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Ca Ferreira L, de Fa Ferreira Filho L, V Cosate MR, Sakamoto T. Genetic structure and diversity of the rfb locus of pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302478. [PMID: 38514188 PMCID: PMC10958091 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic strains of the genus Leptospira and is considered the most widespread zoonotic bacterial disease. The genus is characterized by the large number of serology variants, which challenges developing effective serotyping methods and vaccines with a broad spectrum. Because knowledge on the genetic basis of the serological diversity among leptospires is still limited, we aimed to explore the genetic structure and patterns of the rfb locus, which is involved in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharides, the major surface antigen that defines the serovar in leptospires. Here, we used genomic data of 722 pathogenic samples and compared the gene composition of their rfb locus by hierarchical clustering. Clustering analysis showed that the rfb locus gene composition is species-independent and strongly associated with the serological classification. The samples were grouped into four well-defined classes, which cluster together samples either belonging to the same serogroup or from different serogroups but sharing serological affinity. Our findings can assist in the development of new strategies based on molecular methods, which can lead to better tools for serological identification in this zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Ca Ferreira
- https://ror.org/04wn09761 Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment (BioME), Instituto Metrópole Digital (IMD), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Luiz de Fa Ferreira Filho
- https://ror.org/04wn09761 Departamento de Engenharia de Computação e Automação (DCA), Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Maria Raquel V Cosate
- UMass Chain Medical School, Nonhuman Primates Reagent Resources, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tetsu Sakamoto
- https://ror.org/04wn09761 Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment (BioME), Instituto Metrópole Digital (IMD), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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Zečević I, Picardeau M, Vince S, Hađina S, Perharić M, Štritof Z, Stevanović V, Benvin I, Turk N, Lohman Janković I, Habuš J. Association between Exposure to Leptospira spp. and Abortion in Mares in Croatia. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1039. [PMID: 38930421 PMCID: PMC11205326 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections and a major problem in terms of both veterinary medicine and public health. However, the disease is under-recognised and under-diagnosed worldwide, particularly in horses. Clinical leptospirosis in horses is mainly associated with recurrent uveitis (ERU), which has recently been studied more intensively, and reproductive disorders, the epidemiology of which is still relatively poorly understood. To enhance our comprehension of abortions caused by leptospirosis in horses and to identify the causative strains, a serological study was carried out with subsequent molecular characterisation of the isolate obtained. Using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), serum samples from mares that aborted and foetal fluids (when available) were tested for antibodies against Leptospira spp. Furthermore, bacteria isolation from kidney cultures was conducted. Of 97 mare serum samples, 21 (21.64%) tested positive, with Grippotyphosa and Pomona being the most frequently detected serogroups. A significantly higher seroprevalence was found in aborting mares compared to the healthy horse population from the same geographical area, as well as a pronounced seasonal variation. Leptospiral antibodies were not detected in any of the foetal fluids, but isolation was successful in 1 case out of 39 (2.56%). Genotyping by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) identified the obtained isolate as Leptospira kirschneri, serogroup Pomona, serovar Mozdok. Further surveillance and molecular typing of Leptospira strains causing abortion in horses would be invaluable in understanding the prevalence and impact of leptospirosis on equine reproductive health in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Zečević
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Mathieu Picardeau
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, National Reference Center for Leptospirosis, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Silvijo Vince
- Reproduction and Obstetrics Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Suzana Hađina
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Matko Perharić
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Zrinka Štritof
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Vladimir Stevanović
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Iva Benvin
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Nenad Turk
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
| | - Ivana Lohman Janković
- Ministry of Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josipa Habuš
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.H.); (M.P.); (Z.Š.); (V.S.); (I.B.); (N.T.)
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Lv T, Xie X, Diao L, Jiang S, Ding Y, Yuan X, Gong L, Chen X, Zhang W, Cao Y. Leptospira-specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is protective in infected hamsters. Vaccine 2024; 42:3220-3229. [PMID: 38641497 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Leptospirosis, a globally significant zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira, continues to threaten the health and public safety of both humans and animals. Current clinical treatment of leptospirosis mainly relies on antibiotics but their efficacy in severe cases is controversial. Passive immunization has a protective effect in the treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, chicken egg yolk antibody (IgY) has gained increasing attention as a safe passive immunization agent. This study aimed to investigate whether hens produce specific IgY after immunization with inactivated Leptospira and the protective effect of specific IgY against leptospirosis. First, it was demonstrated that specific IgY could be extracted from the eggs of hens vaccinated with inactivated Leptospira and that specific IgY can specifically recognize and bind homotypic Leptospira with a high titre, as shown by MAT and ELISA. Next, we tested the therapeutic effects of IgY in early and late leptospirosis using a hamster model. The results showed that early specific IgY treatment increased the survival rate of hamsters to 100%, alleviated pathological damage to the liver, kidney, and lung, reduced leptospiral burden, and restored haematological indices as well as functional indicators of the liver and kidney. The therapeutic effect of early specific IgY was comparable to that of doxycycline. Late IgY treatment also enhanced the survival rate of hamsters and improved the symptoms of leptospirosis similar to early IgY treatment. However, the therapeutic effect of late IgY treatment was better when combined with doxycycline. Furthermore, no Leptospira colonization was observed in the kidneys, livers, or lungs of the surviving hamsters treated with specific IgY. Mechanistically, IgY was found to inhibit the growth and adhesion to cells of Leptospira. In conclusion, passive immunotherapy with specific IgY can be considered an effective treatment for leptospirosis, and may replace antibiotics regarding its therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbao Lv
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xufeng Xie
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Luteng Diao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Shuang Jiang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yue Ding
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Lingling Gong
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
| | - Yongguo Cao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
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Her R, Crespin L, Etougbétché J, Groud K, Gnolonfoun M, Chapron A, Evenamia C, Houéménou G, Lurier T, Cappelle J, Dobigny G, Ayral F. Seroprevalence and renal carriage of pathogenic Leptospira in livestock in Cotonou, Benin. Vet Med Sci 2024; 10:e1430. [PMID: 38533755 PMCID: PMC10966766 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease. It is particularly prevalent in tropical countries and has major consequences for human and animal health. In Benin, the disease's epidemiology remains poorly understood, especially in livestock, for which data are lacking. OBJECTIVES To characterise Leptospira seroprevalence and locally circulating serogroups in livestock from Cotonou and to estimate the prevalence of Leptospira renal carriage in cattle. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in February 2020 during which livestock were sampled at an abattoir and in an impoverished city district. We analysed blood samples from 279 livestock animals (i.e. cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) using the microscopic agglutination test. Additionally, samples of renal tissue from 100 cattle underwent 16s rRNA (rrs) real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS For the 131 cattle, 85 sheep, and 50 goats tested, seroprevalence was 18% (95% confidence interval [CI] [12%, 26%]), 9% (95% CI [4%, 17%] and 2% (95% CI [0%, 9%]), respectively, and most of the seropositive animals were associated with 1:100 titres. All 13 pigs were seronegative. Leptospira DNA was found in the renal tissue of 10% (95% CI [5%, 18%]) of the cattle tested (n = 100). Leptospira borgpetersenii was the main species present (n = 7), but Leptospira interrogans (n = 2) and Leptospira kirschneri (n = 1) were also detected. Various serogroups (Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Pyrogenes, Australis and Autumnalis) were detected using microscopic agglutination test without a clear predominance of any of them. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that abattoir workers and people living in close contact with livestock in poor urban areas are exposed to the risk of Leptospira infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Her
- Unité RS2GPVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupSaint‐Genès‐ChampanelleFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Laurent Crespin
- UMR EPIAUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupSaint‐Genès‐ChampanelleFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Jonas Etougbétché
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Karine Groud
- Unité RS2GPVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
| | - Mathias Gnolonfoun
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Audrey Chapron
- Laboratoire des Leptospires et Analyses VétérinairesVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
| | - Camille Evenamia
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Gualbert Houéménou
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Thibaut Lurier
- UMR EPIAUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupSaint‐Genès‐ChampanelleFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Julien Cappelle
- ASTRE, Université Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAEMontpellierFrance
| | - Gauthier Dobigny
- UMR Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des PopulationsInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Université MontpellierMontpellierFrance
- Unité PesteInstitut Pasteur de MadagascarAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - Florence Ayral
- Unité RS2GPVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
- Laboratoire des Leptospires et Analyses VétérinairesVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
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Blanco RM, Lima EDS, de Haro GN, Kamikawa CM, Blanco RM, Vincentini AP, Romero EC. Comparative analysis of a novel N-butanol-prepared antigen vs thermo-resistant and sonicated antigens for human leptospirosis detection. Lett Appl Microbiol 2024; 77:ovae004. [PMID: 38216452 DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovae004] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
The diagnosis of human leptospirosis is mainly based on serological assays. Since the extraction by N-butanol has only been studied as an antigen for the diagnosis of cattle leptospirosis, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the N-butanol preparation for the diagnosis of human leptospirosis and compare it with sonicated and thermo-resistant antigens in IgM dot-blot test. Paired serum samples from 147 laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis cases were tested. The control group consisted of 148 serum samples from healthy individuals and nonleptospirosis cases. N-butanol antigens from serovar Copenhageni (ButC3) and serovar Patoc (ButP3) showed reactivity with antileptospiral antibodies from patients with confirmed leptospirosis. In the acute phase, sensitivities of IgM dot-blot assay with ButC3 and ButP3 antigens were 47.6% and 51.0%, respectively. In the convalescent phase, sensitivities were 95.9% (ButC3) and 93.2% (ButP3), and no significant differences were observed among the IgM dot-blot tests with other antigens. The specificity of the IgM dot-blot test with ButC3 antigen was good (92.6%), but with ButP3 (83.1%), it was significantly lower than with the other tests. The IgM dot-blot test described in this study is simple to perform and presents reliable visual results. Antigens prepared by N-butanol proved to be valuable diagnostic markers of leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Morozetti Blanco
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centro de Bacteriologia, Laboratório de Leptospirose, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, 01246-903 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Elaine Dos Santos Lima
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centro de Bacteriologia, Laboratório de Leptospirose, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Nogueira de Haro
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, 01246-903 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Mika Kamikawa
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centro de Imunologia, Laboratório de Imunodiagnóstico das Micoses, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Pardini Vincentini
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centro de Imunologia, Laboratório de Imunodiagnóstico das Micoses, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliete Caló Romero
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centro de Bacteriologia, Laboratório de Leptospirose, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, 01246-903 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Sohm C, Steiner J, Jöbstl J, Wittek T, Firth C, Steinparzer R, Desvars-Larrive A. A systematic review on leptospirosis in cattle: A European perspective. One Health 2023; 17:100608. [PMID: 37577054 PMCID: PMC10416059 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which is globally distributed and represents a classic One Health issue that demands a comprehensive understanding of the hosts, transmission paths, and risk factors of transmission. Bovine leptospirosis often results in economic losses through its severe impact on reproduction performance while it threatens human health at human-cattle-environment interfaces. However, a clear analysis of the disease characteristics in European cattle is currently lacking. The objective of this review was to summarise the current knowledge on the epidemiology of bovine leptospirosis in Europe. We conducted a systematic literature review, screening four electronic databases, and filtered articles published between 2001 and 2021, in English, German, and French. Sixty-two articles were ultimately included in the review. The seroprevalence of leptospirosis in cattle was remarkably variable among studies, probably reflecting local variations but also heterogeneity in the study designs, laboratory methods, and sample sizes. Risk factors positively associated with the disease were diverse, related to local, environmental, and climatic parameters as well as farming practices. The most reported circulating Leptospira serogroups in European cattle were Sejroe (58.5%), Australis (41.5%), Grippotyphosa (41.5%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (37.7%), and Pomona (26.4%), which have also been associated with human infections worldwide. Abortion (58.6%) and fertility disorders (24.1%) were the most frequently reported signs of leptospirosis in European cattle and were generally associated with chronic infections. This work highlights several research gaps, including a lack of harmonisation in diagnostic methods, a lack of large-scale studies, and a lack of molecular investigations. Given that predictions regarding the climatic suitability for leptospirosis in Europe suggest an increase of leptospirosis risk it is important to raise awareness among stakeholders and motivate an integrated One Health approach to the prevention and control of this zoonotic disease in cattle and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Sohm
- VetFarm, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Kremesberg 13, 2563 Pottenstein, Austria
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- University Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Janina Steiner
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Jöbstl
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wittek
- University Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Clair Firth
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Romana Steinparzer
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria
| | - Amélie Desvars-Larrive
- VetFarm, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Kremesberg 13, 2563 Pottenstein, Austria
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Josefstädter Straße 39, 1080 Vienna, Austria
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Yang T, Yang W, Kuang G, Pan H, Han X, Yang L, Wang J, Feng Y. Prevalence and Characteristics of Novel Pathogenic Leptospira Species in Bats in Yunnan Province, China. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1619. [PMID: 37375121 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis has been identified as a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the bacterial genus Leptospira. Rodents are considered the primary hosts of these bacteria, whereas many recent studies suggest that bats may serve as potential natural reservoirs. However, studies on pathogenic spirochetes hosted by bat populations still need to be completed in China. In this study, a total of 276 bats belonging to five genera collected in Yunnan Province (Southwest China) from 2017 to 2021 were included in the screening. Pathogenic spirochetes were detected by PCR amplification and sequencing targeting four genes (rrs, secY, flaB, and LipL32), resulting in 17 positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis based on multi-loci concatenated sequences, inferred by MLST approach, identified the strains as two novel Leptospira species within the pathogenic group. Of note, only Rousettus leschenaultii was found to harbor these spirochetes, suggesting it may be one of the potential natural reservoirs in circulating leptospires in this region. Nevertheless, the pathogenesis and transmission dynamics still need to be fully understood, requiring in-depth studies on other animals and the surrounding population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Yang
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Weihong Yang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Guopeng Kuang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Hong Pan
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Xi Han
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Lifen Yang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
| | - Yun Feng
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, China
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8
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Bonhomme D, Hernandez-Trejo V, Papadopoulos S, Pigache R, Fanton d'Andon M, Outlioua A, Boneca IG, Werts C. Leptospira interrogans Prevents Macrophage Cell Death and Pyroptotic IL-1β Release through Its Atypical Lipopolysaccharide. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:459-474. [PMID: 36602965 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Leptospira interrogans are bacteria that can infect all vertebrates and are responsible for leptospirosis, a neglected zoonosis. Some hosts, such as humans, are susceptible to the disease, whereas mice are resistant and get chronically colonized. Although leptospires escape recognition by some immune receptors, they activate the NOD-like receptor pyrin 3-inflammasome and trigger IL-1β secretion. Classically, IL-1β secretion is associated with lytic inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis, resulting from cytosolic LPS binding to inflammatory caspases, such as caspase 11. Interestingly, we showed that L. interrogans and Leptospira biflexa do not trigger cell death in either murine, human, hamster, or bovine macrophages, escaping both pyroptosis and apoptosis. We showed, in murine cells, that the mild IL-1β secretion induced by leptospires occurred through nonlytic caspase 8-dependent gasdermin D pore formation and not through activation of caspase 11/noncanonical inflammasome. Strikingly, we demonstrated a potent antagonistic effect of pathogenic L. interrogans and their atypical LPS on spontaneous and Escherichia coli LPS-induced cell death. Indeed, LPS of L. interrogans efficiently prevents caspase 11 dimerization and subsequent massive gasdermin D cleavage. Finally, we showed that pyroptosis escape by leptospires prevents massive IL-1β release, and we consistently found no major role of IL-1R in controlling experimental leptospirosis in vivo. Overall, to our knowledge, our findings described a novel mechanism by which leptospires dampen inflammation, thus potentially contributing to their stealthiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Bonhomme
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Veronica Hernandez-Trejo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Stylianos Papadopoulos
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Rémi Pigache
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Martine Fanton d'Andon
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Outlioua
- INSERM, UMR_S 1197, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France; and.,Health and Environment Laboratory, Aïn Chock Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ivo G Boneca
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Werts
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
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9
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Azócar-Aedo L. Basic Aspects and Epidemiological Studies on Leptospirosis Carried Out in Animals in Chile: A Bibliographic Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020097. [PMID: 36828513 PMCID: PMC9964289 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an important zoonosis worldwide. This disease affects numerous animal species, some of them are classified as "maintenance hosts", and others are categorized as "incidental hosts". Humans are at risk of becoming infected by having contact with domestic and wild animals. In this paper, general aspects of the etiology and transmission of leptospirosis are addressed, data regarding the clinical presentation of the pathology in humans and animals are also presented, and the results of some epidemiological studies on leptospirosis carried out in Chile in different animal species and humans are summarized through a bibliographic review of the literature. The research on domestic canines and horses stands out in terms of their number in the country, with prevalences between 12.0% and 59.1% in dogs and from 23.3% to 65.4% in equids. Studies have been performed on domestic felines in recent years with frequencies ranging from 3.0% to 25.2%, as well as on wild animals (mainly in mammals). In pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats, the information is scarce, with little updated research dating back several decades and variable prevalence rates, which are generally high, except for in sheep. Leptospirosis is a disease of varied etiology in terms of infecting species, serovars and serogroups, which influences its epidemiology, and its prevalence is variable in different animals. An increase in the awareness given to this pathology in human and veterinary public health is required, as well as more scientific studies in Chile, to update the existing knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Azócar-Aedo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede De La Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
