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Sohm C, Willixhofer D, Fasching E, Waldner K, Deitzer N, Steiner J, Jöbstl J, Schleicher C, Schwarz M, Fuchs R, Bourhy P, Käsbohrer A, Wittek T, Firth C, Steinparzer R, Desvars-Larrive A. First isolation and genotyping of pathogenic Leptospira spp. from Austria. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4467. [PMID: 38409294 PMCID: PMC10897423 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53775-w] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease. The standard serological test, known as Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), requires the use of live Leptospira strains. To enhance its sensitivity and specificity, the usage of locally circulating strains is recommended. However, to date, no local strain is available from Austria. This study aimed to isolate circulating Leptospira strains from cattle in Austria to enhance the performances of the routine serological test for both humans and animals. We used a statistical approach combined with a comprehensive literature search to profile cattle with greater risk of leptospirosis infection and implemented a targeted sampling between November 2021 and October 2022. Urine and/or kidney tissue were sampled from 410 cattle considered at higher risk of infection. Samples were inoculated into EMJH-STAFF culture media within 2-6 h and a real-time PCR targeting the lipL32 gene was used to confirm the presence/absence of pathogenic Leptospira in each sample. Isolates were further characterised by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Nine out of 429 samples tested positive by PCR, from which three isolates were successfully cultured and identified as Leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup Sejroe serovar Hardjobovis, cgMLST cluster 40. This is the first report on the isolation and genotyping of local zoonotic Leptospira in Austria, which holds the potential for a significant improvement in diagnostic performance in the country. Although the local strain was identified as a cattle-adapted serovar, it possesses significant zoonotic implications. Furthermore, this study contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of leptospirosis in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Sohm
- VetFarm, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Kremesberg 13, 2563, Pottenstein, Austria.
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
- University Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Denise Willixhofer
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340, Mödling, Austria
| | - Eva Fasching
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340, Mödling, Austria
| | - Karoline Waldner
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340, Mödling, Austria
| | - Nicole Deitzer
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Janina Steiner
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Jöbstl
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Corina Schleicher
- Department for Data, Statistics and Risk Assessment, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Zinzendorfgasse 27/1, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Marcel Schwarz
- Department for Data, Statistics and Risk Assessment, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Zinzendorfgasse 27/1, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Reinhard Fuchs
- Department for Data, Statistics and Risk Assessment, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Zinzendorfgasse 27/1, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Pascale Bourhy
- Unit Biology of Spirochetes, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Annemarie Käsbohrer
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wittek
- University Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clair Firth
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Romana Steinparzer
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Robert Koch-Gasse 17, 2340, Mödling, Austria
| | - Amélie Desvars-Larrive
- VetFarm, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Kremesberg 13, 2563, Pottenstein, Austria
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
- Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Josefstädter Straße 39, 1080, Vienna, Austria
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Grippi F, Blanda V, Galluzzo P, Bongiorno M, Sciacca C, Arcuri F, D’Agostino R, Giacchino I, Gucciardi F, D’Incau M, Bertasio C, Torina A, Guercio A. A Canine Leptospirosis Clinical Case Due to Leptospira interrogans (Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae) in a Dog Kennel in Castelvetrano (Western Sicily, South Italy). Vet Sci 2023; 10:508. [PMID: 37624294 PMCID: PMC10458989 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10080508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a worldwide widespread zoonosis caused by Leptospira genus. We report an acute leptospirosis case in a puppy housed at a municipal kennel and the subsequent diagnostic investigations carried out on all dogs housed in the kennel. Laboratory investigation included mainly a microagglutination test, real-time PCR, and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) for Leptospira genus. Other agents of infection were excluded. The puppy resulted positive for Leptospira interrogans Icterohaemorrhagiae both with serological and molecular assays. All of the other 66 dogs in the kennel underwent clinical and laboratory investigations twice, 15 days apart. No other dog showed leptospirosis clinical signs. At the first sampling, eight dogs (12%) showed antibodies against Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorragiae serovar Copenhageni. Real-time PCR on urine samples of seropositive dogs detected Leptospira spp. DNA in one sample, then identified as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorragiae by MLST. Fifteen days after, four of the previous seropositive dogs still showed antibodies against Leptospira spp. All urine samples collected from seropositive dogs were negative at real-time PCR. The study allowed the early confirmation of a Leptospirosis case and the identification of at least one asymptomatic carrier of pathogenic Leptospira spp. The prompt activation of all appropriate management measures allowed limiting and extinguishing the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Grippi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Valeria Blanda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Paola Galluzzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Manuel Bongiorno
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione Veterinaria-Area di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Unità Operativa Territoriale Alcamo Castelvetrano, Via Sardegna, 91022 Castelvetrano, Italy;
| | - Carmela Sciacca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Francesca Arcuri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Rosalia D’Agostino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Ilenia Giacchino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Francesca Gucciardi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Mario D’Incau
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.D.); (C.B.)
