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Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa

Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Science))--University of Pretoria, 2020.

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Other Authors: Van Heerden, Henriette
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Van Heerden, Henriette
author_browse Van Heerden, Henriette
author_facet Van Heerden, Henriette
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Science))--University of Pretoria, 2020.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:59.722Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/87902 Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa Van Heerden, Henriette hermandwg@gmail.com Hassim, Ayesha Geyer, Hermanus De Wet UCTD Bacillus anthracis Animals Kruger National Park Clostridium Environment Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Science))--University of Pretoria, 2020. Bacteria from the genera Clostridium and Bacillus form part of the phylum Firmicutes and produce endospores. Both are soil-borne, toxin producing bacteria with the ability of causing diseases in animals. One of the most effective ways to combat these diseases is through vaccination. In this study, the characterisation of both the Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species have led to a better understanding of the different species (Clostridium) and genotypes (B. anthracis) that are circulating in the country, both in livestock and wildlife. Through data mining, Clostridium species responsible for animal death in South Africa for the past four years (2013–2016) have been identified using the Universal Veterinary Information System (UVIS) of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. Clostridium species responsible for deaths in wildlife and livestock recorded in the UVIS database were identified from a combination of culture, fluorescent antibody technique as well as pathology results. A variety of Clostridium species causing diseases in both livestock and wildlife were identified, of which the most common were Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium. septicum. The mined data revealed that the percentage of confirmed Clostridium cases between livestock and wildlife were similar, namely 53.8% for livestock versus 50% for wildlife. These results identified prominent Clostridium species causing disease in animals. The results could indicate that there is a lack of vaccination as clostridial disease was found equally in livestock and wildlife since vaccination is not possible in wildlife due to costs and practicality. The incorrect usage of clostridial vaccine and not maintaining cold chain for vaccines could also contribute towards disease in livestock. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the detection of Clostridium species (Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium novyi, Clostridium chauvoei, Clostridium septicum and Clostridium sordellii) were developed and used to screen both animals and the environment of the Kruger National Park using passive surveillance samples. The screening revealed numerous Clostridium species in the environment with C. perfringens type A, C. sordellii and C. septicum being the most prominent species, while C. novyi, C. chauvoei and C. tetani were less prominent and no C. botulinum detected in the tested samples. This assay can be used to monitor Clostridia in environments or to confirm culture, histopathology and/or fluorescent antibody technique results. Bacillus anthracis was isolated and characterised (phenotypically and genotypically) into lineages, clonal groups, and genotypes from two separate outbreaks (Pafuri and Singita) in the northern parts of the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2014–2016 and compared with data from previous years. An existing panel (MLVA7) was expanded to MLVA10 for B. anthracis genotyping as the MLVA7 panel was developed using B. anthracis strains belonging to A-clade while KNP contains both A and B-clade strains. The MLVA10 could differentiate 28 genotypes among the 79 strains B. anthracis from Pafuri and Singita all belonging to the A-clade and include animal species such as greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), nyala (Tragelaphus angassi), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana). The information generated from this project has exhibited the different species of Clostridium and genotypes of B. anthracis that were located and circulating in the KNP in both the animals and the environment. This information can be used for epidemiological studies and to improve clostridial vaccination practices, verify Clostridium species identification, as well as, evaluating clostridial and anthrax vaccine combinations by determining the occurrence of the diseases in livestock and wildlife. Veterinary Tropical Diseases MSc (Veterinary Science) Unrestricted 2022-10-24T08:04:50Z 2022-10-24T08:04:50Z 2020 2020-01 Dissertation * S2020 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/87902 en © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Bacillus anthracis
Animals
Kruger National Park
Clostridium
Environment
Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa
title Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa
title_full Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa
title_fullStr Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa
title_short Diversity of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in South Africa
title_sort diversity of bacillus anthracis and clostridium species in livestock and wildlife in selected regions in south africa
topic UCTD
Bacillus anthracis
Animals
Kruger National Park
Clostridium
Environment
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/87902