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10
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Mazzotta E, De Zan G, Cocchi M, Boniotti MB, Bertasio C, Furlanello T, Lucchese L, Ceglie L, Bellinati L, Natale A. Feline Susceptibility to Leptospirosis and Presence of Immunosuppressive Co-Morbidities: First European Report of L. interrogans Serogroup Australis Sequence Type 24 in a Cat and Survey of Leptospira Exposure in Outdoor Cats. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8010054. [PMID: 36668961 PMCID: PMC9865706 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases and can infect both humans and animals worldwide. The role of the cat as a susceptible host and potential environmental reservoir of Leptospira is still not well understood, due to the lack of obvious clinical signs associated with Leptospira spp. infection in this species. This study aims to describe the first European detection of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Australis ST 24 in a young outdoor cat with a severe comorbidity (feline panleukopenia virus). In addition, the results of a preliminary study conducted in 2014-2016 are presented (RC IZSVE 16/12), which reports an investigation of Leptospira exposure of outdoor cats in Northeast Italy by means of serological investigation and molecular evaluation of urine. The animals included in the survey are part of samples collected during active and passive surveillance (diagnostic samples). The study reported a seroprevalence of 10.5% among outdoor cats and the serogroups identified were Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bratislava, Canicola and Ballum. Symptomatic cats reported high MAT titres (ranging from 1:800 to 1:1600) towards antigens belonging to the serovars Grippotyphosa (1:800), Bratislava (1:1600), Icterohaemorrhagiae (1:200) and Copenhageni (1:200-1:800). In one subject, urine tested positive for Leptospira PCR. Cats with high antibody titres for Leptospira and/or positivity on molecular test suffered from immunosuppressive comorbidities (feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus; feline herpesvirus and lymphoma; hyperthyroidism). The overall prevalence of serum antibodies against Leptospira found in free-ranging cats (10.53%, 95% CI: 4.35-16.70%) and the identification of L. interrogans ST 24 in a young cat with immunosuppressive disease (feline panleukopenia virus) suggest the possibility of natural resistance to clinical leptospirosis in healthy cats. In a One Health perspective, further studies are needed to better define the pathogenesis of leptospirosis in cats and their epidemiological role as environmental sentinels or possible carriers of pathogenic Leptospira.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mazzotta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (G.D.Z.); Tel.: +39-0498084461 (E.M.)
| | - Gabrita De Zan
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (G.D.Z.); Tel.: +39-0498084461 (E.M.)
| | - Monia Cocchi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Boniotti
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Bertasio
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Furlanello
- Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory San Marco, Viale dell’Industria, 35030 Veggiano, Italy
| | - Laura Lucchese
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Letizia Ceglie
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Laura Bellinati
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Alda Natale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
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11
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Tabassum S, Naeem A, Ahmad RU, Naeem F, Oduoye MO, Mukherjee D. Leptospirosis outbreak in Tanzania amidst COVID-19 pandemic: current challenges and future recommendations. Int J Surg 2023; 109:45-47. [PMID: 36799790 PMCID: PMC10389586 DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000000124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Aroma Naeem
- King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Farhan Naeem
- King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Malik O. Oduoye
- College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
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12
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Landolt NY, Chiani YT, Pujato N, Jacob P, Schmeling MF, García Effron G, Vanasco NB. Utility evaluation of two molecular methods for Leptospira spp. typing in human serum samples. Heliyon 2022; 9:e12564. [PMID: 36747527 PMCID: PMC9898289 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the available genotyping methods were applied and evaluated in Leptospira isolates and only few of them in a relevant sample size of blood specimens but not of sera. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of one partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing assay (16S rRNA) and an optimized. Multilocus sequence typing scheme (MLST) for Leptospira typing directly in serum samples. Confirmed leptospirosis patients (n = 228) from Argentina (2005-2016) were randomly included. Septicemic-phase serum samples (n = 228) were studied by two genotyping methods. Available immune-phase serum samples of the included patients (n = 159) were studied by MAT to compare serological and molecular results. In culture-proven cases (n = 8), genotyping results between clinical samples and isolates were compared. Typing success rate (TSR) was 21.9% for 16S rRNA and 11.4% for MLST (full allelic profile) and a positive trend in both TSR during the study period was observed. Two species (L. interrogans and L. borgpertesenii) were identified by both methods and MLST assigned 8 different STs. The probable serogroups identified by MLST were coincident with the presumptive infecting serogroups identified by MAT, but with different frequencies. The three serogroups (Canicola, Sejroe and Icterohaemorrhagiae) most frequently identified by MAT were also genotyped by MLST. Typing results via 16S rRNA and MLST in clinical samples and isolates of culture-proven cases, were consistent except for one case. Performance of partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing assay and the optimized MLST scheme directly in sera may increase and improve the knowledge about species and serogroups causing human leptospirosis, especially in countries with low rates of culture sample collection or Leptospira isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Yolanda Landolt
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Yosena Teresita Chiani
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Nazarena Pujato
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paulina Jacob
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Fernanda Schmeling
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Guillermo García Effron
- Laboratorio de Micología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Cátedra de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), CCT, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Norma Bibiana Vanasco
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Corresponding author.