| | - Cristina Bertasio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.D.); (C.B.)
| | - Alessandra Torina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Annalisa Guercio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (F.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (I.G.); (F.G.); (A.T.); (A.G.)
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Grillova L, Cokelaer T, Mariet JF, da Fonseca JP, Picardeau M. Core genome sequencing and genotyping of Leptospira interrogans in clinical samples by target capture sequencing. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:157. [PMID: 36918832 PMCID: PMC10012794 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08126-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The life-threatening pathogen Leptospira interrogans is the most common agent of leptospirosis, an emerging zoonotic disease. However, little is known about the strains that are currently circulating worldwide due to the fastidious nature of the bacteria and the difficulty to isolate cultures. In addition, the paucity of bacteria in blood and other clinical samples has proven to be a considerable challenge for directly genotyping the agent of leptospirosis directly from patient material. Our understanding of the genetic diversity of strains during human infection is therefore limited. METHODS Here, we carried out hybridization capture followed by Illumina sequencing of the core genome directly from 20 clinical samples that were PCR positive for pathogenic Leptospira to elucidate the genetic diversity of currently circulating Leptospira strains in mainland France. RESULTS Capture with RNA probes covering the L. interrogans core genome resulted in a 72 to 13,000-fold increase in pathogen reads relative to standard sequencing without capture. Variant analysis of the genomes sequenced from the biological samples using 273 Leptospira reference genomes was then carried out to determine the genotype of the infecting strain. For samples with sufficient coverage (19/20 samples with coverage > 8×), we could unambiguously identify L. interrogans serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni (14 samples), L. kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa (4 samples), and L. interrogans serovar Pyrogenes (1 sample) as the infecting strains. CONCLUSIONS We obtained high-quality genomic data with suitable coverage for confident core genome genotyping of the agent of leptospirosis for most of our clinical samples. The recovery of the genome of the serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Copenhageni directly from multiple clinical samples revealed low adaptive diversification of the core genes during human infection. The ability to generate culture-free genomic data opens new opportunities for better understanding of the epidemiology of this fastidious pathogen and pathogenesis of this neglected disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Grillova
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, French National Reference Centre for Leptospirosis, CNRS UMR 6047, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France.,Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Thomas Cokelaer
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Plate-Forme Technologique Biomics, 75015, Paris, France.,Département Biologie Computationnelle, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Mariet
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, French National Reference Centre for Leptospirosis, CNRS UMR 6047, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | | | - Mathieu Picardeau
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, French National Reference Centre for Leptospirosis, CNRS UMR 6047, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France.
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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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Landolt NY, Chiani YT, Pujato N, Jacob P, Schmeling MF, García Effron G, Vanasco NB. Utility evaluation of two molecular methods for Leptospira spp. typing in human serum samples. Heliyon 2022; 9:e12564. [PMID: 36747527 PMCID: PMC9898289 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the available genotyping methods were applied and evaluated in Leptospira isolates and only few of them in a relevant sample size of blood specimens but not of sera. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of one partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing assay (16S rRNA) and an optimized. Multilocus sequence typing scheme (MLST) for Leptospira typing directly in serum samples. Confirmed leptospirosis patients (n = 228) from Argentina (2005-2016) were randomly included. Septicemic-phase serum samples (n = 228) were studied by two genotyping methods. Available immune-phase serum samples of the included patients (n = 159) were studied by MAT to compare serological and molecular results. In culture-proven cases (n = 8), genotyping results between clinical samples and isolates were compared. Typing success rate (TSR) was 21.9% for 16S rRNA and 11.4% for MLST (full allelic profile) and a positive trend in both TSR during the study period was observed. Two species (L. interrogans and L. borgpertesenii) were identified by both methods and MLST assigned 8 different STs. The probable serogroups identified by MLST were coincident with the presumptive infecting serogroups identified by MAT, but with different frequencies. The three serogroups (Canicola, Sejroe and Icterohaemorrhagiae) most frequently identified by MAT were also genotyped by MLST. Typing results via 16S rRNA and MLST in clinical samples and isolates of culture-proven cases, were consistent except for one case. Performance of partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing assay and the optimized MLST scheme directly in sera may increase and improve the knowledge about species and serogroups causing human leptospirosis, especially in countries with low rates of culture sample collection or Leptospira isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Yolanda Landolt
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Yosena Teresita Chiani
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Nazarena Pujato
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paulina Jacob
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Fernanda Schmeling
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Guillermo García Effron
- Laboratorio de Micología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Cátedra de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), CCT, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Norma Bibiana Vanasco
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER “Dr. E. Coni”), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS “Dr. C.G. Malbran”), Av. Blas Parera 8260, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Paraje El Pozo, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina,Corresponding author.
