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Wainaina M, Wasonga J, Cook EAJ. Epidemiology of human and animal leptospirosis in Kenya: A systematic review and meta-analysis of disease occurrence, serogroup diversity and risk factors. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012527. [PMID: 39331677 PMCID: PMC11463743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012527] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 10/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is a priority zoonotic disease in Kenya, but an in-depth review of its presence in humans, animals and the environment is lacking. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to understand the epidemiological situation to date. METHODOLOGY We searched for literature in African journals online, AGRIS, Embase, the Leptospira WOAH reference laboratory library, ProMED-mail, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the institutional repositories of 33 academic institutions and included 66 publications on leptospirosis in Kenya which spanned from 1951 to 2022. The review was registered on the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY). FINDINGS Most investigations were done in rural and urban areas in western, southern, central, and coastal areas in Kenya and the largely pastoral eastern and northern areas were under-represented. A wide host range of domestic animals and wildlife was revealed, and occupational exposure was an important risk factor for humans. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was the most frequent test, particularly common in studies conducted during the 1980s and 1990s. However, varying MAT panels and cut-off titres were observed. The overall seroprevalence in cattle was 28.2% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 12.0-53.0; heterogeneity: I2 = 96.7%, τ2 = 1.4), and 11.0% in goats (95% CI: 5.4-21.2; heterogeneity: I2 = 78.8%, τ2 = 0.4). Molecular tests were seldom used to determine species and illustrate strain diversity. There was a lack of awareness of leptospirosis among farmers and health practitioners. CONCLUSION The widespread presence of leptospires and inadequate diagnostic capacity demonstrate that leptospirosis is a common but underreported disease in Kenya. Raising awareness and boosting the country's diagnostic capacity is crucial to timely detection and disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Wainaina
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joseph Wasonga
- Animal and Human Health Department, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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Bettin EB, Grassmann AA, Dellagostin OA, Gogarten JP, Caimano MJ. Leptospira interrogans encodes a canonical BamA and three novel noNterm Omp85 outer membrane protein paralogs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19958. [PMID: 39198480 PMCID: PMC11358297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67772-6] [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: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The Omp85 family of outer membrane proteins are ubiquitously distributed among diderm bacteria and play essential roles in outer membrane (OM) biogenesis. The majority of Omp85 orthologs are bipartite and consist of a conserved OM-embedded 16-stranded beta-barrel and variable periplasmic functional domains. Here, we demonstrate that Leptospira interrogans encodes four distinct Omp85 proteins. The presumptive leptospiral BamA, LIC11623, contains a noncanonical POTRA4 periplasmic domain that is conserved across Leptospiraceae. The remaining three leptospiral Omp85 proteins, LIC12252, LIC12254 and LIC12258, contain conserved beta-barrels but lack periplasmic domains. Two of the three 'noNterm' Omp85-like proteins were upregulated by leptospires in urine from infected mice compared to in vitro and/or following cultivation within rat peritoneal cavities. Mice infected with a L. interrogans lic11254 transposon mutant shed tenfold fewer leptospires in their urine compared to mice infected with the wild-type parent. Analyses of pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira spp. identified five groups of noNterm Omp85 paralogs, including one pathogen- and two saprophyte-specific groups. Expanding our analysis beyond Leptospira spp., we identified additional noNterm Omp85 orthologs in bacteria isolated from diverse environments, suggesting a potential role for these previously unrecognized noNterm Omp85 proteins in physiological adaptation to harsh conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everton B Bettin
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030-3715, USA
| | - André A Grassmann
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030-3715, USA
| | - Odir A Dellagostin
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Center, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Johann Peter Gogarten
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Melissa J Caimano
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030-3715, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
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Khaki P, Bagherpour M, Gharakhani M, Sadat Soltani M, Shahcheraghi F, Sadat Nikbin V. Application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for molecular identification of pathogenic Leptospira species in Iran: a rapid and reliable method. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY 2024; 16:323-328. [PMID: 39005606 PMCID: PMC11245352 DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira serovars. The genus Leptospira cannot differentiated by conventional techniques. However, identity determination of pathogenic serovar is precious of public health problems and epidemiological studies. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis facilitates rapid identification of Leptospires to the serovar levels. Materials and Methods In this study, we employed PFGE to evaluate 28 Leptospira isolates, with animal, human and environmental origin, obtained from Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute of Karaj, Iran. PFGE patterns of 28 Leptospira serovars were generated using the Not I restriction enzyme in comparison with the lambda ladder. Results Out of 28 serovars evaluated, we identified 22 different pulsed types, designated P1-P22. Out of 22 pulse groups, 3 were found to be a common type, but others were a single Type. Groups consisting of the common type were P3, P9, P14, and P16. The results showed that the discriminatory index of PFGE by Not I enzyme was 0.99, demonstrating heterogeneous differentiation among serovar members. Conclusion The PFGE methodology used in this study showed excellent interlaboratory report usability, rapid, reliable, enabling standardization and data sharing between laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pejvak Khaki
