Appendix 22
76TH SESSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR THE CONTROL OF FOOTAND-MOUTH DISEASE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONCEPT NOTE Application of tools for high-resolution FMDV molecular epidemiology in Western EurAsia Prepared by member of Standing Technical Committee (Research group) 1. Proposal prepared by: David Paton.{Member of the Standing Technical Committee} 2. Short description of the background to issue or situation Title of project: Application of tools for high-resolution FMDV molecular epidemiology in Western EurAsia This proposal addresses recommendations arising from the recent FAO/EC/GDPC workshop held in Ankara, Turkey to discuss Foot-and-Mouth Disease in W EurAsia. Background information outlining role of full-genome sequencing The enzyme (RNA polymerase) responsible for replication of the FMDV RNA genome has poor fidelity, such that changes to the nucleotide sequence frequently occur and are inherited to progeny viruses. Using full FMDV genome sequences determined from clinical samples collected from the 2001 FMD outbreak in the United Kingdom, we have shown that sequence data can be used to match known inter-farm transmission patterns of spread [Cottam et al., 2006; Cottam et al 2008a]. More recently, we have also used full genome sequencing to support epidemiological investigations into the 2007 outbreak in Surrey [Cottam et al., 2008b]. In this study, we were able to reveal the most likely chain of transmission events, and predict undisclosed infected premises prior to their discovery by serological surveillance. These studies complement field epidemiological studies that use traditional contact-tracing information and the relative timing and spatial proximity of infection events to each other. Fullgenome sequencing methods are potentially very powerful, providing data of greater resolution than that currently generated by "conventional" methods (such as VP1 sequencing). For the first time, this opens up the potential for using genome sequencing to reveal and identify the origin of un-clarified transmission events within epidemics. As well as real-time use in out breaks affecting “free” countries, we believe that the approach could be used to find out how much undisclosed circulation is taking place in endemic regions and may thereby give clues as to how virus persistence is maintained and could be blocked. Project Objective We propose to develop and apply tools for full-genome sequencing to study the fine-scale molecular epidemiology of FMDV in an endemic region. During the course of the study period, samples from FMDV-infected animals will be collected from Turkey (and elsewhere within the Middle East) and subjected to full genome analysis. In addition, selected archived material collected from previous FMD outbreaks in the Middle East (stored at WRLFMD and the SAP Institute) will also be used in this study. This work will be undertaken by the SAP FMD Institute (Ankara, Turkey) and WRLFMD (IAH, Pirbright). Project benefits 76th Session of the Executive Committee of the European Commission for the Control
of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
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