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Matthias MA, Lubar AA, Lanka Acharige SS, Chaiboonma KL, Pilau NN, Marroquin AS, Jayasundara D, Agampodi S, Vinetz JM. Culture-Independent Detection and Identification of Leptospira Serovars. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0247522. [PMID: 36445143 PMCID: PMC9769591 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02475-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira, the causative agents of leptospirosis, comprise >200 serotypes (called serovars). Most have a restricted reservoir-host range, and some, e.g., serovar Copenhageni, are cosmopolitan and of public health importance owing to their propensity to produce severe, fatal disease in humans. Available serotyping approaches-such as multilocus sequence typing, core genome sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and the cross-agglutination absorption test-are tedious and expensive, and require isolation of the organisms in culture media-a protracted and incredibly inefficient process-precluding their use in prospective studies or outbreak investigations. The unavailability of culture-independent assays capable of distinguishing Leptospira serotypes remains a crucial gap in the field. Here, we have developed a simple yet specific real-time qPCR assay-targeting a Leptospira-unique gene encoding a putative polysaccharide flippase-that provides intraspecies, serotype-defining (i.e., epidemiologically useful) information, and improves upon the sensitivity of preferred lipL32-based qPCR-based diagnostic tests. The assay, dubbed RAgI ("rage one"), is rapid and affordable, and reliably and specifically detects group I pathogenic Leptospira in culture, serum, and urine, with no detectable off-target amplification-even of the genetically related but low virulence group II pathogenic (formerly "intermediate") or nonpathogenic Leptospira. It retained 100% diagnostic specificity when tested against difficult sample types, including field-collected dog urine samples and environmental samples containing varied and complex microbial species-consortia. This assay holds considerable promise in the clinical setting, and for routine epidemiological and environmental surveillance studies. IMPORTANCE Leptospirosis is caused by a diverse group of pathogenic spirochetes comprising over 200 different serotypes. Some are widely reported and of public health importance owing to their propensity to produce severe, fatal disease in humans. Apart from their tedium and expense, current serotyping approaches require isolation of the organisms in culture media-a protracted and incredibly inefficient process-rendering them useless clinically and limiting their utilization in prospective studies or outbreak investigations. The unavailability of culture-independent assays capable of distinguishing Leptospira serotypes remains a crucial gap in the field. The 11108 qPCR-assay overcomes this barrier to progress via direct taxonomic and serotype classification of Leptospira from urine and serum samples, and hence, is the first qPCR-based prognostic test for human leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Matthias
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Aristea A. Lubar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Shalka S. Lanka Acharige
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kira L. Chaiboonma
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Nicholas N. Pilau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Alan S. Marroquin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Dinesha Jayasundara
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
| | - Suneth Agampodi
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Comparison of the Serion IgM ELISA and Microscopic Agglutination Test for diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infections in sera from different geographical origins and estimation of Leptospira seroprevalence in the Wiwa indigenous population from Colombia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0009876. [PMID: 35666764 PMCID: PMC9223614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is among the most important zoonotic diseases in (sub-)tropical countries. The research objective was to evaluate the accuracy of the Serion IgM ELISA EST125M against the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT = imperfect reference test); to assess its ability to diagnose acute leptospirosis infections and to detect previous exposure to leptospires in an endemic setting. In addition, to