Miseq genome sequencing of Streptococcus Pyogenes, group A (GAS) strains associated to a primary schools of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna region, during an acute rheumatic fever (ARF) outbreak occurred in early 2013.. Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M18

n February 2013, first notification of an acute rheumatic fever (ARF) case caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes, group A (GAS) following hospital admission occurred in a 11-year-old otherwise healthy boy resident in the Bologna province, Emilia-Romagna region. At the same time, GAS strains isolated from school-age children suffering with faringo-tonsillitis from Bologna metropolitan area were collected. Two months later, a second diagnosis of ARF were notified in a boy resident in the same province. Subsequently, another group of GAS positive samples obtained from children who frequented the class of second ARF case and from the symptomatic children residents in the same area were collected. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted on GAS strains isolated from ARF cases and on a few GAS isolates presenting the same emm-type using an Illumina MiSeq sequencer with a 2x250 pair-end run. Library preparation was performed using an Illumina Nextera XT kit.