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13
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Beltrán OG, Torres Higuera LD, Rodríguez Bautista JL, Patiño Burbano RE. Evaluation of the genetic stability of Leptospira reference strains maintained under two conservation methods. NOVA 2022. [DOI: 10.22490/24629448.6585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective. The genetic stability of Strains of Leptospira spp., maintained under two conservation systems, was evaluated. Methodology. The degree of conservation of the 16S rRNA and ompL1 genes of 10 reference serovars from the Leptospira spp. collection, belonging to the Sistema de Bancos de Germoplasma de la Nación para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (SBGNAA), was determined. Results. It was corroborated that the genes evaluated these have not undergone considerable changes, since similarities greater than 99.69 % were evidenced for 16S rRNA and 99.02% for ompL1, in the paired alignments. Conclusion. The genetic stability and purity of the reference strains of Leptospira spp. were verified. spp., kept in cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C and at room temperature for approximately eight years.
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14
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Modeling of the combined dynamics of leptospirosis transmission and seroconversion in herds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15620. [PMID: 36114406 PMCID: PMC9481562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19833-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease-causing illness in both humans and animals resulting in related economic impacts due to production loss as well as prevention and control efforts. Several mathematical models have been proposed to study the dynamics of infection but none of them has so far taken into account the dynamics of seroconversion. In this study, we have developed a general framework, based on the kinetic model for animal leptospirosis, that combines both the antibody (exposure marker) and infection dynamics to simultaneously follows both seroconversion and infection status of leptospirosis in a herd population. It is a stochastic compartmental model (for transition rates) with time delay (for seroconversion) which describes the progression of infection by a SEIRS (susceptible, exposed, infected, removed and susceptible) approach and seroconversion by four-state antibody kinetics (antibody negative and three antibody positive states of different antibody levels). The model shows that it is possible to assess and follow both seroconversion and infection status through the prism of diagnostic testing. Such an approach of combined kinetics could prove very useful to assist the competent authorities in their analyzes of epidemic situations and in the implementation of strategies for controlling and managing the associated risks.
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15
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Courrol DDS, da Silva CCF, Prado LG, Chura-Chambi RM, Morganti L, de Souza GO, Heinemann MB, Isaac L, Conte FP, Portaro FCV, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Barbosa AS. Leptolysin, a Leptospira secreted metalloprotease of the pappalysin family with broad-spectrum activity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:966370. [PMID: 36081769 PMCID: PMC9445424 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.966370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular proteolytic enzymes are produced by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, and contribute to host colonization by modulating virulence. Here, we present a first characterization of leptolysin, a Leptospira metalloprotease of the pappalysin family identified in a previous exoproteomic study. Comparative molecular analysis of leptolysin with two other pappalysins from prokaryotes, ulilysin and mirolysin, reveals similarities regarding calcium, zinc, and arginine -binding sites conservation within the catalytic domain, but also discloses peculiarities. Variations observed in the primary and tertiary structures may reflect differences in primary specificities. Purified recombinant leptolysin of L. interrogans was obtained as a ~50 kDa protein. The protease exhibited maximal activity at pH 8.0 and 37°C, and hydrolytic activity was observed in the presence of different salts with maximum efficiency in NaCl. Substrate specificity was assessed using a small number of FRET peptides, and showed a marked preference for arginine residues at the P1 position. L. interrogans leptolysin proteolytic activity on proteinaceous substrates such as proteoglycans and plasma fibronectin was also evaluated. All proteins tested were efficiently degraded over time, confirming the protease´s broad-spectrum activity in vitro. In addition, leptolysin induced morphological alterations on HK-2 cells, which may be partially attributed to extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Hemorrhagic foci were observed in the dorsal skin of mice intradermally injected with leptolysin, as a plausible consequence of ECM disarray and vascular endothelium glycocalyx damage. Assuming that leptospiral proteases play an important role in all stages of the infectious process, characterizing their functional properties, substrates and mechanisms of action is of great importance for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luan Gavião Prado
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria Chura-Chambi
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Biotechnology, Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN)-CNEN/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ligia Morganti
- Center of Biotechnology, Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN)-CNEN/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gisele Oliveira de Souza
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Bryan Heinemann
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lourdes Isaac
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Paiva Conte
- Pilot Plant Implementation Project, Immunobiological Technology Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Angela Silva Barbosa
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Angela Silva Barbosa,
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16
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Santecchia I, Bonhomme D, Papadopoulos S, Escoll P, Giraud-Gatineau A, Moya-Nilges M, Vernel-Pauillac F, Boneca IG, Werts C. Alive Pathogenic and Saprophytic Leptospires Enter and Exit Human and Mouse Macrophages With No Intracellular Replication. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:936931. [PMID: 35899053 PMCID: PMC9310662 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.936931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospira interrogans are pathogenic bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, a zoonosis impacting 1 million people per year worldwide. Leptospires can infect all vertebrates, but not all hosts develop similar symptoms. Human and cattle may suffer from mild to acute illnesses and are therefore considered as sensitive to leptospirosis. In contrast, mice and rats remain asymptomatic upon infection, although they get chronically colonized in their kidneys. Upon infection, leptospires are stealth pathogens that partially escape the recognition by the host innate immune system. Although leptospires are mainly extracellular bacteria, it was suggested that they could also replicate within macrophages. However, contradictory data in the current literature led us to reevaluate these findings. Using a gentamicin–protection assay coupled to high-content (HC) microscopy, we observed that leptospires were internalized in vivo upon peritoneal infection of C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, three different serotypes of pathogenic L. interrogans and the saprophytic L. biflexa actively infected both human (PMA differentiated) THP1 and mouse RAW264.7 macrophage cell lines. Next, we assessed the intracellular fate of leptospires using bioluminescent strains, and we observed a drastic reduction in the leptospiral intracellular load between 3 h and 6 h post-infection, suggesting that leptospires do not replicate within these cells. Surprisingly, the classical macrophage microbicidal mechanisms (phagocytosis, autophagy, TLR–mediated ROS, and RNS production) were not responsible for the observed decrease. Finally, we demonstrated that the reduction in the intracellular load was associated with an increase of the bacteria in the supernatant, suggesting that leptospires exit both human and murine macrophages. Overall, our study reevaluated the intracellular fate of leptospires and favors an active entrance followed by a rapid exit, suggesting that leptospires do not have an intracellular lifestyle in macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Santecchia
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Bonhomme
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Stylianos Papadopoulos
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Pedro Escoll
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, Unité Biologie des Bactéries Intracellulaires, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Giraud-Gatineau
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, Paris, France
| | - Maryse Moya-Nilges
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, Plateforme de Bio-imagerie Ultrastructurale, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Vernel-Pauillac
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Ivo Gomperts Boneca
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Werts
- Institut Pasteur, Université Cité Paris, CNRS UMR6047, INSERM U1306, Unité de Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Catherine Werts,
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17
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Pinto GV, Kuppusamy S, Rai P, Kabekkodu SP, Karunasagar I, Kumar BK. Current methods for the diagnosis of leptospirosis: Issues and challenges. J Microbiol Methods 2022; 195:106438. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2022.106438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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Chieng Raymond SC. Leptospirosis. WIKIJOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.15347/wjm/2022.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacterium Leptospira. Signs and symptoms can range from none to mild (headaches, muscle pains, and fevers) to severe (bleeding in the lungs or meningitis). Weil's disease, the acute, severe form of leptospirosis, causes the infected individual to become jaundiced (skin and eyes become yellow), develop kidney failure, and bleed. Pulmonary hemorrhage in association with leptospirosis is known as "severe pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome". More than ten genetic types of Leptospira, which are a type of a spirochaete, cause disease in humans. Both wild and domestic animals can spread the disease, most commonly rodents. The bacteria are spread to humans through animal urine, or water and soil contaminated with animal urine, coming into contact with the eyes, mouth, nose or breaks in the skin. In developing countries, the disease occurs most commonly in farmers and low-income people who live in areas with poor sanitation. In developed countries, it occurs during heavy downpours and can affect those involved in outdoor activities in warm and wet areas. Diagnosis is typically by testing for antibodies against the bacteria or finding bacterial DNA in the blood. Efforts to prevent the disease include protective equipment to block contact when working with potentially infected animals, washing after contact, and reducing rodents in areas where people live and work. The antibiotic doxycycline is effective in preventing leptospirosis infection. Human vaccines are of limited usefulness; vaccines for other animals are more widely available. Treatment when infected is with antibiotics such as doxycycline, penicillin, or ceftriaxone. The overall risk of death is 5–10%. However, when the lungs are involved, the risk of death increases to the range of 50–70%. It is estimated that one million people worldwide are infected by leptospirosis every year, causing approximately 58,900 deaths. The disease is most common in tropical areas of the world but may occur anywhere. Outbreaks may arise after heavy rainfall. The disease was first described by physician Adolf Weil in 1886 in Germany. Infected animals may have no, mild or severe symptoms. These may vary by the type of animal. In some animals Leptospira live in the reproductive tract, leading to transmission during mating.
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Grassmann AA, Zavala-Alvarado C, Bettin EB, Picardeau M, Benaroudj N, Caimano MJ. The FUR-like regulators PerRA and PerRB integrate a complex regulatory network that promotes mammalian host-adaptation and virulence of Leptospira interrogans. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009078. [PMID: 34855918 PMCID: PMC8638967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospira interrogans, the causative agent of most cases of human leptospirosis, must respond to myriad environmental signals during its free-living and pathogenic lifestyles. Previously, we compared L. interrogans cultivated in vitro and in vivo using a dialysis membrane chamber (DMC) peritoneal implant model. From these studies emerged the importance of genes encoding the Peroxide responsive regulators PerRA and PerRB. First described in in Bacillus subtilis, PerRs are widespread in Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, where regulate the expression of gene products involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species and virulence. Using perRA and perRB single and double mutants, we establish that L. interrogans requires at least one functional PerR for infectivity and renal colonization in a reservoir host. Our finding that the perRA/B double mutant survives at wild-type levels in DMCs is noteworthy as it demonstrates that the loss of virulence is not due to a metabolic lesion (i.e., metal starvation) but instead reflects dysregulation of virulence-related gene products. Comparative RNA-Seq analyses of perRA, perRB and perRA/B mutants cultivated within DMCs identified 106 genes that are dysregulated in the double mutant, including ligA, ligB and lvrA/B sensory histidine kinases. Decreased expression of LigA and LigB in the perRA/B mutant was not due to loss of LvrAB signaling. The majority of genes in the perRA and perRB single and double mutant DMC regulons were differentially expressed only in vivo, highlighting the importance of host signals for regulating gene expression in L. interrogans. Importantly, the PerRA, PerRB and PerRA/B DMC regulons each contain multiple genes related to environmental sensing and/or transcriptional regulation. Collectively, our data suggest that PerRA and PerRB are part of a complex regulatory network that promotes host adaptation by L. interrogans within mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- André A. Grassmann
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Crispin Zavala-Alvarado
- Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Communauté d’universités et d’établissements (COMUE), Bio Sorbonne Paris Cité (BioSPC), Paris, France
