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Xie X, Chen X, Zhang S, Liu J, Zhang W, Cao Y. Neutralizing gut-derived lipopolysaccharide as a novel therapeutic strategy for severe leptospirosis. eLife 2024; 13:RP96065. [PMID: 38818711 PMCID: PMC11142641 DOI: 10.7554/elife.96065] [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] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. Humans and some mammals can develop severe forms of leptospirosis accompanied by a dysregulated inflammatory response, which often results in death. The gut microbiota has been increasingly recognized as a vital element in systemic health. However, the precise role of the gut microbiota in severe leptospirosis is still unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the function and potential mechanisms of the gut microbiota in a hamster model of severe leptospirosis. Our study showed that leptospires were able to multiply in the intestine, cause pathological injury, and induce intestinal and systemic inflammatory responses. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that Leptospira infection changed the composition of the gut microbiota of hamsters with an expansion of Proteobacteria. In addition, gut barrier permeability was increased after infection, as reflected by a decrease in the expression of tight junctions. Translocated Proteobacteria were found in the intestinal epithelium of moribund hamsters, as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, with elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in the serum. Moreover, gut microbiota depletion reduced the survival time, increased the leptospiral load, and promoted the expression of proinflammatory cytokines after Leptospira infection. Intriguingly, fecal filtration and serum from moribund hamsters both increased the transcription of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and TLR4 in macrophages compared with those from uninfected hamsters. These stimulating activities were inhibited by LPS neutralization using polymyxin B. Based on our findings, we identified an LPS neutralization therapy that significantly improved the survival rates in severe leptospirosis when used in combination with antibiotic therapy or polyclonal antibody therapy. In conclusion, our study not only uncovers the role of the gut microbiota in severe leptospirosis but also provides a therapeutic strategy for severe leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufeng Xie
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityJilinChina
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityJilinChina
| | - Shilei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityJilinChina
| | - Jiuxi Liu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityJilinChina
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityJilinChina
| | - Yongguo Cao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin UniversityJilinChina
- 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 UniversityChangchunChina
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Leptospira interrogans Serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae Failed to Establish Distinct Infection in Naïve Gilts: Lessons Learned from a Preliminary Experimental Challenge. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12010135. [PMID: 36678483 PMCID: PMC9867409 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010135] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospira is a pathogen involved in fertility problems in pigs. Nevertheless, little information is available on pathogenicity, transmission, tissue tropism, and immune response. The objective of this preliminary study was to induce a diagnostically detectable infection in naïve gilts using Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae to gain the knowledge required for designing a large-scale trial. Eight seronegative fertile gilts were divided into three groups: control (n = 2), challenge (n = 3; 10 mL of 108 leptospires/mL intravenously), and contact (n = 3). A daily clinical examination and periodic sampling of blood, urine, and vaginal swabs were performed until four weeks after infection when necropsy was undertaken. Seroconversion of infected animals was detected first by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) between four and seven days after inoculation. No clinical signs were observed except pyrexia. Laboratory data primarily remained within reference intervals. Leptospira were undetectable in all groups by real-time PCR (sera, urine, vaginal swabs, and tissue samples) and bacterial culture (urine and tissue samples). However, histologic evidence for tubulo-interstitial nephritis could be found. Based on the study results and limitations, questions to be solved and approaches to be reconsidered are raised for the conduction of further experimental studies to understand the pathogenesis and the role of Icterohaemorrhagiae in pig health.
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Gut microbiota involved in leptospiral infections. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:764-773. [PMID: 34588617 PMCID: PMC8857230 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01122-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease worldwide. Intestinal bleeding is a common but neglected symptom in severe leptospirosis. The regulatory mechanism of the gut microbiota on leptospirosis is still unclear. In this study, we found that Leptospira interrogans infection changed the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. Weight loss and an increased leptospiral load in organs were observed in the gut microbiota-depleted mice compared with those in the control mice. Moreover, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to the microbiota-depleted mice reversed these effects. The phagocytosis response and inflammatory response in bone marrow-derived macrophages and thioglycolate-induced peritoneal macrophages were diminished in the microbiota-depleted mice after infection. However, the phagocytosis response and inflammatory response in resident peritoneal macrophage were not affected in the microbiota-depleted mice after infection. The diminished macrophage disappearance reaction (bacterial entry into the peritoneum acutely induced macrophage adherence to form local clots and out of the fluid phase) led to an increased leptospiral load in the peritoneal cavity in the microbiota-depleted mice. In addition, the impaired capacity of macrophages to clear leptospires increased leptospiral dissemination in Leptospira-infected microbiota-depleted mice. Our study identified the microbiota as an endogenous defense against L. interrogans infection. Modulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota may provide new individualized preventative strategies for the control of leptospirosis and related spirochetal infections.
