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Matthias MA, Lubar AA, Lanka Acharige SS, Chaiboonma KL, Pilau NN, Marroquin AS, Jayasundara D, Agampodi S, Vinetz JM. Culture-Independent Detection and Identification of Leptospira Serovars. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0247522. [PMID: 36445143 PMCID: PMC9769591 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02475-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira, the causative agents of leptospirosis, comprise >200 serotypes (called serovars). Most have a restricted reservoir-host range, and some, e.g., serovar Copenhageni, are cosmopolitan and of public health importance owing to their propensity to produce severe, fatal disease in humans. Available serotyping approaches-such as multilocus sequence typing, core genome sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and the cross-agglutination absorption test-are tedious and expensive, and require isolation of the organisms in culture media-a protracted and incredibly inefficient process-precluding their use in prospective studies or outbreak investigations. The unavailability of culture-independent assays capable of distinguishing Leptospira serotypes remains a crucial gap in the field. Here, we have developed a simple yet specific real-time qPCR assay-targeting a Leptospira-unique gene encoding a putative polysaccharide flippase-that provides intraspecies, serotype-defining (i.e., epidemiologically useful) information, and improves upon the sensitivity of preferred lipL32-based qPCR-based diagnostic tests. The assay, dubbed RAgI ("rage one"), is rapid and affordable, and reliably and specifically detects group I pathogenic Leptospira in culture, serum, and urine, with no detectable off-target amplification-even of the genetically related but low virulence group II pathogenic (formerly "intermediate") or nonpathogenic Leptospira. It retained 100% diagnostic specificity when tested against difficult sample types, including field-collected dog urine samples and environmental samples containing varied and complex microbial species-consortia. This assay holds considerable promise in the clinical setting, and for routine epidemiological and environmental surveillance studies. IMPORTANCE Leptospirosis is caused by a diverse group of pathogenic spirochetes comprising over 200 different serotypes. Some are widely reported and of public health importance owing to their propensity to produce severe, fatal disease in humans. Apart from their tedium and expense, current serotyping approaches require isolation of the organisms in culture media-a protracted and incredibly inefficient process-rendering them useless clinically and limiting their utilization in prospective studies or outbreak investigations. The unavailability of culture-independent assays capable of distinguishing Leptospira serotypes remains a crucial gap in the field. The 11108 qPCR-assay overcomes this barrier to progress via direct taxonomic and serotype classification of Leptospira from urine and serum samples, and hence, is the first qPCR-based prognostic test for human leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Matthias
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Aristea A. Lubar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Shalka S. Lanka Acharige
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kira L. Chaiboonma
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Nicholas N. Pilau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Alan S. Marroquin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Dinesha Jayasundara
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
| | - Suneth Agampodi
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Shaban L, Toz B, Ramdass A. Workplace- and Residence-Associated Leptospirosis: A Case Report and Review of Current Literature. Cureus 2022; 14:e29879. [PMID: 36348921 PMCID: PMC9629868 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.29879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection most commonly occurring in tropical regions through contact with water or soil contaminated with animal urine. In New York, approximately one to three cases occur annually, the majority occurring through workplace exposure to animal reservoirs. In cases of the more severe presentation of leptospirosis, Weil’s disease, it is important to identify the infection promptly to allow for early antibiotic initiation as well as early initiation of daily dialysis in cases in which it is necessary. We present a case of Weil’s disease in a 64-year-old male with presumed exposure through his combined workplace and residential environment. The resolution of symptoms occurred through a combination of hemodialysis, doxycycline, and meropenem antibiotic treatment. We also discuss the barriers to diagnosis, including the non-specific presentation of leptospirosis, the limitation of access to testing centers, and the limitations to antibody testing within the first week of symptom presentation due to low antibody levels.
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Bottieau E, Van Duffel L, El Safi S, Koirala KD, Khanal B, Rijal S, Bhattarai NR, Phe T, Lim K, Mukendi D, Kalo JRL, Lutumba P, Barbé B, Jacobs J, Van Esbroeck M, Foqué N, Tsoumanis A, Parola P, Yansouni CP, Boelaert M, Verdonck K, Chappuis F. Etiological spectrum of persistent fever in the tropics and predictors of ubiquitous infections: a prospective four-country study with pooled analysis. BMC Med 2022; 20:144. [PMID: 35491421 PMCID: PMC9059373 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02347-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent fever, defined as fever lasting for 7 days or more at first medical evaluation, has been hardly investigated as a separate clinical entity in the tropics. This study aimed at exploring the frequencies and diagnostic predictors of the ubiquitous priority (i.e., severe and treatable) infections causing persistent fever in the tropics. METHODS In six different health settings across four countries in Africa and Asia (Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], Nepal, and Cambodia), consecutive patients aged 5 years or older with persistent fever were prospectively recruited from January 2013 to October 2014. Participants underwent a reference diagnostic workup targeting a pre-established list of 12 epidemiologically relevant priority infections (i.e., malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, enteric fever, leptospirosis, rickettsiosis, brucellosis, melioidosis, relapsing fever, visceral leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, amebic liver abscess). The likelihood ratios (LRs) of clinical and basic laboratory features were determined by pooling all cases of each identified ubiquitous infection (i.e., found in all countries). In addition, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of five antibody-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs): Typhidot Rapid IgM, Test-itTM Typhoid IgM Lateral Flow Assay, and SD Bioline Salmonella typhi IgG/IgM for Salmonella Typhi infection, and Test-itTM Leptospira IgM Lateral Flow Assay and SD Bioline Leptospira IgG/IgM for leptospirosis. RESULTS A total of 1922 patients (median age: 35 years; female: 51%) were enrolled (Sudan, n = 667; DRC, n = 300; Nepal, n = 577; Cambodia, n = 378). Ubiquitous priority infections were diagnosed in 452 (23.5%) participants and included malaria 8.0% (n = 154), tuberculosis 6.7% (n = 129), leptospirosis 4.0% (n = 77), rickettsiosis 2.3% (n = 44), enteric fever 1.8% (n = 34), and new HIV diagnosis 0.7% (n = 14). The other priority infections were limited to one or two countries. The only features with a positive LR ≥ 3 were diarrhea for enteric fever and elevated alanine aminotransferase level for enteric fever and rickettsiosis. Sensitivities ranged from 29 to 67% for the three RDTs targeting S. Typhi and were 9% and 16% for the two RDTs targeting leptospirosis. Specificities ranged from 86 to 99% for S. Typhi detecting RDTs and were 96% and 97% for leptospirosis RDTs. CONCLUSIONS Leptospirosis, rickettsiosis, and enteric fever accounted each for a substantial proportion of the persistent fever caseload across all tropical areas, in addition to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. Very few discriminative features were however identified, and RDTs for leptospirosis and Salmonella Typhi infection performed poorly. Improved field diagnostics are urgently needed for these challenging infections. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01766830 at ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Bottieau
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Lukas Van Duffel
- Infectious Diseases Operative Unit, Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sayda El Safi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - Basudha Khanal
- B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
| | - Suman Rijal
- B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
| | | | - Thong Phe
- Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Kruy Lim
- Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Deby Mukendi
- Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.,Service de neurologie, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Jean-Roger Lilo Kalo
- Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Pascal Lutumba
- Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Barbara Barbé
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marjan Van Esbroeck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nikki Foqué
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Achilleas Tsoumanis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philippe Parola
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection & Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Cedric P Yansouni
- JD MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marleen Boelaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristien Verdonck
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - François Chappuis
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Role of Diagnostics in Epidemiology, Management, Surveillance, and Control of Leptospirosis. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040395. [PMID: 35456070 PMCID: PMC9032781 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A One Health approach to the epidemiology, management, surveillance, and control of leptospirosis relies on accessible and accurate diagnostics that can be applied to humans and companion animals and livestock. Diagnosis should be multifaceted and take into account exposure risk, clinical presentation, and multiple direct and/or indirect diagnostic approaches. Methods of direct detection of Leptospira spp. include culture, histopathology and immunostaining of tissues or clinical specimens, and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Indirect serologic methods to detect leptospiral antibodies include the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and lateral flow methods. Rapid diagnostics that can be applied at the point-of-care; NAAT and lateral flow serologic tests are essential for management of acute infection and control of outbreaks. Culture is essential to an understanding of regional knowledge of circulating strains, and we discuss recent improvements in methods for cultivation, genomic sequencing, and serotyping. We review the limitations of NAATs, MAT, and other diagnostic approaches in the context of our expanding understanding of the diversity of pathogenic Leptospira spp. Novel approaches are needed, such as loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based approaches to leptospiral nucleic acid detection.
