Molecular typing of Mycobacterium bovis isolated in the first outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in the Azores Islands: a case report

Twenty Mycobacterium bovis isolates from a first reported outbreak in the Azores Islands were differentiated into four spoligotypes: SB0119 (45%), SB0121 (40%), SB1264 (10%) and SB1090 (5%) and into two MIRU-VNTR allelic profiles using eight selected loci. The isolates seem to constitute a clonal lineage from a common source of infection. The limited diversity among the analysed Azores strains isolates could be due to the close contact of animals and use of common pastures and all herds can be seen as one epidemiological unit. The population structure of these strains with its low diversity differs from the Portugese mainland indicating a recent infection with accompanying evident founder effect.