- Department of Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohsen Bagherpour
- Department of Microbiology, Saveh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran
| | - Mehdi Gharakhani
- Department of Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
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Kirkimbayeva Z, Biyashev B, Yermagambetova S, Kuzembekova G, Abdeliev B. A retrospective study of animal leptospirosis in Kazakhstan. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11:439-448. [PMID: 39101084 PMCID: PMC11296192 DOI: 10.5455/javar.2024.k793] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of the paper was to monitor the disease incidence in farm and wild animals in some areas of Kazakhstan, which are most susceptible to leptospirosis, and the typification of isolated pathogens, carried out under the scientific and technical program "Studying the epizootological characteristics of the country territory on particularly dangerous diseases and developing veterinary and sanitary measures to improve their effectiveness" in 2021-2023. Materials and Methods The material included the reports of veterinary laboratories on leptospirosis in recent years, as well as laboratory tests on samples carried out at the "SANA" research and development enterprise. During this period, 6,701 serum samples from farm animals and 86,651 serum samples from rodents were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The serological results showed antibody titers in the blood of 6.32% of cattle, 5.4% of sheep, 4.2% of horses, and 1.8% of pigs. The highest number of positive samples were found in Turkestan (12.3%), Almaty (11.7%), and Kyzylorda (11.4%) regions. Infection in rodents was lower and ranged from 0.34% to 0.07% during these years. The population of leptospira-causing diseases of animals on the territory of the country is represented by 8 serogroups. Studies in 2022 on the detection of pathogenic leptospires by polymerase chain reaction in 350 samples of blood serum from animals and 350 samples of biomaterial from rodents from different regions of Kazakhstan were negative. Conclusion Studies conducted as part of this work will help reduce the incidence of disease among the population and animals in Kazakhstan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhumagul Kirkimbayeva
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Birzhan Biyashev
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Svetlana Yermagambetova
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Gulnur Kuzembekova
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Bek Abdeliev
- Reference Laboratory, National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbaev, Almaty, Kazakhstan
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Ormsby MJ, Woodford L, Quilliam RS. Can plastic pollution drive the emergence and dissemination of novel zoonotic diseases? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118172. [PMID: 38220083 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
As the volume of plastic in the environment increases, so too does human interactions with plastic pollution. Similarly, domestic, feral, and wild animals are increasingly interacting with plastic pollution, highlighting the potential for contamination of plastic wastes with animal faeces, urine, saliva, and blood. Substantial evidence indicates that once in the environment, plastics rapidly become colonised by microbial biofilm (the so-called 'plastisphere), which often includes potentially harmful microbial pathogens (including pathogens that are zoonotic in nature). Climate change, increased urbanisation, and the intensification of agriculture, mean that the three-way interactions between humans, animals, and plastic pollution are becoming more frequent, which is significant as almost 60% of emerging human infectious diseases during the last century have been zoonotic. Here, we critically review the potential for contaminated environmental plastics to facilitate the evolution of novel pathogenic strains of microorganisms, and the subsequent role of plastic pollution in the cyclical dissemination of zoonotic pathogens. As the interactions between humans, animals, and plastic pollution continues to grow, and the volume of plastics entering the environment increases, there is clearly an urgent need to better understand the role of plastic waste in facilitating zoonotic pathogen evolution and dissemination, and the effect this can have on environmental and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ormsby
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
| | - Luke Woodford
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Richard S Quilliam
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
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Guzmán DA, Diaz E, Sáenz C, Álvarez H, Cueva R, Zapata-Ríos G, Prado-Vivar B, Falconí M, Pearson T, Barragan V. Domestic dogs in indigenous Amazonian communities: Key players in Leptospira cycling and transmission? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011671. [PMID: 38568912 PMCID: PMC10990217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011671] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is the world's most common zoonotic disease. Mitigation and control rely on pathogen identification and understanding the roles of potential reservoirs in cycling and transmission. Underreporting and misdiagnosis obscure the magnitude of the problem and confound efforts to understand key epidemiological components. Difficulties in culturing hamper the use of serological diagnostics and delay the development of DNA detection methods. As a result, especially in complex ecosystems, we know very little about the importance of different mammalian host species in cycling and transmission to humans. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We sampled dogs from five indigenous Kichwa communities living in the Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. Blood and urine samples from domestic dogs were collected to assess the exposure of these animals to Leptospira and to identify the circulating species. Microscopic Agglutination Tests with a panel of 22 different serovars showed anti-leptospira antibodies in 36 sampled dogs (75%), and 7 serogroups were detected. Two DNA-based detection assays revealed pathogenic Leptospira DNA in 18 of 19 dog urine samples (94.7%). Amplicon sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and SecY genes from 15 urine samples revealed genetic diversity within two of three different Leptospira species: noguchii (n = 7), santarosai (n = 7), and interrogans (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The high prevalence of antibodies and Leptospira DNA provides strong evidence for high rates of past and current infections. Such high prevalence has not been previously reported for dogs. These dogs live in the peridomestic environment in close contact with humans, yet they are free-ranging animals that interact with wildlife. This complex web of interactions may explain the diverse types of pathogenic Leptospira observed in this study. Our results suggest that domestic dogs are likely to play an important role in the cycling and transmission of Leptospira. Future studies in areas with complex ecoepidemiology will enable better parsing of the significance of genotypic, environmental, and host characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Guzmán
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eduardo Diaz
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Sáenz
- Hospital de Fauna Silvestre TUERI, Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical IBIOTROP, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Hernán Álvarez
- Wildlife Conservation Society–Ecuador Program, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Rubén Cueva
- Wildlife Conservation Society–Ecuador Program, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Belén Prado-Vivar
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Mercy Falconí
- Agencia de Regulación y Control Fito y Zoosanitario-Agrocalidad, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Talima Pearson
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Veronica Barragan
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
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Rodarte KA, Fair JM, Bett BK, Kerfua SD, Fasina FO, Bartlow AW. A scoping review of zoonotic parasites and pathogens associated with abattoirs in Eastern Africa and recommendations for abattoirs as disease surveillance sites. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1194964. [PMID: 37529427 PMCID: PMC10387540 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1194964] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abattoirs are facilities where livestock are slaughtered and are an important aspect in the food production chain. There are several types of abattoirs, which differ in infrastructure and facilities, sanitation and PPE practices, and adherence to regulations. In each abattoir facility, worker exposure to animals and animal products increases their risk of infection from zoonotic pathogens. Backyard abattoirs and slaughter slabs have the highest risk of pathogen transmission because of substandard hygiene practices and minimal infrastructure. These abattoir conditions can often contribute to environmental contamination and may play a significant role in disease outbreaks within communities. To assess further the risk of disease, we conducted a scoping review of parasites and pathogens among livestock and human workers in abattoirs across 13 Eastern African countries, which are hotspots for zoonoses. Our search results (n = 104 articles) showed the presence of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and macroparasites (nematodes, cestodes, etc.) in cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, camels, and poultry. Most articles reported results from cattle, and the most frequent pathogen detected was Mycobacterium bovis, which causes bovine tuberculosis. Some articles included worker survey and questionnaires that suggested how the use of PPE along with proper worker training and safe animal handling practices could reduce disease risk. Based on these findings, we discuss ways to improve abattoir biosafety and increase biosurveillance for disease control and mitigation. Abattoirs are a 'catch all' for pathogens, and by surveying animals at abattoirs, health officials can determine which diseases are prevalent in different regions and which pathogens are most likely transmitted from wildlife to livestock. We suggest a regional approach to biosurveillance, which will improve testing and data gathering for enhanced disease risk mapping and forecasting. Next generation sequencing will be key in identifying a wide range of pathogens, rather than a targeted approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie A. Rodarte
- Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Jeanne M. Fair
- Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Bernard K. Bett
- International Livestock Research Institute and ILRI/BMZ One Health Research, Education, Outreach and Awareness Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan D. Kerfua
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Folorunso O. Fasina
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Andrew W. Bartlow
- Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
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Lekhal L, Harran E, Aragon A, Groud K, Le Guyader M, Kaidi R, Khelef D, Djelouadji Z. First Molecular Detection of Pathogens Leptospira in Common Rodent Captured in North Algeria Urban Areas. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:335. [PMID: 36355878 PMCID: PMC9693108 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110335] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an anthropozoonosis disease of worldwide distribution caused by mobile spirochetes of the genus Leptospira and rodents, mainly rats, are described as its primary reservoir. In Algeria, there is limited data about the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in humans and animals, as well as Leptospira carriage in wild rodents. The study aimed to highlight the importance of rodents as a reservoir of Leptospira bacterium in Blida city in Algeria by detecting and identifying circulating Leptospira species in the rodent population. A total of 101 rodents, 95 Rattus Norvegicus, 5 Rattus Rattus, and 1 Mus Musculus were captured and tested for pathogenic Leptospira spp. byreal-time PCR targeting the Leptospira 16S rRNA (rrs) gene, revealing a total prevalence of 40.6%, 95% IC [30.9-50.8%]. Positive samples were subjected to species-specific real-time PCR assays targeting L. interrogans, L. noguchii, L. borgpetersenii, and L. kirschneri for species identification. However, positive samples for which Leptospira-species could not be determined were subjected to conventional PCR targeting the partial 16S rRNA (rrs) gene, and amplified DNA was subjected to sequencing. Leptospira spp. was detected in 36 kidney, 16 urine, and three lung specimens. L. interrogans was identified in 39 rodents and L. borpetersenii in one rodent; however, one rodent with renal carriage could not be typed due to poor DNA quality. This study provides the first description of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in wild rodents in Algeria. These findings suggest a high potential risk of leptospirosis transmission from rodents to humans and animals in Algeria and therefore imply the adoption of prophylactic measures. In addition, further studies, including different animals and rodent species, should be conducted to clarify the epidemiology of this disease in Algeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lila Lekhal
- Laboratoroire des Biotechnologies Liées à la Reproduction Animale, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires, Univerité Saad Dahlab Blida1, P.B. 270, Route de Soumaa, Blida 09000, Algeria
- Départment des Sciences Vétérinaires, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires, Université Saad Dahlab Blid1, Blida 09000, Algeria
| | - Elena Harran
- USC1233-INRAe Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 69280 Marcy l’Etoile, France
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh P.O. Box 446, Lebanon
| | - Anaïs Aragon
- USC1233-INRAe Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 69280 Marcy l’Etoile, France
| | - Karine Groud
- USC1233-INRAe Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 69280 Marcy l’Etoile, France
| | - Marine Le Guyader
- USC1233-INRAe Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 69280 Marcy l’Etoile, France
| | - Rachid Kaidi
- Laboratoroire des Biotechnologies Liées à la Reproduction Animale, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires, Univerité Saad Dahlab Blida1, P.B. 270, Route de Soumaa, Blida 09000, Algeria
- Départment des Sciences Vétérinaires, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires, Université Saad Dahlab Blid1, Blida 09000, Algeria
| | - Djamel Khelef
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, Oued Smar, Alger 16000, Algeria
- Laboratoire de Santé et Production Animale, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, Oued Smar, Alger 16000, Algeria
| | - Zouheira Djelouadji
- USC1233-INRAe Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 69280 Marcy l’Etoile, France
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Lai WY, Wong Z, Chang CH, Samian MR, Watanabe N, Teh AH, Noordin R, Ong EBB. Identifying Leptospira interrogans putative virulence factors with a yeast protein expression screen. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:6567-6581. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12160-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Gomard Y, Goodman SM, Soarimalala V, Turpin M, Lenclume G, Ah-Vane M, Golden CD, Tortosa P. Co-Radiation of Leptospira and Tenrecidae (Afrotheria) on Madagascar. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7080193. [PMID: 36006285 PMCID: PMC9415048 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080193] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira that are maintained in the kidney lumen of infected animals acting as reservoirs and contaminating the environment via infected urine. The investigation of leptospirosis through a One Health framework has been stimulated by notable genetic diversity of pathogenic Leptospira combined with a high infection prevalence in certain animal reservoirs. Studies of Madagascar’s native mammal fauna have revealed a diversity of Leptospira with high levels of host-specificity. Native rodents, tenrecids, and bats shelter several distinct lineages and species of Leptospira, some of which have also been detected in acute human cases. Specifically, L. mayottensis, first discovered in humans on Mayotte, an island neighboring Madagascar, was subsequently identified in a few species of tenrecids on the latter island, which comprise an endemic family of small mammals. Distinct L. mayottensis lineages were identified in shrew tenrecs (Microgale cowani and Nesogale dobsoni) on Madagascar, and later in an introduced population of spiny tenrecs (Tenrec ecaudatus) on Mayotte. These findings suggest that L. mayottensis (i) has co-radiated with tenrecids on Madagascar, and (ii) has recently emerged in human populations on Mayotte following the introduction of T. ecaudatus from Madagascar. Hitherto, L. mayottensis has not been detected in spiny tenrecs on Madagascar. In the present study, we broaden the investigation of Malagasy tenrecids and test the emergence of L. mayottensis in humans as a result of the introduction of T. ecaudatus on Mayotte. We screened by PCR 55 tenrecid samples from Madagascar, including kidney tissues from 24 individual T. ecaudatus. We describe the presence of L. mayottensis in Malagasy T. ecaudatus in agreement with the aforementioned hypothesis, as well as in M. thomasi, a tenrecid species that has not been explored thus far for Leptospira carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Gomard
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 97490 Sainte-Clotilde, France
| | - Steven M. Goodman
- Association Vahatra, BP 3972, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
| | | | - Magali Turpin
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 97490 Sainte-Clotilde, France
| | - Guenaëlle Lenclume
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 97490 Sainte-Clotilde, France
| | - Marion Ah-Vane
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 97490 Sainte-Clotilde, France
| | - Christopher D. Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pablo Tortosa
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 97490 Sainte-Clotilde, France
- Correspondence:
