Ecological niche modelling of the Bacillus anthracis A1.a sub-lineage in Kazakhstan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a globally distributed zoonotic pathogen that continues to be a veterinary and human health problem in Central Asia. We used a database of anthrax outbreak locations in Kazakhstan and a subset of genotyped isolates to model the geographic distribution and ecological associations of B. anthracis in Kazakhstan. The aims of the study were to test the influence of soil variables on a previous ecological niche based prediction of B. anthracis in Kazakhstan and to determine if a single sub-lineage of B. anthracis occupies a unique ecological niche.

Results

The addition of soil variables to the previously developed ecological niche model did not appreciably alter the limits of the predicted geographic or ecological d

SUBMITTER: Mullins J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3260114 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature