Evaluating the early diversification of Yersinia pestis and its phylogeographic expansion over 96 years of evolution in Madagascar

Madagascar is the most plague-affected country globally, yet the phylogenetic diversity of Yersinia pestis in this country remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, we analyzed whole-genome sequences of 614 Y. pestis strains, with 141 strains newly sequenced, collected over 96 years across Madagascar. All isolates emerged in 1898 and belong to the phylogroup 1.ORI3, supporting a single introduction event to Madagascar, followed by local diversification. We identified 23 distinct subgroups, including eight previously undescribed. Although most novel subgroups were rarely detected or rapidly extinguished, the ɣ subgroup circulated between 2016 and 2019 in southeastern Madagascar-an area historically plague-free for 64 years. Our analysis revealed extensive strain diversity and subgroup persistence, with some subgroups, such as α and β, persisting silently for decades before reemerging during the 2017 pneumonic plague epidemic. These findings uncover deep, previously underestimated phylogenetic diversity and long-term dynamics of Y. pestis in Madagascar, providing critical insights for understanding transmission patterns and informing future plague surveillance and control efforts.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Biology
Published
2025-11-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-09109-1
Primary Topic
Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Evaluating the early diversification of Yersinia pestis and its phylogeographic expansion over 96 years of evolution in Madagascar

Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana, Minoarisoa Rajerison, Guillem Mas Fiol, Javier Pizarro‐Cerdá et al.
Communications Biology
Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
article

Evaluating the early diversification of Yersinia pestis and its phylogeographic expansion over 96 years of evolution in Madagascar

Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana, Minoarisoa Rajerison, Guillem Mas Fiol, Javier Pizarro‐Cerdá, Adrien Rieux, Eric Valade, Lovasoa Nomena Randriantseheno, Jason W. Sahl, David M. Wagner, Dawn N. Birdsell, Olivier Gorgé
article en

Abstract

Madagascar is the most plague-affected country globally, yet the phylogenetic diversity of Yersinia pestis in this country remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, we analyzed whole-genome sequences of 614 Y. pestis strains, with 141 strains newly sequenced, collected over 96 years across Madagascar. All isolates emerged in 1898 and belong to the phylogroup 1.ORI3, supporting a single introduction event to Madagascar, followed by local diversification. We identified 23 distinct subgroups, including eight previously undescribed. Although most novel subgroups were rarely detected or rapidly extinguished, the ɣ subgroup circulated between 2016 and 2019 in southeastern Madagascar-an area historically plague-free for 64 years. Our analysis revealed extensive strain diversity and subgroup persistence, with some subgroups, such as α and β, persisting silently for decades before reemerging during the 2017 pneumonic plague epidemic. These findings uncover deep, previously underestimated phylogenetic diversity and long-term dynamics of Y. pestis in Madagascar, providing critical insights for understanding transmission patterns and informing future plague surveillance and control efforts.

Communications BiologyVol. 8(1)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR), University of Antananarivo (MG), University of Nottingham (GB), Institut Pasteur (FR), Northern Arizona University (US), Université Paris Cité (FR), Omega Consult (Slovenia) (SI), Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées (FR), Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (MG), Peuplements végétaux et bioagresseurs en milieu tropical (RE)
Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Openalex Percentile: Top 61%
Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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