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Gutiérrez-Molina R, Acevedo P, Sánchez-Montes S, Romero-Salas D, López-Ortiz S, Flores-Primo A, Cruz-Romero A. Spatial epidemiology of Leptospira sp. exposure in bovines from Veracruz, México. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e682-e692. [PMID: 34657392 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14346] [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: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bovine leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects cattle herds, causing economic losses due to reproductive problems which require expensive treatments. The main source of transmission for cattle is still uncertain, but rodents and bats can play an important role in the transmission cycle by being maintenance hosts for the pathogenic species of the bacterium and spreading it through urine. In this study, we characterize possible risk areas for bovine leptospirosis exposure in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, based on the geographical distribution of flying (bats) and terrestrial (rodents and opossums) wild hosts of Leptospira sp. reported in Mexico, in addition to climate, geography, soil characteristics, land use and human activities (environmental variables). We used a generalized linear regression model to understand the association between the frequency of anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies (a proxy of exposure) in cattle herds exposed to Leptospira, the favourability of wild hosts of Leptospira as well as the environmental variables. The parameterized model explained 12.3% of the variance. The frequency of anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies exposure in cattle herds was associated with elevation, geographic longitude, pH of the soil surface and environmental favourability for the presence of rodents, opossums and bats. The variation in exposure was mainly explained by a longitudinal gradient (6.4% of the variance) and the favourability-based indices for wild hosts (9.6% of the variance). Describing the possible risks for exposure to Leptospira in an important and neglected livestock geographical region, we provide valuable information for the selection of areas for diagnosis and prevention of this relevant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pelayo Acevedo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan, Veracruz, México
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, México
| | - Dora Romero-Salas
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México
| | | | - Argel Flores-Primo
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México
| | - Anabel Cruz-Romero
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México
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12
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Sato Y, Hermawan I, Kakita T, Okano S, Imai H, Nagai H, Kimura R, Yamashiro T, Kajita T, Toma C. Analysis of human clinical and environmental Leptospira to elucidate the eco-epidemiology of leptospirosis in Yaeyama, subtropical Japan. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010234. [PMID: 35358181 PMCID: PMC8970387 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010234] [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: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leptospirosis, a zoonosis caused by species in the spirochete genus Leptospira, is endemic to the Yaeyama region in Okinawa, subtropical Japan. Species of the P1 subclade “virulent” group, within the genus Leptospira, are the main etiological agents of leptospirosis in Okinawa. However, their environmental persistence is poorly understood. This study used a combination of bacterial isolation and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding methods to understand the eco-epidemiology of leptospirosis in this endemic region. Findings Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) characterized twelve human clinical L. interrogans isolates belonging to the P1 subclade “virulent” subgroup and 11 environmental soil isolates of the P1subclade “low virulent” subgroup (genetically related to L. kmetyi, n = 1; L. alstonii, n = 4; L. barantonii, n = 6) from the Yaeyama region targeting four virulence-related genes (lipL32, ligA, ligB and lpxD1). Clinical isolates were PCR positive for at least three targeted genes, while all environmental isolates were positive only for lipL32. Analysis of infected renal epithelial cells with selected clinical and environmental strains, revealed the disassembly of cell-cell junctions for the Hebdomadis clinical strain serogroup. Comparison of leptospiral eDNA during winter and summer identified operational taxonomic units corresponding to the species isolated from soil samples (L. kmetyi and L. barantonii) and additional P2 subclade species (L. licerasiae, L. wolffii-related, among others) that were not detected by soil cultivation. Total Leptospira read counts were higher in summer than in winter and the analysis of leptospiral/animal eDNA relationship suggested Rattus spp. as a potential reservoir animal. Conclusion Our study demonstrated high environmental Leptospira diversity in the Yaeyama region, particularly during summer, when most of the leptospirosis cases are reported. In addition, several Leptospira species with pathogenic potential were identified that have not yet been reported in Yaeyama; however, the environmental persistence of P1 subclade species previously isolated from human clinical cases in this region was absent, suggesting the need of further methodology development and surveillance. Leptospirosis is a widespread bacterial zoonosis and one of the most important acute febrile infectious disease in tropical and subtropical regions, which is difficult to differentiate from other infectious diseases common in these regions. Leptospirosis is endemic to Okinawa prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, where the infection occurs mainly after recreational activities in rivers in the northern part of Okinawa Main Island and the Yaeyama region. This study combined several methods such as bacterial isolation from soil and environmental DNA metabarcoding from river water samples to understand the persistence of Leptospira outside the human host, leptospiral diversity in the environment, and their potential reservoir animals in the wild environment of the Yaeyama region. Although this study didn’t confirm the environmental persistence of Leptospira species previously isolated from clinical cases, several newly reported Leptospira species with pathogenic potential from the Yaeyama region suggested the need for continual surveillance to improve leptospirosis control and prevention in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukuto Sato