estimate the overall Leptospira spp. seroprevalence in the Wiwa indigenous population in North-East Colombia. We analysed serum samples from confirmed leptospirosis patients from the Netherlands (N = 14), blood donor sera from Switzerland (N = 20), and sera from a cross-sectional study in Colombia (N = 321). All leptospirosis ELISA-positive, and a random of negative samples from Colombia were tested by the MAT for confirmation. The ELISA performed with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 77% - 100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI 83% - 100%) based on MAT confirmed Leptospira spp. positive and negative samples. In the cross-sectional study in Colombia, the ELISA performed with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 2–100%) and a specificity of 21% (95% CI 15–28%). Assuming a 5% Leptospira spp. seroprevalence in this population, the positive predictive value was 6% and the negative predictive value 100%. The Leptospira spp. seroprevalence in the Wiwas tested by the ELISA was 39%; however, by MAT only 0.3%. The ELISA is suitable to diagnose leptospirosis in acutely ill patients in Europe several days after onset of disease. For cross-sectional studies it is not recommended due to its low specificity. Despite the evidence of a high leptospirosis prevalence in other study areas and populations in Colombia, the Wiwa do not seem to be highly exposed to Leptospira spp.. Nevertheless, leptospirosis should be considered and tested in patients presenting with febrile illness. Leptospirosis is among the most important zoonotic diseases in (sub-)tropical countries. The correct diagnosis of leptospirosis is very important to take a medical or public health decision. Therefore, we tested a serological test (ELISA) for its ability to correctly diagnose a negative sample as truly negative and a positive sample as truly positive. We tested the ELISA with European acute leptospirosis confirmed positive and negative samples and compared results with another serological test (microscopic agglutination test), which is the recognized reference test. Further, the ELISA was assessed for its ability to detect previous exposure to leptospires in serum samples from the indigenous Wiwa population from Colombia, where leptospirosis is expected to be endemic. The ELISA performed very well with sera from patients with acute leptospirosis, however had difficulties to diagnose negative samples as truly negative in the Colombian field samples; hence unexposed persons were falsely diagnosed to be positive. Therefore, we recommend using the ELISA to detect acute leptospirosis several days after onset of illness in a non-endemic environment, but are not convinced of its usefulness to screen a population for previous Leptospira spp. exposure.
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Outbreak of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serogroup Sejroe Infection in Kennel: The Role of Dogs as Sentinel in Specific Environments. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073906. [PMID: 35409589 PMCID: PMC8997430 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Kennels may represent high-risk environments for the diffusion of Leptospira infection in dogs and consequently a threat to public health. This study describes an outbreak of Leptospira infection in a kennel in Italy in 2020, both with clinically ill and asymptomatic dogs. Fifty-nine dogs, including three ill dogs, were tested for Leptospira spp. infection by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and real-time qPCR. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analysis was used to genotype the identified leptospires. Thirty of the fifty-nine (50.9%) dogs had MAT titer and/or molecular positivity indicative of Leptospira infection. Twenty-two of the fifty-nine (37.3%) dogs exhibited seropositivity against at least one serovar belonging to the Sejroe serogroup, and MLST analysis identified L. borgpetersenii serogroup Sejroe (Leptospira ST155) as responsible for the outbreak. Up to now, Sejroe serogroup infection was sporadically reported in dogs. The extension of the MAT antigen panel to several serovars belonging to the serogroup Sejroe could be useful in the diagnosis of canine leptospirosis. Dogs may serve as sentinel of leptospires in specific environments, and surveillance of Leptospira infection in kennels is strongly recommended even when the correct vaccine prophylaxis is administered, because the vaccines currently available are not able to protect from all of the serogroups.
