disease in China affecting both humans and livestock. The aim of the present study was to analyze two <italic>Brucella</italic> strains isolated from sheep spleens from Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia, China using classical and molecular typing techniques. The two strains were identified as <italic>Brucella suis</italic> biovar 3 and were closely related to isolates previously obtained from two different hosts (human and swine) in Guangxi Province. Our results suggest that <italic>B. suis</italic> can be directly or indirectly transferred from swine to sheep, which act as reservoirs for <italic>B. suis</italic> infection and later transmitted to humans. Multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) is a useful tool for tracing the geographical origin of brucellosis infections and elucidating its transmission patterns.</p>