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Wang J, Zhang W, Jin Z, Ding Y, Zhang S, Wu D, Cao Y. A lethal model of Leptospira infection in hamster nasal mucosa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010191. [PMID: 35192629 PMCID: PMC8863242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010191] [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: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a fatal zoonosis caused by contact between skin or a mucosal surface and contaminated soil or water. Hamsters were infected by intraperitoneal injection fto establish experimental leptospirosis, which is not a natural route of infection. There are no reports of nasal mucosal infection in hamsters. In this study, infection of the nasal mucosa was performed to establish a model of natural infection. Both methods of infection can cause lethal models with similar symptoms in the later stages of infection, such as weight loss, blood concentration, increased neutrophils (GRAN), and decreased lymphocytes (LYM) in the blood, severe organ damage and liver function obstruction. The burden of Leptospira in the organs and blood was lower in the mucosal inoculation groups at 1 day after infection. However, mucosal infection induced a higher Leptospira burden in urine than intraperitoneal infection in the late stages of infection. After nasal mucosal infection, antibody levels were higher and lasted longer. These results indicated that the route of nasal mucosal infection is a good choice for studying leptospirosis in hamsters. The establishment of a leptospirosis experimental model is still key to elucidating the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. Hamsters were infected by intraperitoneal injection to establish experimental leptospirosis, although this is not a natural route of infection. The transmission characteristics of Leptospira and the disease progression in hamsters infected by a natural transmission route (e.g. through mucosal surfaces) had not been explored. In this study, we compared the dynamics of Leptospira infection in hamsters inoculated via the nasal mucosa or by intraperitoneal inoculation, and compared the burden of Leptospira and the level of antibodies produced with disease progression, such as body weight, serology, haematological changes and histopathological changes. Our data suggested that there are significant differences in the dynamics of infection between intraperitoneal and mucosal infection pathways. Although the result was the same in the later stage of infection, the course of mucosal infection was slower, which may better recapitulate the natural history of the disease, assist in studying kidney disease caused by Leptospira, and provide an animal model for the study of leptospirosis mucosal immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhao Jin
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Ding
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shilei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dianjun Wu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail: (DW); (YC)
| | - Yongguo Cao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail: (DW); (YC)
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Correlation between renal distribution of leptospires during the acute phase and chronic renal dysfunction in a hamster model of infection with Leptospira interrogans. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009410. [PMID: 34143778 PMCID: PMC8213162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis has been described as a biphasic disease consisting of hematogenous dissemination to major organs in the acute phase and asymptomatic renal colonization in the chronic phase. Several observational studies have suggested an association between leptospirosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the dynamics of leptospires and histopathological changes in the kidney to understand the relationship between them, and also investigated the extent of renal dysfunction in the acute and chronic phases of leptospirosis using a hamster model. FINDINGS Hamsters (n = 68) were subcutaneously infected with 1 × 104 cells of the Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae strain UP-MMC-SM. A total of 53 infected hamsters developed fatal acute leptospirosis, and the remaining 15 hamsters recovered from the acute phase, 13 of which showed Leptospira colonization in the kidneys in the chronic phase. Five asymptomatic hamsters also had renal colonization in the chronic phase. Immunofluorescence staining showed that leptospires were locally distributed in the renal interstitium in the early acute phase and then spread continuously into the surrounding interstitium. The kidneys of the surviving hamsters in the chronic phase showed patchy lesions of atrophic tubules, a finding of chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, which were substantially consistent with the distribution of leptospires in the renal interstitium. The degree of atrophic tubules in kidney sections correlated statistically with the serum creatinine level in the chronic phase (rs = 0.78, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Subcutaneous infection with pathogenic leptospires could cause acute death or chronic leptospirosis in hamsters after surviving the acute phase. We suggest that the renal distribution of leptospires during the acute phase probably affected the extent of tubular atrophy, leading to CKD.