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Macaluso G, Torina A, Blanda V, Guercio A, Lastra A, Giacchino I, D’Agostino R, Sciacca C, D’Incau M, Bertasio C, Grippi F. Leptospira in Slaughtered Fattening Pigs in Southern Italy: Serological Survey and Molecular Typing. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12050585. [PMID: 35268152 PMCID: PMC8909543 DOI: 10.3390/ani12050585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, serological and molecular assays in 55 pigs in Sicily were conducted in order to investigate Leptospira spp. prevalence and to carry out strain characterization. A seropositivity rate of 16.4% was determined; 3.64% of kidney samples tested positive for pathogenic Leptospiral DNA. Obtained data showed that Leptospira infection is common among pigs in southern Italy, confirming the importance of Leptospiral infection in pigs and reaffirming the potential role of these animals as a source of infection for humans (occupational risk) and other animals. Our study delivers a comprehensive overview based on up-to-date data to deepen the knowledge of swine leptospiral infections, characterize new potential emerging strains, and reinforce control measures able to reduce the infection risk in swine herds. Abstract Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonosis of worldwide significance; a wide spectrum of wild and domestic animal species act as natural or accidental hosts. Swine can act as maintenance or accidental hosts of pathogenic Leptospira spp. This study aimed at investigation of Leptospira spp. prevalence and diversity in slaughtered pigs in southern Italy (Sicily). In total, 55 samples of kidneys and blood were collected. Microscopic agglutination test and real-time PCR were performed to detect pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic Leptospira. Partial rpoB gene sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) were performed to characterize Leptospira species. The analysis showed a seropositivity rate of 16.4%, with Australis representing the most frequently identified serogroup (63.64%); Pomona and Sejroe were detected with a prevalence of 27.27% and 9.09%, respectively. Pathogenic Leptospiral DNA was detected in 2 kidney samples (3.64%). Leptospira were identified through MLST as L. borgpetersenii serovar Tarassovi (serogroup Tarassovi). Obtained data confirmed the presence of Leptospira infection among pigs in southern Italy, suggesting that management of these animals may be considered an occupational risk for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusi Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Alessandra Torina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Valeria Blanda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-09-1656-5235
| | - Annalisa Guercio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Antonio Lastra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Ilenia Giacchino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Rosalia D’Agostino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Carmela Sciacca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Mario D’Incau
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Leptospirosi, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.D.); (C.B.)
| | - Cristina Bertasio
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Leptospirosi, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (M.D.); (C.B.)
| | - Francesca Grippi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.M.); (A.T.); (A.G.); (A.L.); (I.G.); (R.D.); (C.S.); (F.G.)
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Aliberti A, Blanda V, Di Marco Lo Presti V, Macaluso G, Galluzzo P, Bertasio C, Sciacca C, Arcuri F, D’Agostino R, Ippolito D, Pruiti Ciarello F, Torina A, Grippi F. Leptospira interrogans Serogroup Pomona in a Dairy Cattle Farm in a Multi-Host Zootechnical System. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9020083. [PMID: 35202336 PMCID: PMC8875964 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020083] [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: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine leptospirosis is an infectious zoonotic disease causing reproductive problems and economic losses in livestock. This work reports, for the first time in Sicily (South Italy), an outbreak of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona that occurred in cattle farms within the Nebrodi Park and was mainly characterized by full-term abortion. Blood and urine samples were collected at different time points from animals of six different farms (Farms A–F) sharing the same grazing area. Research of antibodies against pathogenic Leptospira species in serum samples was carried out via Micro Agglutination Test (MAT). Urine samples were subjected to pathogen isolation and molecular analyses via TaqMan Real Time-PCR. Genotyping of Leptospira species was obtained by Multi-locus sequence typing. MAT detected antibodies against Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona in serum samples of all the farms. Pathogenic Leptospira spp. DNA and culture isolation was obtained from urine samples. Genotyping confirmed the excretion of L. interrogans serogroup Pomona. This study describes clinical manifestations, diagnostic implications and epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak in cattle due to L. interrogans Pomona in a protected multi-host area, where domestic and wild animals share the same habitat, suggesting a role of wild species in transmission and persistence of Pomona serogroup among cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Aliberti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Valeria Blanda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence: (V.B.); (G.M.); Tel.: +39-0916565235 (V.B.); +39-0916565553 (G.M.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Marco Lo Presti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Giusi Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence: (V.B.); (G.M.); Tel.: +39-0916565235 (V.B.); +39-0916565553 (G.M.)
| | - Paola Galluzzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Cristina Bertasio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Carmela Sciacca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Francesca Arcuri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Rosalia D’Agostino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Dorotea Ippolito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Flavia Pruiti Ciarello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Alessandra Torina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Francesca Grippi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (V.D.M.L.P.); (P.G.); (C.S.); (F.A.); (R.D.); (D.I.); (F.P.C.); (A.T.); (F.G.)