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Rajapakse S, Weeratunga PN, Balaji K, Ramchandani KC, de Silva US, Ranasinghe SA, Gunarathne D, Wijerathne PPB, Fernando N, Handunnetti SM, Fernando SD. Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in an endemic mixed urban and semi-urban setting-A community-based study in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008309. [PMID: 32428003 PMCID: PMC7263638 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is endemic in Sri Lanka. There is a need for updated seroprevalence studies in endemic areas, to improve the understanding of disease dynamics, risk factors, control methods, and for clinical diagnosis. The cut-off titres for the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for diagnosis of acute leptospirosis depend on community seroprevalence, and can vary based on locality and serovar. This study aimed to identify the seroprevalence, geographical determinants, and associations of seropositivity of leptospirosis in the district of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and to determine diagnostic cut-off titres for MAT in the community studied. This study utilized a stratified cluster sampling model in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka, to sample individuals living in urban and semi-urban areas. Serovar specific MAT titres were measured on recruited individuals using a panel of saprophytic (Leptospira biflexa) and 11 pathogenic Leptospira spp. serovars. Associations between environmental risk factors and MAT positivity were examined, with location mapping using GIS software. A total of 810 individuals were included. The mean age was 51.71 years (SD 14.02) with male predominance (60%). A total of 429 (53%) tested positive at a titer of 1/40 or more for the saprophytic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc. Pathogenic serovar MAT was positive at a titer of 1/40 or more for at least one serovar in 269 (33.2%) individuals. From the perspective of screening for clinical disease, serovar-specific cut-off titres of 1/80 for Leptospira spp. serovars Hebdomadis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Ratnapura and Patoc, 1/160 for serovars Pyrogenes and Cynopteri, and 1/40 for other serovars were determined, based on the 75th quartile MAT titre for each serovar. Serovar Pyrogenes (15.9%) had the highest seroprevalence, with serovars Ratnapura, Bankinang and Australis accounting for 9.9%, 9.6% and 9.3% respectively. When the proposed new cut-offs were applied, Bankinang(9.6%) Australis(9.3%), Pyrogenes(6.9%) and Ratnapura(6.9%) were the most prevalent serovars. No significant differences in seroprevalence or serovar patterns were noted between urban and semi-urban settings. Individuals seropositive for Australis, Ratnapura and Icterohaemorrhagiae were clustered around main water bodies as well as around smaller tributaries and paddy fields. Those positive for the serovar Pyrogenes were clustered around inland tributaries, smaller water sources and paddy fields. Associations of MAT positivity included high risk occupational exposure, environmental exposure including exposure to floods, bathing in rivers and lakes, using well-water for bathing, contact with stagnant water, propensity to skin injuries, presence of rats in the vicinity, and proximity to water sources. For pathogenic serovars, high-risk occupational exposure remained statistically significant following adjustment for other factors (adjusted OR = 2.408, CI 1.711 to 3.388; p<0.0001; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.546). High risk occupational exposure was determined to be independently associated with seropositivity. Baseline community MAT titres vary according to serovar, and presumably the locality. Testing against saprophytic serovars is unreliable. Thus, diagnostic MAT titre cut-offs should be determined based on region and serovar, and the use of a single diagnostic MAT cut-off for all populations is likely to result in false negatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senaka Rajapakse
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- * E-mail: (SR); (PNW)
| | - Praveen N. Weeratunga
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- * E-mail: (SR); (PNW)
| | - Krishan Balaji
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Kyra Charmaine Ramchandani
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Udani Savbhagya de Silva
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Shenali Avishka Ranasinghe
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Dinesh Gunarathne
- Smallholder Tea and Rubber Revitalization (STARR) Project, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Pasindu P. B. Wijerathne
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Narmada Fernando
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Shiroma M. Handunnetti
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Afzal I, Thaker R, Weissman S, Kothari M. Leptospirosis as an unusual culprit of acute pancreatitis and portal vein thrombosis in a New Yorker. Clin Case Rep 2020; 8:690-695. [PMID: 32274037 PMCID: PMC7141725 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.2736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis often takes clinicians by surprise when presenting in urban locations with unusual manifestations. This delays diagnosis and treatment which increases mortality rate. Our case illustrates the importance of taking into account the socioeconomic backgrounds, environmental exposures, and clinical presentations of patients to create a good differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Afzal
- NewYork‐Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell UniversityBrooklynNew York
| | - Rishi Thaker
- NewYork‐Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell UniversityBrooklynNew York
| | - Simcha Weissman
- Hackensack University‐Palisades Medical CenterNorth BergenNew Jersey
| | - Megha Kothari
- NewYork‐Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell UniversityBrooklynNew York
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