- Research Laboratory Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
- Center for Strategic Research Project, Organization for Research Promotion, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
- * E-mail: (YS); (CT)
| | - Idam Hermawan
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kakita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Uruma-shi, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Sho Okano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Uruma-shi, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Imai
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science; Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Hiroto Nagai
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science; Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Kimura
- Department of Human Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tetsu Yamashiro
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kajita
- Iriomote Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Taketomi, Okinawa, Japan
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Claudia Toma
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
- * E-mail: (YS); (CT)
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13
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Molinari PCC, Nally JE, Bromfield JJ. Bovine endometrial cells do not mount an inflammatory response to Leptospira. REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY 2022; 2:187-198. [PMID: 35118389 PMCID: PMC8801031 DOI: 10.1530/raf-21-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis causes abortion, premature birth, and stillbirth in cattle, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Infected cattle shed Leptospira intermittently and present a range of clinical symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. The primary route of Leptospira transmission in any animal is the colonization of the renal tubule and excretion by urine; however, Leptospira can also colonize the female reproductive tract of cows and can be transmitted by semen. Vaccination against Leptospira in the US is routine in cattle, but immunity is not guaranteed. The cell wall of Leptospira contains toll-like receptor agonists including peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide. The capacity of Leptospira to initiate an innate inflammatory response from uterine endometrial cells is unknown but may be a cause of reproductive failure. Using cell culture, we tested the capacity of bovine endometrial epithelial cells or human monocytes to elicit an inflammatory response to Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo strain TC273. Cells were exposed to either heat-killed Leptospira, Leptospira outer membrane, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, Pam3CSK4 or medium alone for 2 to 24 h. Exposure of bovine endometrial epithelial cells or human monocytes to heat-killed Leptospira or Leptospira outer membrane did not induce the expression of IL1A, IL1B, IL6, or CXCL8, while exposure to E. coli lipopolysaccharide or Pam3CSK4 increased the expression of IL1A, IL1B, IL6, and CXCL8 compared to control cells. This data suggest that Leptospira does not trigger a classical inflammatory response in endometrial cells. Understanding the interaction between Leptospira and the female reproductive tract is important in determining the mechanisms of Leptospirosis associated with reproductive failure. Lay summary Cows infected with the Leptospira have abortion and stillbirth. It is not known how Leptospira causes pregnancy failure in the cow. We tested if Leptospira causes inflammation in cells of the uterus which triggers pregnancy failure. We collected cells from the uterus of healthy cows at the abattoir and placed them into culture with Leptospira and measured the expression of genes associated with inflammation. To our surprise, cells of the uterus did not respond to Leptospira; however, the same cells did respond to other disease-causing bacteria found in the uterus. This suggests that cells of the uterus can recognize bacteria and produce an inflammatory reaction but not in response to Leptospira. This finding suggests the immune system of the uterus cannot detect Leptospira which may go on to cause reproductive failure in cows. Understanding how Leptospira interact with cells of the uterus will help reduce pregnancy failure of cows with leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula C C Molinari
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jarlath E Nally
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - John J Bromfield
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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14
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Tracking Animal Reservoirs of Pathogenic Leptospira: The Right Test for the Right Claim. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6040205. [PMID: 34941661 PMCID: PMC8705917 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6040205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis worldwide and, in this context, has been extensively investigated through the One Health framework. Diagnosis of human leptospirosis includes molecular and serological tools, with the serological Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) still being considered as the gold standard. Mammals acting as reservoirs of the pathogen include species or populations that are able to maintain chronic infection and shed the bacteria via their urine into the environment. Animals infected by Leptospira are often identified using the same diagnosis tool as in humans, i.e., serological MAT. However, this tool may lead to misinterpretations as it can signal previous infection but does not provide accurate information regarding the capacity of animals to maintain chronic infection and, hence, participate in the transmission cycle. We employ in this paper previously published data and present original results on introduced and endemic small mammals from Indian Ocean islands to show that MAT should not be used for the identification of Leptospira reservoirs. By contrast, serological data are informative on the level of exposure of animals living in a specific environment. We present a sequential methodology to investigate human leptospirosis in the One Health framework that associates molecular detection in humans and animals, together with MAT of human samples using Leptospira isolates obtained from reservoir animals occurring in the same environment.