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Mendoza MV, Rivera WL. Application of simplified MLST scheme for direct typing of clinical samples from human leptospirosis cases in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258891. [PMID: 34669742 PMCID: PMC8528318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the major threat of leptospirosis to public health in the Philippines, its epidemiologic data remain scarce. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a method often used for identification of circulating Leptospira species and disease surveillance. Unfortunately, molecular typing of Leptospira isolates is not routinely done in most hospital settings. A simplified MLST scheme targeting three loci (adk, lipL41, mreA) was performed for rapid direct typing of Leptospira in clinical specimens. Blood samples from suspected or clinically diagnosed cases (n = 50) were initially screened via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 23S rRNA, 16S rRNA (rrs2), and lipL32 genes. From the nine positives, seven had interpretable data from MLST. Allelic profiles identified L. interrogans in all positive samples. Six were assigned to ST12 of serovar Manilae (serogroup Pyrogenes) while one sample cannot be clearly differentiated between two serovars/serogroups, Bataviae/Losbanos (serogroup Bataviae) or Australis (serogroup Australis), indicating possibility of a new ST. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the application of simplified MLST scheme produces consistent results with the seven-loci genetic profile of published Leptospira MLST schemes. Reduced scheme addressed the challenges often encountered in the amplification of full MLST genetic profile of Leptospira. The approach is a potential alternative to serological tests for rapid typing of clinical specimens and can also aid in investigations on disease epidemiology specifically to monitor occurrence, pathogen transmission, host specificity and susceptibility, and other factors that could lead to potential outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjo V. Mendoza
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Windell L. Rivera
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
- Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
- * E-mail:
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12
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Casanovas-Massana A, de Oliveira D, Schneider AG, Begon M, Childs JE, Costa F, Reis MG, Ko AI, Wunder EA. Genetic evidence for a potential environmental pathway to spillover infection of rat-borne leptospirosis. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:130-134. [PMID: 34139761 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we genotyped samples from environmental reservoirs (surface water and soil), colonized rat specimens and cases of human severe leptospirosis from an endemic urban slum in Brazil, to determine the molecular epidemiology of pathogenic Leptospira and identify pathways of leptospirosis infection. We identified a well-stablished population of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni common to human leptospirosis cases, and animal and environmental reservoirs. This finding provides genetic evidence for a potential environmental spillover pathway for rat-borne leptospirosis through the environment in this urban community and highlights the importance of environmental and social interventions to reduce spillover infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mike Begon
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - James E Childs
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Federico Costa
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Mitermayer G Reis
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Albert I Ko
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Elsio A Wunder
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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13
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Influence of Selective Agents (EMJH-STAFF), Sample Filtration and pH on Leptospira interrogans Serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae Cultivation and Isolation from Swine Urine. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8060090. [PMID: 34070655 PMCID: PMC8226611 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8060090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospira spp. cause the zoonotic disease leptospirosis, which occurs in numerous mammalians worldwide. Isolation is still important for serotyping and genotyping of Leptospira, which in turn is essential for epidemiological surveillance of leptospirosis and the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines. However, isolation of Leptospira from clinical specimens is inherently insensitive. This study was conducted to examine the influence of selective agents, sample filtration, sample pH and the use of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer for sample storage to improve the success of cultivation and isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae from swine urine. EMJH (Ellinghausen McCullough, Johnson and Harris) medium including the selective agents sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, amphotericin, fosfomycin and 5-fluorouracil (STAFF) increased the success of Leptospira isolation from spiked swine urine samples. Sample filtration yielded only negative results. Isolation in EMJH-STAFF was successful from swine urine with a density as low as 104 Leptospira/mL, and urine with pH ≤ 7 impaired the cultivation rate. Cultivation and isolation were not improved by the addition of PBS to spiked urine samples prior to storage for 24 h at 4 °C. The results of the study demonstrate that cultivation and isolation of leptospires from swine urine can be improved by enhanced methods.
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14
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Molecular and serological epidemiology of Leptospira infection in cats in Okinawa Island, Japan. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10365. [PMID: 33990653 PMCID: PMC8121857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89872-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. Cats have been reported to be infected with Leptospira spp. and shed the bacteria in the urine. However, the importance of cats as an infection source for humans remains unclear. In this study, Leptospira infection in cats in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, where leptospirosis is endemic, was investigated by leptospiral antibody and DNA detection using microscopic agglutination test and nested PCR, respectively. Moreover, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were conducted on the Leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup Javanica isolated from cats, black rats, a mongoose, and humans. Anti-Leptospira antibodies were detected in 16.6% (40/241) of the cats tested, and the predominant reactive serogroup was Javanica. The leptospiral flaB gene was detected in 7.1% (3/42) of cat urine samples, and their sequences were identical and identified as L. borgpetersenii. MLST and WGS revealed the genetic relatedness of L. borgpetersenii serogroup Javanica isolates. This study indicated that most seropositive cats had antibodies against the serogroup Javanica and that cats excreted L. borgpetersenii in the urine after infection. Further, genetic relatedness between cat and human isolates suggests that cats may be a maintenance host for L. borgpetersenii serogroup Javanica and a source for human infection.