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Roquelo C, Kodjo A, Marié JL, Davoust B. Serological and molecular survey of Leptospira spp. infections in wild boars and red foxes from Southeastern France. Vet World 2021; 14:825-828. [PMID: 34083926 PMCID: PMC8167521 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.825-828] [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: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease. Information on the recent prevalence of Leptospira in hunted wild animals is limited, particularly in southeastern France. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the prevalence and diversity of Leptospira spp. among wild boars (Sus scrofa) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from two military camps in Southeastern France. Materials and Methods: Serological analyses were performed using microscopic agglutination tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used to demonstrate Leptospira spp. infection from boar kidney DNA extracts. Results: According to the species, the positive sera were obtained from 18% of 358 boars and 6 % of 64 foxes tested. The prevalence rate is significantly higher (p≤0.02) in boars than in foxes. In wild boar, Australis represents the most recorded serogroup (15.9%), followed by Sejroe (2.8%) and icterohaemorhagiae (2.8%). In red fox, icterohaemorhagiae represents the most recorded serogroup (6.25%), followed by Sejroe (1.57%) and Hebdomadis (1.57%). PCR-based detection of Leptospira DNA was positive in 6/62 (9.6%) of the wild boars tested. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the importance of wild boar in the epidemiology of leptospirosis among wildlife in Southeastern France. Due to their predatory behavior and their varied diet, mainly composed of small mammals, red foxes could be considered sentinel animals of environmental contamination with leptospires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Roquelo
- French Military Health Service, Saint Denis, La Réunion, France.,Animal Epidemiology Expert Group, French Military Health Service, Tours, France
| | - Angeli Kodjo
- Leptospirosis Laboratory, Veterinary Campus of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Jean-Lou Marié
- Animal Epidemiology Expert Group, French Military Health Service, Tours, France.,Expertise and Defense Health Strategy Division, French Military Health Service, Paris, France
| | - Bernard Davoust
- Animal Epidemiology Expert Group, French Military Health Service, Tours, France.,Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France.,IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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7
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Rocha BR, Martins G, Lilenbaum W. An historical view of the experimental leptospiral infection in ruminants. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 73:101532. [PMID: 32980802 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The first experimental infections with Leptospira in ruminants were conducted in the 1950s, primarily assessed the pathogenesis caused by serovar Pomona in cows. Throughout the decades, experimental infections have also demonstrated the clinical aspects of the infection by other strains, mainly Hardjo. Despite the important outcomes observed in experimental infections in ruminants, there is still a large discrepancy regarding the ideal dose, route, strain, model species or animal age that should be used to reproduce the acute and chronic leptospirosis in ruminants. In this context, the present study aimed to review the historical processes involved on the experimental leptospiral infection in ruminants. The inclusion criteria were papers that clearly described inoculation route, strain, dose, clinical signs and animal age. Overall, 37 experiments were noted. The most frequently reported clinical signs were fever, prostration, hematuria and death, with the majority of them occurring in young animals infected by incidental strains. Regarding reproductive problems, they occurred in the majority of the experiments and were also more related to incidental strains. In this context, abortions, retained placenta and weak fetuses were the most frequent symptoms. Noteworthy that although the mechanisms of the clinical acute disease either systemic or reproductive, is reasonably well understood, the physiopathology involved on reproductive problems due to the silent chronic infection is less discussed and remains to be elucidated. In this context, it is evident the need for studies focused on the genital infection and reproductive aspects of leptospiral infection in ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Ribeiro Rocha
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Martins
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Walter Lilenbaum
