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Prager KC, Danil K, Wurster E, Colegrove KM, Galloway R, Kettler N, Mani R, McDonough RF, Sahl JW, Stone NE, Wagner DM, Lloyd-Smith JO. Detection of Leptospira kirschneri in a short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis delphis) stranded off the coast of southern California, USA. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:266. [PMID: 38902706 PMCID: PMC11188202 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04111-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pathogenic Leptospira species are globally important zoonotic pathogens capable of infecting a wide range of host species. In marine mammals, reports of Leptospira have predominantly been in pinnipeds, with isolated reports of infections in cetaceans. CASE PRESENTATION On 28 June 2021, a 150.5 cm long female, short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis delphis) stranded alive on the coast of southern California and subsequently died. Gross necropsy revealed multifocal cortical pallor within the reniculi of the kidney, and lymphoplasmacytic tubulointerstitial nephritis was observed histologically. Immunohistochemistry confirmed Leptospira infection, and PCR followed by lfb1 gene amplicon sequencing suggested that the infecting organism was L.kirschneri. Leptospira DNA capture and enrichment allowed for whole-genome sequencing to be conducted. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the causative agent was a previously undescribed, divergent lineage of L.kirschneri. CONCLUSIONS We report the first detection of pathogenic Leptospira in a short-beaked common dolphin, and the first detection in any cetacean in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Renal lesions were consistent with leptospirosis in other host species, including marine mammals, and were the most significant lesions detected overall, suggesting leptospirosis as the likely cause of death. We identified the cause of the infection as L.kirschneri, a species detected only once before in a marine mammal - a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) of the northeastern Pacific. These findings raise questions about the mechanism of transmission, given the obligate marine lifestyle of cetaceans (in contrast to pinnipeds, which spend time on land) and the commonly accepted view that Leptospira are quickly killed by salt water. They also raise important questions regarding the source of infection, and whether it arose from transmission among marine mammals or from terrestrial-to-marine spillover. Moving forward, surveillance and sampling must be expanded to better understand the extent to which Leptospira infections occur in the marine ecosystem and possible epidemiological linkages between and among marine and terrestrial host species. Generating Leptospira genomes from different host species will yield crucial information about possible transmission links, and our study highlights the power of new techniques such as DNA enrichment to illuminate the complex ecology of this important zoonotic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Prager
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Kerri Danil
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Elyse Wurster
- Ocean Associates Inc. Under Contract to Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Kathleen M Colegrove
- Zoological Pathology Program, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, 3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, IL, 60513, USA
| | - Renee Galloway
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
| | - Niesa Kettler
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48825, USA
| | - Rinosh Mani
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48825, USA
| | - Ryelan F McDonough
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Jason W Sahl
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Nathan E Stone
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - David M Wagner
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - James O Lloyd-Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Hetrick K, Harkin KR, Peddireddi L, Henningson J. Evaluation by polymerase chain reaction assay of persistent shedding of pathogenic leptospires in the urine of dogs with leptospirosis. J Vet Intern Med 2021; 36:133-140. [PMID: 34799884 PMCID: PMC8783323 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent leptospiruria in naturally infected dogs occurs despite appropriate antibiotic treatment. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of persistent leptospiruria in naturally infected dogs and the association of persistent leptospiruria with different antibiotic treatments. ANIMALS Thirty-two dogs of varying age and breed diagnosed with leptospirosis via urine polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR). METHODS A prospective observational study of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis was undertaken to determine the frequency of persistent leptospiruria as determined by PCR. Clinical presentation of leptospirosis, antibiotic treatment, serum creatinine concentration, and outcome were recorded. RESULTS Fifteen of 32 dogs had a negative urine PCR on the first submission in the study, 5 of 15 received only an aminopenicillin. The remaining 17 dogs had a negative urine PCR on the second (n = 6 dogs), third (n = 5), fourth (n = 5), and eighth (n = 1) submissions. Acute kidney injury was reported in 32/32 dogs. Two of 32 dogs developed chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Persistent leptospiruria is common despite treatment with antibiotics frequently recommended for treatment. Follow-up urine PCR to confirm clearance of the organism is recommended in all dogs. In dogs with persistent leptospiruria, chronic kidney disease can develop after acute kidney injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Hetrick