| | - Everton B. Bettin
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sol, Brazil
| | - Mathieu Picardeau
- Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Benaroudj
- Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Melissa J. Caimano
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
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20
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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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21
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Maiolino SR, Cortez A, Langoni H, Giuffrida R, Dos Santos JR, de Nardi Júnior G, Lara GHB, Motta RG, Chacur MGM, Monteiro FM, Heinemann MB, de Souza Filho AF, de Souza Araújo Martins L, Bello TS, Ribeiro MG. Sperm viability, serological, molecular, and modified seminal plasma agglutination tests in the diagnosis of Leptospira in the semen and serum of bovine bulls. Braz J Microbiol 2021; 52:2431-2438. [PMID: 34424509 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00562-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the serum microscopic agglutination test (MAT) among 203 bovine bulls with reproduction by natural means, without apparent signs of orchitis or inflammation of accessory reproductive glands. Simultaneously, the semen of all bulls was subjected to sperm viability analysis and PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene. PCR-positive results of semen samples were confirmed by sequencing. A modified seminal plasma agglutination (MSPA) test, replacing the blood serum of all bulls in the MAT with seminal plasma was performed as well. Eight (8/203 = 3.9%) semen samples from bulls were considered nonviable (necrospermia and azoospermia) without relation to the PCR diagnosis. No agglutinin titers were identified in MSPA test. A high frequency (132/203 = 65%) of leptospiral agglutinin titers was identified in the MAT, particularly for the Sejroe serogroup (Hardjo CTG, 100/203 = 49.3%; Wolffi 74/203 = 36.4%; Guaricura 72/203 = 35.5%; and Hardjoprajitno 56/203 = 27.6%). Three (3/203 = 1.5%) semen samples of bulls were positive in the PCR, but these results were not confirmed by sequencing. The high frequency of serovars from the Sejroe serogroup typically adapted to bovines indicates the need for measures for the prophylaxis/control of the pathogen on the sampled farms. Discrepancies among the MAT, sperm viability, and molecular detection of leptospires in semen highlight the need for a combination of methods to diagnose leptospirosis in bovine bulls. To our knowledge, modified seminal plasma agglutination is described for the first time here to investigate anti-Leptospira antibodies produced locally in the genital tract in the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis among bulls that reproduce by natural means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Ricardo Maiolino
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Helio Langoni
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | - Rogério Giuffrida
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Joeleni Rosa Dos Santos
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Henrique Batista Lara
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Garcia Motta
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Lorrayne de Souza Araújo Martins
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | - Thaís Spessotto Bello
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | - Márcio Garcia Ribeiro
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine an Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, 18618-681, SP, Brazil.
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22
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Rees EM, Minter A, Edmunds WJ, Lau CL, Kucharski AJ, Lowe R. Transmission modelling of environmentally persistent zoonotic diseases: a systematic review. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e466-e478. [PMID: 34245717 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00137-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Transmission of many infectious diseases depends on interactions between humans, animals, and the environment. Incorporating these complex processes in transmission dynamic models can help inform policy and disease control interventions. We identified 20 diseases involving environmentally persistent pathogens (ie, pathogens that survive for more than 48 h in the environment and can cause subsequent human infections), of which indirect transmission can occur from animals to humans via the environment. Using a systematic approach, we critically appraised dynamic transmission models for environmentally persistent zoonotic diseases to quantify traits of models across diseases. 210 transmission modelling studies were identified and most studies considered diseases of domestic animals or high-income settings, or both. We found that less than half of studies validated their models to real-world data, and environmental data on pathogen persistence was rarely incorporated. Model structures varied, with few studies considering the animal-human-environment interface of transmission in the context of a One Health framework. This Review highlights the need for more data-driven modelling of these diseases and a holistic One Health approach to model these pathogens to inform disease prevention and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M Rees
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Amanda Minter
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - W John Edmunds
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Colleen L Lau
- Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Adam J Kucharski
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rachel Lowe
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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23
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Zilch TJ, Lee JJ, Saleem MZ, Zhang H, Cortese V, Voris N, McDonough SP, Divers TJ, Chang YF. Equine leptospirosis: Experimental challenge of Leptospira interrogans serovar Bratislava fails to establish infection in naïve horses. Equine Vet J 2021; 53:845-854. [PMID: 33617667 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little information is available about experimental inoculation of leptospirosis in horses and the pathogenicity of Leptospira interrogans serovar Bratislava in this host. OBJECTIVES To determine the serological, clinical, pathological and haematological responses of horses to L. interrogans serovar Bratislava strain PigK151. STUDY DESIGN Randomised controlled in vivo experiment. METHODS Ten seronegative female foals were divided into 2 groups, control (n = 4) and challenged (n = 6). The challenged group received 1 × 109 leptospires divided equally between topical ocular and intraperitoneal injections. Blood and urine samples were analysed. The temperature was recorded daily for the first 9 days, then weekly. Sera were tested by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Automated complete blood count, differential and chemistry panel were performed. Histopathological analysis was performed on sections of liver, kidney, urinary bladder, uterine body and pineal gland. Sample culturing was performed from blood, urine, liver, kidney, reproductive tract and vitreous humour. RESULTS No pyrexia was noted. PCR and culture were negative from all samples. Differences between groups were found in CBC, differential counts and serum biochemistry panel (or profile), suggesting that leptospiral challenge triggered an inflammatory response. No evidence of leptospirosis was found from histopathological analysis. All challenged foals developed a humoral response. The MAT allowed the confirmation of the infecting serovar at a later stage, but it also revealed cross-reactive results that were further explained by genomic analysis. MAIN LIMITATIONS This experimental challenge had two main limitations: (a) the results might have varied if another strain from the same serovar had been used and (b) the use of another route of infection and a higher bacterial dose might have achieved colonisation. CONCLUSIONS Based on these findings, it may suggest that L. interrogans serovar Bratislava is neither pathogenic nor host-adapted serovar for horses, although these results might have varied if another strain from the same serovar had been used instead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago J Zilch