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15
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Wilkinson DA, Edwards M, Benschop J, Nisa S. Identification of pathogenic Leptospira species and serovars in New Zealand using metabarcoding. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257971. [PMID: 34587213 PMCID: PMC8480790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257971] [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: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance. The breadth of Leptospira diversity associated with both human and animal disease poses major logistical challenges to the use of classical diagnostic techniques, and increasingly molecular diagnostic tools are used for their detection. In New Zealand, this has resulted in an increase in positive cases reported nationally that have not been attributed to the infecting serovar or genomospecies. In this study, we used data from all pathogenic Leptospira genomes to identify a partial region of the glmU gene as a suitable locus for the discrimination of the infecting species and serovars of New Zealand-endemic Leptospira. This method can be used in culture and culture-independent scenarios making it flexible for diagnostics in humans, animals, and environmental samples. We explored the use of this locus as a molecular barcoding tool via the Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing platform MinION. Sequences obtained by this method allowed specific identification of Leptospira species in mixed and enriched environmental cultures, however read error inherent in the MinION sequencing system reduced the accuracy of strain/variant identification. Using this approach to characterise Leptospira in enriched environmental cultures, we detected the likely presence of Leptospira genomospecies that have not been reported in New Zealand to date. This included a strain of L. borgpetersenii that has recently been identified in dairy cattle and sequences similar to those of L. mayottensis. L. tipperaryensis, L. dzianensis and L. alstonii.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Wilkinson
- New Zealand Food Safety, Science & Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- UMR Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical (PIMIT) INSERM 1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, Université de La Réunion, Sainte-Clotilde, La Réunion, France
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - Matthew Edwards
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jackie Benschop
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Shahista Nisa
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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16
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Md-Lasim A, Mohd-Taib FS, Abdul-Halim M, Mohd-Ngesom AM, Nathan S, Md-Nor S. Leptospirosis and Coinfection: Should We Be Concerned? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179411. [PMID: 34502012 PMCID: PMC8431591 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira is the causative agent of leptospirosis, an emerging zoonotic disease affecting animals and humans worldwide. The risk of host infection following interaction with environmental sources depends on the ability of Leptospira to persist, survive, and infect the new host to continue the transmission chain. Leptospira may coexist with other pathogens, thus providing a suitable condition for the development of other pathogens, resulting in multi-pathogen infection in humans. Therefore, it is important to better understand the dynamics of transmission by these pathogens. We conducted Boolean searches of several databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, SciELO, and ScienceDirect, to identify relevant published data on Leptospira and coinfection with other pathogenic bacteria. We review the role of the host-microbiota in determining the synanthropic interaction of Leptospira sp. with other bacteria, thus creating a suitable condition for the leptospira to survive and persist successfully. We also discuss the biotic and abiotic factors that amplify the viability of Leptospira in the environment. The coinfection of leptospira with pathogenic bacteria has rarely been reported, potentially contributing to a lack of awareness. Therefore, the occurrence of leptospirosis coinfection may complicate diagnosis, long-lasting examination, and mistreatment that could lead to mortality. Identifying the presence of leptospirosis with other bacteria through metagenomic analysis could reveal possible coinfection. In conclusion, the occurrence of leptospirosis with other diseases should be of concern and may depend on the success of the transmission and severity of individual infections. Medical practitioners may misdiagnose the presence of multiple infections and should be made aware of and receive adequate training on appropriate treatment for leptospirosis patients. Physicians could undertake a more targeted approach for leptospirosis diagnosis by considering other symptoms caused by the coinfected bacteria; thus, more specific treatment could be given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmalia Md-Lasim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (A.M.-L.); (S.N.); (S.M.-N.)
- Herbal Medicine Research Centre (HMRC), Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institue of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (A.M.-L.); (S.N.); (S.M.-N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-12-3807701
| | - Mardani Abdul-Halim
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia;
| | - Ahmad Mohiddin Mohd-Ngesom
- Center for Toxicology and Health Risk, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
| | - Sheila Nathan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (A.M.-L.); (S.N.); (S.M.-N.)
| | - Shukor Md-Nor
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (A.M.-L.); (S.N.); (S.M.-N.)
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17
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Murray MH, Sánchez CA. Urban rat exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides and zoonotic infection risk. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210311. [PMID: 34376077 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) deployed to control rodent pest populations can increase the risk of pathogen infection for some wildlife. However, it is unknown whether ARs also increase infection risk for target rodents, which are common hosts for zoonotic (animal-to-human transmitted) pathogens. In this study, we tested whether rats exposed to ARs were more likely to be infected with zoonotic pathogens, specifically Leptospira spp. or Escherichia coli, after controlling for known predictors of infection (i.e. sex, age, body condition). We collected biological samples from 99 rats trapped in Chicago alleys and tested these for Leptospira infection, E. coli shedding and AR exposure. We found that rats that had been exposed to ARs and survived until the time of trapping, as well as older rats, were significantly more likely to be infected with Leptospira spp. than other rats. We found no significant association between E. coli shedding and any predictors. Our results show that human actions to manage rats can affect rat disease ecology and public health risks in unintended ways, and more broadly, contribute to a growing awareness of bidirectional relationships between humans and natural systems in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen H Murray
- Department of Conservation and Science, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
| | - Cecilia A Sánchez
- EcoHealth Alliance, 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10018, USA.,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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18
