Molecular Epidemiology of Blastomyces gilchristii Clusters, Minnesota, USA

Ujwal R Bagal; Malia Ireland; Annastasia Gross; Jill Fischer; Meghan Bentz; Elizabeth L Berkow; Anastasia P Litvintseva; Nancy A Chow

doi:10.3201/eid2809.220392

Molecular Epidemiology of Blastomyces gilchristii Clusters, Minnesota, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Sep;28(9):1924-1926. doi: 10.3201/eid2809.220392.

Authors

Ujwal R Bagal, Malia Ireland, Annastasia Gross, Jill Fischer, Meghan Bentz, Elizabeth L Berkow, Anastasia P Litvintseva, Nancy A Chow

Abstract

We characterized 2 clusters of blastomycosis cases in Minnesota, USA, using whole-genome sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism analyses. Blastomyces gilchristii was confirmed as the cause of infection. Genomic analyses corresponded with epidemiologic findings for cases of B. gilchristii infections, demonstrating the utility of genomic methods for future blastomycosis outbreak investigations.

Keywords: Blastomyces gilchristii; Minnesota; United States; blastomycosis; fungi; respiratory infections; whole-genome sequencing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Blastomyces / genetics
Blastomycosis* / epidemiology
Humans
Minnesota / epidemiology
Molecular Epidemiology

Supplementary concepts

Blastomyces gilchristii