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Krijger IM, Ahmed AAA, Goris MGA, Cornelissen JBWJ, Groot Koerkamp PWG, Meerburg BG. Wild rodents and insectivores as carriers of pathogenic Leptospira and Toxoplasma gondii in The Netherlands. Vet Med Sci 2020; 6:623-630. [PMID: 32134214 PMCID: PMC7397885 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Small mammals such as rodents can to carry zoonotic pathogens. Currently, there is impaired knowledge on zoonotic pathogens in rodents and insectivores in the Netherlands. This limits opportunities for preventive measures and complicates risk-assessments for zoonotic transmission to humans. Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are present on a list of prioritized emerging pathogens in the Netherlands and were therefore the focus of this study. Both pathogens have the ability to survive under moist environmental conditions. In total, a group of 379 small mammals (rodents & insectivores) were tested on pathogenic Leptospira spp., and 312 on T. gondii. Rodents and insectivores were trapped at various sites, but mostly on pig and dairy farms throughout the country. Over five percent of the animals (5.3%, n = 379) tested positive for Leptospira DNA, and five of the animals (1.6%, n = 312) tested were positive for T. gondii DNA. The animals positive for T.gondii were all brown rats and the ones for Leptospira spp. were various species. Our results show that insectivores and rodents might be used as an indicator for the environmental contamination and/or the contamination in wildlife for Leptospira spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge M. Krijger
- Wageningen University & Research , Livestock ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- Farm Technology GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Ahmed A. A. Ahmed
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyOIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis (NRL) Academic Medical CentreUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Maria G. A. Goris
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyOIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis (NRL) Academic Medical CentreUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Bastiaan G. Meerburg
- Wageningen University & Research , Livestock ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- Dutch Pest and Wildlife Expertise Centre (KAD)WageningenThe Netherlands
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9
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Pathogenic Leptospira and their animal reservoirs: testing host specificity through experimental infection. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7239. [PMID: 32350316 PMCID: PMC7190861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64172-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic Leptospira transmitted through contact with contaminated environments. Most mammalian species are infectable by Leptospira but only few act as efficient reservoir being capable of establishing long term kidney colonization and shedding Leptospira in urine. In Madagascar, a large diversity of pathogenic Leptospira display a tight specificity towards their endemic volant or terrestrial mammalian hosts. The basis of this specificity is unknown: it may indicate some genetically determined compatibility between host cells and bacteria or only reflect ecological constraints preventing contacts between specific hosts. In this study, Rattus norvegicus was experimentally infected with either Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira borgpetersenii or Leptospira mayottensis isolated from rats, bats or tenrecs, respectively. Leptospira borgpetersenii and L. mayottensis do not support renal colonization as featured by no shedding of live bacteria in urine and low level and sporadic detection of Leptospira DNA in kidneys. In contrast 2 out of the 7 R. norvegicus challenged with L. interrogans developed renal colonization and intense Leptospira shedding in urine throughout the 3 months of experimental infection. These data suggest that host-Leptospira specificity in this biodiversity hotspot is driven at least in part by genetic determinants likely resulting from long-term co-diversification processes.
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10
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Nair N, Guedes MS, Werts C, Gomes-Solecki M. The route of infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni affects the kinetics of bacterial dissemination and kidney colonization. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007950. [PMID: 31905198 PMCID: PMC6964914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to characterize how natural routes of infection affect the kinetics of pathogenic Leptospira dissemination to blood and kidney. C3H/HeJ mice were sublethally infected with L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni FioCruz L1-130 (Leptospira) through exposure of a dermis wound and through oral and nasal mucosa, in comparison to uninfected mice and to mice infected via standard intraperitoneal inoculation. In striking contrast to oral mucosa inoculation, transdermal and nasal mucosa infections led to weight loss, renal colonization and inflammation, as previously observed for conjunctival and intraperitoneal infections. However, the timing at which Leptospira gained access to blood, as well as Leptospira' colonization of the kidney and shedding in urine, differed from intraperitoneal infection. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of transcription of pro-inflammatory mediators in kidney and total immunoglobulin isotyping in serum from infected mice, showed increased innate immune response markers (KC, MIP-2, TNF-α) and lower Th1 associated IFN-γ in kidney, as well as lower Th1 associated IgG2a in mice infected through the nasal mucosa as compared to intraperitoneal infection. We conclude that the route of infection affects the timing at which Leptospira gains access to blood for dissemination, as well as the dynamics of colonization and inflammation of the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Nair