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Kenneth R Harkin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Lalitha Peddireddi
- Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Jamie Henningson
- Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Influence of Season, Population and Individual Characteristics on the Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in Bank Voles in North-West Germany. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090933. [PMID: 34571810 PMCID: PMC8466531 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Leptospirosis is a worldwide emerging zoonotic disease. Clinical symptoms in humans range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe clinical disease with kidney failure and multiple organ dysfunction. Infections occur after contact with infected animals or through water and soil contaminated by urine of infected animals. Cases are mostly linked to occupational risk groups such as field workers or farmers, but contact with pets and recreational activities like fresh water sports also lead to a higher exposure risk. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and species distribution of Leptospira in bank voles in Germany. We analyzed the DNA of 1817 kidney samples and detected a mean prevalence of 7.5% with the following pathogenic Leptospira species: L. interrogans, L. kirschneri, and L. borgpetersenii. The individual infection risk in bank voles depended on season, body weight and abundance of bank voles. Even if leptospirosis case numbers in Germany are low, our study shows that pathogenic Leptospira spp. are present and a potential source for human infection, which should be recognized by clinicians and veterinarians. Abstract Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease with more than 1 million human cases annually. Infections are associated with direct contact to infected animals or indirect contact to contaminated water or soil. As not much is known about the prevalence and host specificity of Leptospira spp. in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), our study aimed to evaluate Leptospira spp. prevalence and genomospecies distribution as well as the influence of season, host abundance and individual characteristics on the Leptospira prevalence. Bank voles, which are abundant and widely distributed in forest habitats, were collected in the years 2018 to 2020 in North-West Germany, covering parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The DNA of 1817 kidney samples was analyzed by real-time PCR targeting the lipl32 gene. Positive samples were further analyzed by targeting the secY gene to determine Leptospira genomospecies and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to determine the sequence type (ST). The overall prevalence was 7.5% (95% confidence interval: 6.4–8.9). Leptospira interrogans (83.3%), L. kirschneri (11.5%) and L. borgpetersenii (5.2%) were detected in bank voles. Increasing body weight as a proxy for age increased the individual infection probability. Only in years with high bank vole abundance was this probability significantly higher in males than in females. Even if case numbers of human leptospirosis in Germany are low, our study shows that pathogenic Leptospira spp. are present and thus a persisting potential source for human infection.
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Leptospira spp. in horses in southern Brazil: Seroprevalence, infection risk factors, and influence on reproduction. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 73:101552. [PMID: 33035771 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis in horses is often associated with reproductive disorders. In the southern states of Brazil, horses are used for various jobs and cultural practices; nevertheless, serological surveillance for Leptospira is rare. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in horses in southern Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors for infection and its impacts on reproduction. We performed microscopic agglutination tests for 12 serovars that corresponding 9 serogroup (Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Pyrogenes, Pomona, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Tarassovi and Ballum) in 595 samples from 60 herds. A brief history was obtained to analyze risk factors for reproductive disorders. A total of 45.9% of the tested horses were seropositive, of which the most frequent serogroups were Icterohaemorrhagiae (Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni serovars) and Ballum (Ballum serovar). Simple infections were found in 45.4% of seropositive animals, while mixed infections occurred in 54.6% of horses. There was a correlation between seropositivity and age and sex, that is, seropositivity was more frequent in animals over 6 years old and in females. There was no correlation between seropositivity and reproductive disorders. We conclude that there is a high seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in southern Brazil with predominance of Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup, mainly in older animals. Location, breeds, contact with dogs or other domestic animals are not risk factors, whereas gender is a risk factor. Reproductive disorders are not due to leptospirosis in the study region.
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