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Agampodi SB, Vinetz JM. Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of Pathogenic Leptospira: A Way Forward for Understanding Infectious Disease Dynamics in Low/Middle-Income, Disease-Endemic Settings. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104:1625-1627. [PMID: 33755589 PMCID: PMC8103479 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current genomic era, knowledge of diversity of Leptospira, the spirochetal agents of leptospirosis, is changing rapidly. Next-generation sequencing has decreased in price and increased in scale, with the potential to democratize large-scale analysis of pathogens in resource-limited, low/middle-income (LMIC) regions. Consequently, the molecular classification of Leptospira, a pathogen disproportionately affecting LMIC countries, has changed dramatically over the last decade. Leptospira classification and molecular understandings of pathogen diversity have rapidly evolved, now most precisely based on core genome analysis supplemented by new insights provided by culture-independent methods directly using body fluids such as blood and urine. In places where leptospirosis disease burden is highest, genomic technologies have not been available, and serology-based methods remain the mainstay of leptospiral classification. Understanding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and ultimately new approaches to treating and preventing leptospirosis requires detailed knowledge of regionally circulating Leptospira in highly endemic settings. Next-generation sequencing-based, culture-independent typing overcomes the limitation of culture isolation of Leptospira from clinical samples, with promise of providing public health-actionable information applicable to leptospirosis-endemic LMIC settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suneth B. Agampodi
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut;,Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, Sri Lanka,Address correspondence to Suneth B. Agampodi, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, Yale University, Winchester Bldg., 25 York St., Rm. 428, New Haven, CT 06510. E-mails: or
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Koizumi N, Morita M, Pheng V, Wann C, Masuoka H, Higa Y, Wada T, Hirayama K, Ohnishi M, Miura K. Rat trade and leptospirosis: Molecular epidemiology of Leptospira species in rats exported from Cambodia to Vietnam. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1641-1648. [PMID: 33735490 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Rats are an important maintenance host of Leptospira spp., the causative agents of leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. Rats are traded as food in the Mekong Delta, where Cambodia exports tons of rats to Vietnam. Handling wild rats is a potential health risk, but the information on Leptospira spp. carried by rats traded in the region remains limited. In this study, we investigated the carriage of Leptospira spp. in rats exported from Cambodia to Vietnam using bacterial culture, nested PCR and DNA sequencing. Isolates were then assessed using serological analysis and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and Leptospira DNA detected in rat kidney tissues was also analysed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Seventy-two rats (2 Bandicota indica, 57 Rattus argentiventer, 11 R. losea, 1 R. norvegicus and 1 R. rattus) were subjected to bacterial culture, and three L. borgpetersenii serogroup Javanica isolates were obtained from R. argentiventer (5.3%). WGS revealed that although Cambodian isolates were genetically related to L. borgpetersenii serogroup Javanica strains widely distributed in East and South-East Asian countries, they formed a different cluster from other strains. In addition to the three L. borgpetersenii sequences, the flaB sequence of L. interrogans was detected in 18 R. argentiventer and 7 R. losea kidney tissue samples (38.9%) using nested PCR followed by DNA sequencing. The L. interrogans flaB-positive samples were further analysed by MLST, revealing that seven housekeeping genes (glmU, pntA, sucA, tpiA, pfkB, mreA and caiB) contained novel sequences with distinct lineages from other sequence types. This study revealed a high prevalence of Leptospira spp. among rats exported from Cambodia to Vietnam, indicating a potential risk to people engaging in rat trade and demonstrating that a fastidious L. interrogans strain circulates among Cambodian rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuo Koizumi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masatomo Morita
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Vutha Pheng
- Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Chinda Wann
- Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Hiroaki Masuoka
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Higa
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Wada
- Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hirayama
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kozue Miura
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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17
