Global distribution and evolution of <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> lineages

Abstract Mycobacterium bovis is the main causative agent of zoonotic tuberculosis in humans and frequently devastates livestock and wildlife worldwide. Previous studies suggested the existence of genetic groups of M. bovis strains based on limited DNA markers (a.k.a. clonal complexes), and the evolution and ecology of this pathogen has been only marginally explored at the global level. We have screened over 2,600 publicly available M. bovis genomes and newly sequenced two wildlife M. bovis strains, gathering 823 genomes from 21 countries and 21 host-species, including humans, to complete a phylogenomic analyses. We propose the existence of four distinct global lineages of M. bovis (Lb1, Lb2, Lb3 and Lb4) underlying the current disease distribution. These lineages are not fully represented by clonal complexes and are dispersed based on geographic location rather than host species. Our data divergence analysis agreed with previous studies reporting independent archeological data of ancient M. bovis [(South Siberian infected skeletons at ∼2,000 years BP (before present)] and indicates that extant M. bovis originated during the Roman period, subsequently dispersing across the world with the discovery and settlement of the New World and Oceania, directly influenced by trades among countries.