MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF BACILLUS STRAINS INVOLVED IN OUTBREAKS OF ANTHRAX IN FRANCE IN 1997

Outbreaks of anthrax zoonose occurred in two regions of France in 1997 . Ninety-four animals died, and there were three nonfatal cases in hum ans. The diagnosis of anthrax was rapidly confirmed by bacteriological and molecular biological methods. The strains of Bacillus anthracis i n animal and soil samples were identified by a multiplex PCR assay. Th ey all belonged to the variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) group (VNT R)(3). A penicillin-resistant strain was detected. Nonvirulent bacilli related to B. anthracis, of all VNTR types, were also found in the so il.