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jen-Jie Lee
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Muhammad Zain Saleem
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guanfzhou, China
| | | | | | - Sean P McDonough
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Thomas J Divers
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Yung-Fu Chang
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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24
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Dreyfus A, Ruf MT, Mayer-Scholl A, Zitzl T, Loosli N, Bier NS, Hiereth S, Ulrich S, Poppert S, Straubinger RK, Stenos J, Tshokey T. Exposure to Leptospira spp. and Associated Risk Factors in the Human, Cattle and Dog Populations in Bhutan. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030308. [PMID: 33800914 PMCID: PMC8000015 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a neglected worldwide zoonotic bacterial disease with a high prevalence in subtropical and tropical countries. The prevalence of Leptospira spp. in humans, cattle and dogs is unknown in Bhutan. Therefore, we sought to find out whether humans, cattle or dogs had been infected in the past with leptospires by measuring antibodies in the serum. We therefore collected blood from 864 humans ≥13 years of age, 130 bovines and 84 dogs from different rural and urban areas in Bhutan and tested the serum for antibodies specific for leptospires with a screening of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and a confirmatory microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In humans, 17.6% were seropositive by ELISA and 1.6% by MAT. The seropositivity was stronger in bovines (36.9%) and dogs (47.6%). "Having had a fever recently" (OR 5.2, p = 0.004), "working for the military" (OR 26.6, p = 0.028) and "being unemployed" (OR 12.9, p = 0.041) (reference category = housemaker) were statistically significantly associated with seropositivity when controlled for the effects of other risk factors. However, due to the small number of positive test results, the findings on risk factors should be interpreted with caution. Based on the serogroups found in the three species, dogs could be a source of infection for humans, or dogs and humans are exposed to the same environmental risk factors Clinical leptospirosis in humans and domestic animals should be investigated by testing blood and urine for the presence of leptospires by molecular methods (qPCR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anou Dreyfus
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (M.-T.R.); (N.L.); (S.P.)
- Medical Faculty, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
- Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Institut Pasteur Madagascar, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
- Correspondence:
| | - Marie-Thérèse Ruf
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (M.-T.R.); (N.L.); (S.P.)
- Medical Faculty, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (N.S.B.)
| | - Theresa Zitzl
- Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Chair for Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (S.H.); (S.U.); or (R.K.S.)
| | - Nadine Loosli
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (M.-T.R.); (N.L.); (S.P.)
- Medical Faculty, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nadja Seyhan Bier
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (N.S.B.)
| | - Stephanie Hiereth
- Chair for Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (S.H.); (S.U.); or (R.K.S.)
| | - Sebastian Ulrich
- Chair for Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (S.H.); (S.U.); or (R.K.S.)
| | - Sven Poppert
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; (M.-T.R.); (N.L.); (S.P.)
- Medical Faculty, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reinhard K. Straubinger
- Chair for Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (S.H.); (S.U.); or (R.K.S.)
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia;
| | - Tshokey Tshokey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan;
- Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan
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25
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Detection and modeling of anti- Leptospira IgG prevalence in cats from Lisbon area and its correlation to retroviral infections, lifestyle, clinical and hematologic changes. Vet Anim Sci 2020; 10:100144. [PMID: 33204894 PMCID: PMC7648175 DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2020.100144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of global importance caused by Leptospira species. Rodents are the main reservoirs, known to shed the bacteria in urine, thus contaminating water and soil and infecting other animals and people. Leptospirosis has been re-emerging in both developing and developed countries including Europe. It has been hypothesized that cats could be asymptomatic carriers of Leptospira. This study aims to evaluate cats' exposure to Leptospira in Lisbon, Portugal, by measuring IgG titres and correlating them with possible factors that may increase the risk of exposure in urban cats. Two hundred and forty-three samples were collected from the biobank. An ELISA test followed by a seroprevalence analysis using a finite mixture model was performed to detect and measure anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies titres. In parallel, a survey was conducted to identify possible risk factors for seropositivity. According to the ELISA test protocol, only twenty-three cats (9.5%; 95% CI =(6.1%;13.9%)) could be considered as seropositive to Leptospira antigens. However, when the same data were analysed by the best different mixture models, one hundred and forty-four cats (59.3%; 95%CI = (52.8%; 65.5%)) could be classified as intermediate and high antibody responders to Leptospira antigens. Seropositivity to Feline Immunodeficiency Virus infection (FIV) was found to be the only significant risk factor associated with anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies. In conclusion, the present studies raises the possibility of a higher exposure of cats to Leptospira than previously thought due to the identification of a subpopulation of cats with intermediate antibody levels.
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Key Words
- ALP, serum alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- CBC, complete blood count
- CKD, Chronic Kidney Disease
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- FIV positive
- FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus infection
- FeLV, Feline Leukemia Virus
- Free-roaming cats
- IDIU, Infectious Diseases Isolation Unit
- IgG
- IgG, Immunoglobulin G
- Leptospirosis
- MAT, microscopic agglutination tests
- One Health
- PAHO, Pan American Health organization
- USG, Urine Specific Gravity
- VTH, Veterinary Teaching Hospital
- WHO, World Health organization
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