Whole-genome sequence analysis of Clostridium chauvoei isolated from clinical case of black quarter (BQ) from India.

Black quarter (BQ) is an infectious disease affecting cattle and small ruminants worldwide caused by Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Clostridium chauvoei. In this study, a draft genome sequence of C. chauvoei NIVEDIBQ1 strain isolated from clinical case of black quarter was analyzed. Sequence analysis indicated that genome had 2653 predicted coding DNA sequences, harbored numerous genes, mobile genetic elements for pathogenesis, and virulence factors. Computational analysis revealed that strain contained 30 virulence-associated genes. An intact genomic region highly similar to the Clostridium phage was present in the genome. Presence of CRISPR systems and the transposon components likely contribute to the genome plasticity. Strain encode diverse spectrum of degradative carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Comparative SNP analysis revealed that the genomes of the C. chauvoei strains analyzed were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analysis of strains and available genome (n = 21) based on whole-genome multi-locus sequence typing (wgMLST) and core orthologous genes showed the clustering of strains into two different clusters suggesting geographical links.