@article{66288607eb2d4cefbac3153406964246,
title = "Globetrotting strangles: the unbridled national and international transmission of Streptococcus equi between horses",
abstract = "The equine disease strangles, which is characterized by the formation of abscesses in the lymph nodes of the head and neck, is one of the most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases of horses around the world. The causal agent, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, establishes a persistent infection in approximately 10 % of animals that recover from the acute disease. Such 'carrier' animals appear healthy and are rarely identified during routine veterinary examinations pre-purchase or transit, but can transmit S. equi to na{\"i}ve animals initiating new episodes of disease. Here, we report the analysis and visualization of phylogenomic and epidemiological data for 670 isolates of recovered from 19 different countries using a new core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) web bioresource. Genetic relationships among all 670 S. equi isolates were determined at high resolution, revealing national and international transmission events that drive this endemic disease in horse populations throughout the world. Our data argue for the recognition of the international importance of strangles by the Office International des {\'E}pizooties to highlight the health, welfare and economic cost of this disease. The Pathogenwatch cgMLST web bioresource described herein is available for tailored genomic analysis of populations of S. equi and its close relative subspecies that are recovered from horses and other animals, including humans, throughout the world. This article contains data hosted by Microreact.",
keywords = "Streptococcus equi, Genome diversity, Pandemic, Strangles, Transmission",
author = "Catriona Mitchell and Steward, {Karen F} and Charbonneau, {Amelia R L} and Saoirse Walsh and Hayley Wilson and Timoney, {John F} and Ulli Wernery and Marina Joseph and David Craig and {van Maanen}, Kees and {Hoogkamer-van Gennep}, Annelies and Albertine Leon and Lucjan Witkowski and Magdalena Rzewuska and Ilona Stefa{\'n}ska and Monika {\.Z}ychska and {van Loon}, Gunther and Ray Cursons and Olivia Patty and Els Acke and Gilkerson, {James R} and Charles El-Hage and Joanne Allen and Hiroshi Bannai and Yuta Kinoshita and Hidekazu Niwa and Te{\'o}timo Bec{\'u} and John Pringle and Bengt Guss and Reinhard B{\"o}se and Yvonne Abbott and Lisa Katz and Bernadette Leggett and Buckley, {Tom C} and Blum, {Shlomo E} and {Cruz L{\'o}pez}, F{\'a}tima and {Fern{\'a}ndez Ros}, Ana and {Marotti Campi}, {Maria Cristina} and Silvia Preziuso and Carl Robinson and Newton, {J Richard} and Ellen Schofield and Ben Brooke and Mike Boursnell and {de Brauwere}, Nicolas and Roxane Kirton and Barton, {Charlotte K} and Khalil Abudahab and Ben Taylor and Yeats, {Corin A} and Richard Goater and Aanensen, {David M} and Harris, {Simon R} and Julian Parkhill and Holden, {Matthew T G} and Waller, {Andrew S}",
note = "Funding: The Horse Trust funded the collection of S. equi from outbreaks of strangles in the UK (G1606) and the sequencing of the Se4047 reference genome. A. S. W., C. R., C. M. and K. F. S. were funded by awards from the Horse Trust, Estate of Paul Mellon Foundation, Alice Noakes Memorial Charitable Trust, Ivo Trust, Tattersalls, The Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust, The European Breeders Fund, The Serth and Gates Charity, Margaret Giffen Charitable Trust, The Payne Gallwey Charitable Trust, The Stafford Trust, Marjorie Coote Animal Charity Trust, Beryl Evetts and Robert Luff Animal Welfare Trust, and The Anne Duchess of Westminster{\textquoteright}s Charitable Trust. S. W. was funded by a grant from the Sir Peter O{\textquoteright}Sullevan Charitable Trust. J. R. N. was supported through a combined contribution to the Animal Health Trust{\textquoteright}s Equine Infectious Disease Service from the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Racehorse Owners Association and Thoroughbred Breeders{\textquoteright} Association. H. W. was funded by a grant from the Petplan Charitable Trust (S19-741-780). R. C. and O. P. were supported by the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation. S. R. H., J. P. and M. T .G. H. were supported by the Wellcome Trust (grant number 098051). J. F. T. was supported by the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Keeneland Association Endowment.",
year = "2021",
month = mar,
day = "8",
doi = "10.1099/mgen.0.000528",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
journal = "Microbial Genomics",
issn = "2057-5858",
publisher = "Microbiology Society",
number = "3",
}