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Shetty A, Kundu S, Gomes-Solecki M. Inflammatory Signatures of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Leptospira Infection in Susceptible C3H-HeJ Mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:677999. [PMID: 34249775 PMCID: PMC8264587 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.677999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The exact global impact of leptospirosis is unknown due to inadequate surveillance systems in place in most low-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the differences in mouse inflammatory signatures involved in pathogenic versus non-pathogenic Leptospira recognition at 24h and 72h post infection. Injection of C3H-HeJ mice with non-pathogenic L. biflexa increased circulation of a few chemokines (5/21, 24%) without secretion of cytokines in blood that resulted in engagement of resident macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and NK cells without engagement of T cells. In contrast, pathogenic L. interrogans induced circulation of a much higher panel of chemokines (18/21, 86%) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (11/19, 58%) in blood with a resulting signaling cascade leading to engagement of macrophages, dendritic cells, monocytes, NK cells and T cells without engagement of neutrophils. Although neutrophils do not appear to be engaged, a considerable number of chemokines that recruit other granulocytes such as eosinophils and basophils were also increased at 72h post infection with L. interrogans. Overall, the data suggest that prevention of dissemination of L. biflexa is associated with an early engagement of the innate immune response characterized by upregulation of a few chemokines that results in an efficacious phagocytic response without an overwhelming increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, when macrophages fail to clear a pathogenic serovar such as L. interrogans, the adaptive response (T cells) is engaged to help out, but the resulting chemo-cytokine storm mediates a robust but non-resolving inflammatory response to pathogenic Leptospira that results in dissemination, kidney colonization, pathology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Advait Shetty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Suman Kundu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Maria Gomes-Solecki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States,*Correspondence: Maria Gomes-Solecki,
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19
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Seidlova V, Nemcova M, Pikula J, Bartonička T, Ghazaryan A, Heger T, Kokurewicz T, Orlov OL, Patra S, Piacek V, Treml F, Zukalova K, Zukal J. Urinary shedding of leptospires in palearctic bats. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 68:3089-3095. [PMID: 33527732 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection of worldwide occurrence. Bats, like other mammalian reservoirs, may be long-term carriers that maintain endemicity of infection and shed viable leptospires in urine. Direct and/or indirect contact with these Leptospira shedders is the main risk factor as regards public health concern. However, knowledge about bat leptospirosis in the Palearctic Region, and in Europe in particular, is poor. We collected urine from 176 specimens of 11 bat species in the Czech Republic, Poland, Republic of Armenia and the Altai Region of Russia between 2014 and 2019. We extracted DNA from the urine samples to detect Leptospira spp. shedders using PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA and LipL32 genes. Four bat species (Barbastella barbastellus n = 1, Myotis bechsteinii n = 1, Myotis myotis n = 24 and Myotis nattereri n = 1) tested positive for Leptospira spp., with detected amplicons showing 100% genetic identity with pathogenic Leptospira interrogans. The site- and species-specific prevalence range was 0%-24.1% and 0%-20%, respectively. All bats sampled in the Republic of Armenia and Russia were negative. Given the circulation of pathogenic leptospires in strictly protected Palearctic bat species and their populations, non-invasive and non-lethal sampling of urine for molecular Leptospira spp. detection is recommended as a suitable surveillance and monitoring strategy. Moreover, our results should raise awareness of this potential disease risk among health professionals, veterinarians, chiropterologists and wildlife rescue workers handling bats, as well as speleologists and persons cleaning premises following bat infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Nemcova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Tomas Heger
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Oleg L Orlov
- X-BIO Institute, Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia.,Department of Biochemistry, Tyumen State Medical University, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Sneha Patra
- Laboratory of Ecological Plant Physiology, CzechGlobe, Global Change Research Institute Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Phytophthora Research Centre, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Treml
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Zukalova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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20
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Peterson AC, Ghersi BM, Riegel C, Wunder EA, Childs JE, Blum MJ. Amplification of pathogenic Leptospira infection with greater abundance and co-occurrence of rodent hosts across a counter-urbanizing landscape. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:2145-2161. [PMID: 33107122 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Land use change can elevate disease risk by creating conditions beneficial to species that carry zoonotic pathogens. Observations of concordant global trends in increased pathogen prevalence or disease incidence and landscape change have generated concerns that urbanization could increase transmission risk of some pathogens. Yet host-pathogen relationships underlying transmission risk have not been well characterized within cities, even where contact between humans and species capable of transmitting pathogens of concern occurs. We addressed this deficit by testing the hypothesis that areas in cities experiencing greater population loss and infrastructure decline (i.e., counter-urbanization) can support a greater diversity of host species and a larger and more diverse pool of pathogens. We did so by characterizing pathogenic Leptospira infection relative to rodent host richness and abundance across a mosaic of abandonment in post-Katrina New Orleans (Louisiana, USA). We found that Leptospira infection loads were highest in areas that harboured increased rodent species richness (which ranged from one to four rodent species detected). Areas with greater host co-occurrence also harboured a greater abundance of hosts, including the host species most likely to carry high infection loads, indicating that Leptospira infection can be amplified by increases in overall and relative host abundance. Evidence of shared infection among rodent host species indicates that cross-species transmission of Leptospira probably increases infection at sites with greater host richness. Additionally, evidence that rodent co-occurrence and abundance and Leptospira infection load parallel abandonment suggests that counter-urbanization can elevate zoonotic disease risk within cities, particularly in underserved communities that are burdened with disproportionate concentrations of derelict properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Peterson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Bruno M Ghersi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Claudia Riegel
- City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, Rodent Control Board, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Elsio A Wunder
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.,Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
| | - James E Childs
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael J Blum
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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