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Mariana Soares Guedes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Immuno Technologies, Inc, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Catherine Werts
- Institut Pasteur, Biology and Genetics of the Bacterial Cell Wall Unit, Paris, France
| | - Maria Gomes-Solecki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Immuno Technologies, Inc, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Roqueplo C, Kodjo A, Demoncheaux J, Scandola P, Bassene H, Diatta G, Sokhna C, Raoult D, Davoust B, Mediannikov O. Leptospirosis, one neglected disease in rural Senegal. Vet Med Sci 2019; 5:536-544. [PMID: 31342674 PMCID: PMC6868498 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A serological study was carried out in two Senegalese villages located in the Sine-Saloum region in order to estimate the presence of anti-leptospiral antibodies in humans and animals, and to identify the predominant serogroups. Seven hundred and forty-nine serum samples were collected from humans (n = 545), dogs (n = 33), donkeys (n = 20), goats (n = 52), sheep (n = 43) and N'Dama cattle (n = 56), all originated from Dielmo and Ndiop villages. All samples were tested for different serovars of pathogenic Leptospira species by the microscopic agglutination test. Considering titres ≥ 1:100, 7.7% [CI 95:5.5 to 9.9] on the 545 human blood samples tested and 42.2% [CI95 :35.4 to 48.9] on the 204 animal blood samples tested were found to be positive to one or more serovars. The results obtained indicate that the Australis serogroup is the most prevalent serogroup in human (67.3%) and cattle (27.3%). Serogroup Icterohaemorhagiae is the most frequent serogroup in goat (55.6%) and donkey (37.5%). Canicola (23.4%), Icterohaemorhagiae (21.1%) and Australis (12.5%) serogroups are the most prevalent serogroups in dogs. This study shows that diverse Leptospira serovars occur in a wide range of wild and domestic mammal species, as well as in humans in Senegal. However, further studies are needed to better understand the complexity of Leptospira epidemiology in Africa, identify the reservoirs of different serogroups and estimate its impact on livestock. Understanding the multi-host epidemiology of leptospirosis is essential to control and prevent the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Roqueplo
- Expertise and Defense Health Strategy DivisionFrench Military Health ServiceParisFrance
- French Military Health Service, Animal Epidemiology Working GroupMarseilleFrance
| | - Angeli Kodjo
- Leptospirosis LaboratoryVeterinary Campus of LyonMarcy l’EtoileFrance
| | - Jean‐Paul Demoncheaux
- French Military Health Service, Animal Epidemiology Working GroupMarseilleFrance
- French Military Health ServiceDakarSenegal
| | - Pierre Scandola
- French Military Health Service, Animal Epidemiology Working GroupMarseilleFrance
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
| | - Hubert Bassene
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- IRD, VITROME, IHU Méditerranée InfectionDakarSenegal
| | - Georges Diatta
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- IRD, VITROME, IHU Méditerranée InfectionDakarSenegal
| | - Cheikh Sokhna
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- IRD, VITROME, IHU Méditerranée InfectionDakarSenegal
| | - Didier Raoult
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
| | - Bernard Davoust
- French Military Health Service, Animal Epidemiology Working GroupMarseilleFrance
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée InfectionMarseilleFrance
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12
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Barbosa C, Martins G, Lilenbaum W. Infectivity and virulence of leptospiral strains of serogroup Sejroe other than Hardjo on experimentally infected hamsters. Braz J Microbiol 2019; 50:1129-1132. [PMID: 31359352 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-019-00122-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the virulence of leptospires from the serogroup Sejroe (from ruminants), hamsters were tested against 12 strains. Three Guaricura strains induced severe lethal disease, in contrast to the Hardjo strains. Although with the preliminary outcomes, this finding may be useful for the control of bovine leptospirosis in the Americas, where Guaricura is prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Barbosa
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Mello, 101, 3rd floor, São Domingos, Niterói, RJ, 24210-030, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Martins
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Mello, 101, 3rd floor, São Domingos, Niterói, RJ, 24210-030, Brazil
| | - Walter Lilenbaum
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Mello, 101, 3rd floor, São Domingos, Niterói, RJ, 24210-030, Brazil.
