A full nucleoprotein gene sequencing of 68 isolates collected from passive rabies surveillance system in Georgia between 2015 and 2016 identified two distinct dog rabies phylogroups, GEO_V1 and ...GEO_V2, which both belonged to the cosmopolitan dog clade. GEO_V1 was found throughout the country and was further divided into four sub-phylogroups that overlapped geographically; GEO_V2 was found in the southeast region and was closely related to dog rabies in Azerbaijan. A sequence analysis of the full N gene, partial nucleoprotein gene of N-terminal and C-terminal, and the amplicon sequences of pan-lyssavirus RT-qPCR LN34 showed that all four sequencing approaches provided clear genetic typing results of canine rabies and could further differentiate GEO_V1 and GEO_V2. The phylogenetic analysis results vary and were affected by the length of the sequences used. Amplicon sequencing of the LN34 assay positive samples provided a rapid and cost-effective method for rabies genetic typing, which is important for improving rabies surveillance and canine rabies eradication globally.
During field surveys conducted from July to October 2018–2020 in the eastern part of Georgia (Caucasus region), 145 out of 8000 (1.8%) and 147 out of 6600 (2.2%) grapevine plants, respectively, from ...mother stock/collection fields and commercial vineyards, were found exhibiting typical or suspicious grapevine yellows (GY) symptoms. Most of the symptomatic grapevine plants of Georgian cultivars showed mild symptoms with no berry alterations. Leaf samples from symptomatic plants were analyzed by serological (DAS- -ELISA) and molecular (two previously published protocols of TaqMan triplex real-time PCR, here named Set I and Set II) tools for detecting GY-associated phytoplasmas. The presence of GY phytoplasmas was not detected in any examined grapevines by a serological method. GY phytoplasmas were identified in 22.41% and 6.9% symptomatic plants from mother stock and collection vineyards and in 48.3 and 19.0% symptomatic plants from commercial vineyards by Set I and Set II PCRs, respectively. As expected from previous studies reporting the wide presence of bois noir (BN) in Georgian vineyards, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’(CaPsol) was detected in most phytoplasma-infected plants (47.6%), with the highest infection rate in Chardonnay. Phytoplasmas belonging to taxonomic group 16SrV were detected in 45.6% of the phytoplasma-infected grapevines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of 16SrV phytoplasmas in Georgia and in the Caucasus region. Further molecular typing of 16SrV phytoplasma strains is necessary to determine if such strains are associated with flavescence dorée (FD). The knowledge of typical GY symptoms and the utilization of accurate diagnostic tools are crucial for preventing pathogen spread and producing healthy planting material. Based on the results obtained in this study, the presence of BN and 16SrV phytoplasmas should be monitored in the next years using triplex real-time PCR.
Among the more than 70 different Vibrio species inhabiting marine, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems, 12 are recognized as human pathogens. The warm subtropical climate of the Black Sea coastal ...area and inland regions of Georgia likely provides a favorable environment for various Vibrio species. From 2006 to 2009, the abundance, ecology, and diversity of clinically important Vibrio species were studied in different locations in Georgia and across seasons. Over a 33-month period, 1,595 presumptive Vibrio isolates were collected from the Black Sea (n = 657) and freshwater lakes around Tbilisi (n = 938). Screening of a subset of 440 concentrated and enriched water samples by PCR-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (PCR-ESI/MS) detected the presence of DNA from eight clinically important Vibrio species: V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi, V. metschnikovii, and V. cincinnatiensis. Almost 90% of PCR/ESI-MS samples positive for Vibrio species were collected from June through November. Three important human-pathogenic Vibrio species (V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus) were detected in 62.8, 37.8, and 21.4% of samples testing positive for Vibrios, respectively. The results of these activities suggest that natural reservoirs for human-pathogenic Vibrios exist in Georgian aquatic environments. Water temperature at all sampling sites was positively correlated with the abundance of clinically important Vibrio spp. (except V. metschnikovii), and salinity was correlated with species composition at particular Black Sea sites as well as inland reservoirs.
PDF