Ledwaba, Maphuti BettyGomo, CalvinLekota, Kgaugelo EdwardLe Flèche, PhilippeHassim, AyeshaVergnaud, GillesVan Heerden, Henriette2020-07-112020-07-112019-05-20Ledwaba, M.B., Gomo, C., Lekota, K.E. et al. Molecular characterization of Brucella species from Zimbabwe. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019, 13(5): e0007311. https://DOI.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311.1935-2727 (print)1935-2735 (online)10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311http://hdl.handle.net/2263/75147S1 Table. Reference strains and Zimbabwean Brucella spp. isolates identified by Bruce-ladder and repeat copy number of the indicated loci. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311.s001S2 Table. Brucella abortus and B. suis genome sequences retrieved from GenBank, used in the study for comparison of whole genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (WGS-SNPS) phylogenetic analysis. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311.s002S1 Fig. Suis-ladder multiplex PCR assay of Brucella DNA from Zimbabwe and reference strains. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311.s003S2 Fig. Minimum spanning tree analysis of published data and Zimbabwean Brucella isolates using the MLVA8 data (Panel 1 genotypes). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311.s004Brucella abortus and B. melitensis have been reported in several studies in animals in Zimbabwe but the extent of the disease remains poorly known. Thus, characterizing the circulating strains is a critical first step in understanding brucellosis in the country. In this study we used an array of molecular assays including AMOS-PCR, Bruce-ladder, multiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) and single nucleotide polymorphisms from whole genome sequencing (WGS-SNP) to characterize Brucella isolates to the species, biovar, and individual strain level. Sixteen Brucella strains isolated in Zimbabwe at the Central Veterinary laboratory from various hosts were characterized using all or some of these assays. The strains were identified as B. ovis, B. abortus, B. canis and B. suis, with B. canis being the first report of this species in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean strains identified as B. suis and B. abortus were further characterized with whole genome sequencing and were closely related to reference strains 1330 and 86/8/59, respectively. We demonstrate the range of different tests that can be performed from simple assays that can be run in laboratories lacking sophisticated instrumentation to whole genome analyses that currently require substantial expertise and infrastructure often not available in the developing world.en© 2019 Ledwaba et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.Molecular characterizationBrucellaZimbabweAMOS-PCRBruce-ladderMultiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA)Single nucleotide polymorphismsWhole genome sequencing (WGS)Article