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Critical Knowledge Gaps in Our Understanding of Environmental Cycling and Transmission of Leptospira spp. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.01190-17. [PMID: 28754706 PMCID: PMC5601346 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01190-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to soil or water contaminated with the urine of Leptospira-infected animals is the most common way in which humans contract leptospirosis. Entire populations can be at high risk of leptospirosis while working in inundated fields, when engaging in aquatic sports, or after periods of heavy rainfall. The risk of infection after contact with these environmental sources depends on the ability of Leptospira bacteria to survive, persist, and infect new hosts. Multiple variables such as soil and water pH, temperature, and even environmental microbial communities are likely to shape the environmental conditions needed by the pathogen to persist. Here we review what is known about the environmental phase of the infectious Leptospira transmission cycle and identify knowledge gaps that will serve as a guide for future research.
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Eyedrop Inoculation Causes Sublethal Leptospirosis in Mice. Infect Immun 2017; 85:IAI.01050-16. [PMID: 28115508 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01050-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is potentially a fatal zoonosis acquired by contact of skin and mucosal surfaces with soil and water contaminated with infected urine. We analyzed the outcome of infection of C3H/HeJ mice with Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni using an enzootic mode of transmission, the conjunctival route. Infection led to weight loss and L. interrogans dissemination from blood to urine, and spirochetes were detected in blood and urine simultaneously. The infectious dose that led to consistent dissemination to kidney after conjunctival infection was ∼108 leptospires. Interestingly, a lower number of spirochetes appeared to colonize the kidney, given that we quantified ∼105 and ∼10 leptospires per μl of urine and per μg of kidney, respectively. Leptospira-specific IgM and IgG were detected at 15 days postinfection, and isotyping of the Ig subclass showed that the total IgG response switched from an IgG1 response to an IgG3 response after infection with L. interrogans Histological periodic acid-Schiff D staining of infected kidney showed interstitial nephritis, mononuclear cell infiltrates, and reduced size of glomeruli. Quantification of proinflammatory immunomediators in kidney showed that keratinocyte-derived chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, RANTES, tumor necrosis factor alpha, gamma interferon, and interleukin-10 were upregulated in infected mice. We show that the kinetics of disease progression after infection via the ocular conjunctiva is delayed compared with infection via the standard intraperitoneal route. Differences may be related to the number of L. interrogans spirochetes that succeed in overcoming the natural defenses of the ocular conjunctiva and transit through tissue.
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Gomes-Solecki M, Santecchia I, Werts C. Animal Models of Leptospirosis: Of Mice and Hamsters. Front Immunol 2017; 8:58. [PMID: 28270811 PMCID: PMC5318464 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira sp. are spirochetal bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, an emerging worldwide zoonosis. These spirochetes are very successful pathogens that infect a wide range of hosts such as fish, reptiles, birds, marsupials, and mammals. Transmission occurs when chronically infected animals excrete live bacteria in their urine, contaminating the environment. Leptospira sp. enter their hosts through damaged skin and mucosa. Chronically infected rats and mice are asymptomatic and are considered as important reservoirs of the disease. Infected humans may develop either a flu-like, usually mild illness with or without chronic asymptotic renal colonization, or a severe acute disease with kidney, liver, and heart failure, potentially leading to death. Leptospirosis is an economic burden on society due to health-care costs related to elevated morbidity of humans and loss of animals of agricultural interest. There are no effective vaccines against leptospirosis. Leptospira sp. are difficult to genetically manipulate which delays the pace of research progress. In this review, we discuss in an historical perspective how animal models have contributed to further our knowledge of leptospirosis. Hamsters, guinea pigs, and gerbils have been instrumental to study the pathophysiology of acute lethal leptospirosis and the Leptospira sp. genes involved in virulence. Chronic renal colonization has been mostly studied using experimentally infected rats. A special emphasis will be placed on mouse models, long thought to be irrelevant since they survive lethal infection. However, mice have recently been shown to be good models of sublethal infection leading to chronic colonization. Furthermore, congenic and transgenic mice have proven essential to study how innate immune cells interact with the pathogen and to understand the role of the toll-like receptor 4, which is important to control Leptospira sp. load and disease. The use of inbred and transgenic mouse models opens up the field to the comprehensive study of immune responses to Leptospira sp. infection and subsequent pathophysiology of inflammation. It also allows for testing of drugs and vaccines in a biological system that can avail of a wealth of molecular tools that enable understanding of the mechanisms of action of protective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gomes-Solecki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, TN , USA
| | - Ignacio Santecchia
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France; INSERM, équipe Avenir, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Werts
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France; INSERM, équipe Avenir, Paris, France
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