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Brucellosis: an emerging disease in Portugal
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Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
Human brucellosis is one of the most common zoonosis worldwide. In Portugal, brucellosis is a
notifiable disease in humans and the casuistic puts it among the three zoonosis with the highest incidence.
Despite this, studies on prevalence of brucellosis in Portugal are scarce.
The present study intends to evaluate the epidemiological situation of human brucellosis in
Portugal and to identify the species associated with human cases. It also intend to investigate the origin
of infection in humans using molecular typing studies and whole genome sequencing approaches. In this
work, we propose study the genetic polymorphism of several virulence factors in Brucella spp.
Our results showed that Brucella melitensis is the main species associated to human brucellosis
and that there is a strong epidemiological link between many cases studies, whose originated small
clusters and may even correspond to small outbreaks. In this study, it was possible to verify a strong
phylogenetic proximity between isolated strains in the Mediterranean area (Spain, Greece and Italy)
probably due to geographical, cultural and type of food proximity. In this work, using an advanced
approach, new generation sequencing methodologies, we were able to validate the use of MLVA - 16, the
gold standard for typing Brucella spp., using in silico extraction.
Globally, the findings presented in this PhD thesis contribute for better understanding of the
brucellosis situation in Portugal. The results may contribute to the implementation of a new laboratory
tool to improve the epidemiological surveillance of brucellosis. Furthermore, is providing more accurate
and quick information to the decision makers with responsibilities in the area of the implementation of
measures of prevention and control of this disease in our Country, both in human and veterinary health,
in line with the One Health approach.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Brucella spp. B. melitensis brucellosis next generation sequencing molecular typing epidemiology