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Song N, Zhang W, Ding Y, Wu D, Dai Z, Xu L, Cao Y. Preliminary Characterization of Dog Derived Pathogenic Strains of Leptospira interrogans Serovar Australis in Nanchang of Jiangxi Province, China. Front Vet Sci 2021; 7:607115. [PMID: 33521082 PMCID: PMC7841341 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.607115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira, and those infected animals will show a variety of clinical symptoms and even death. The discovery of endemic strains is crucial to produce effective vaccines. In this study, we report that a strain of Leptospira, isolated from a dog, is pathogenic. Using MLST analysis, the serovar of isolated Leptospira was identified and found it belongs to Leptospira interrogation Serovar Australis. Then, the virulence of this strain was researched by using hamsters. After infection, all the hamsters died within 4-5 days. Typical pathological changes were found in the liver, kidney, and lung of hamsters. These results all indicated that the isolated Leptospira was pathogenic. Thus, this study facilitates to identifying local Leptospira strains and develop a more targeted canine Leptospira vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Song
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yue Ding
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dianjun Wu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zonghao Dai
- Nanchang Police Dog Base of the Ministry of Public Security, Nanchang, China
| | - Li Xu
- Nanchang Police Dog Base of the Ministry of Public Security, Nanchang, China
| | - Yongguo Cao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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18
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Detection of New Leptospira Genotypes Infecting Symptomatic Dogs: Is a New Vaccine Formulation Needed? Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9060484. [PMID: 32570803 PMCID: PMC7350335 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis in dogs has been largely described worldwide, and epidemiological studies have been mainly based on serological data. This study aims to detect and genotype leptospires affecting symptomatic dogs in Northeast Italy between 2013 and 2019. Overall, 1631 dogs were tested using real-time PCR, and leptospires from 193 dogs were subjected to Multilocus Sequence Typing and a Multiple Loci Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis. Leptospires were successfully isolated from 15 symptomatic dogs. Six distinct Sequence Types (STs) were found for 135 leptospires, with 3 STs characterizing Leptospira interrogans (ST17, ST198 and ST24), 2 STs characterizing Leptospira kirschneri (ST117 and ST289) and 1 ST characterizing Leptospira borgpetersenii (ST155), revealing the circulation of the serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Sejroe and Pomona. The Multiple Loci Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis of 17 samples did not result in any additional discrimination. Genotypes were compared with those of strains present in the historical internal database, and possible transmission chains were identified from rat, mouse, hedgehog and pig. This work highlights the importance of molecular methods in revealing and identifying circulating Leptospira strains, and it also encourages the evaluation of the ability of commercially available vaccines to reduce the disease burden among dogs.
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Balboni A, Zamagni S, Bertasio C, Boniotti MB, Troìa R, Battilani M, Dondi F. Identification of Serogroups Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae in Two Dogs with a Severe Form of Acute Leptospirosis in Italy. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050351. [PMID: 32384672 PMCID: PMC7281091 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that causes serious illness in dogs. For this reason, epidemiological and clinical studies focusing on disease characterization are widely advocated. The aim of this study was to characterize the leptospires identified in dogs with confirmed symptomatic acute leptospirosis. Leptospira spp. DNA detected in urine, blood, or both samples from nine infected dogs was analyzed using the multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) technique. Leptospires from two dogs were successfully typed: one was identified as belonging to Sequence Type (ST) 17 and one to ST198, both within the L. interrogans species, serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae and Australis, respectively. Based on the results of routine serologic tests, antibodies reactive toward these serogroups are commonly revealed in dogs in Italy. This study provides the first molecular analysis that identifies infecting Leptospira directly on DNA from biological samples of dogs, showing that serogroup Australis can lead to a severe clinical presentation of leptospirosis in infected dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Balboni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (S.Z.); (R.T.); (F.D.)
| | - Silvia Zamagni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (S.Z.); (R.T.); (F.D.)
| | - Cristina Bertasio
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (C.B.); (M.B.B.)
| | - Maria Beatrice Boniotti
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy; (C.B.); (M.B.B.)
| | - Roberta Troìa
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (S.Z.); (R.T.); (F.D.)
| | - Mara Battilani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (S.Z.); (R.T.); (F.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Dondi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (S.Z.); (R.T.); (F.D.)
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20
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Bertasio C, Papetti A, Scaltriti E, Tagliabue S, D’Incau M, Boniotti MB. Serological Survey and Molecular Typing Reveal New Leptospira Serogroup Pomona Strains among Pigs of Northern Italy. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050332. [PMID: 32365494 PMCID: PMC7281294 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Swine act as both maintenance and incidental hosts of pathogenic Leptospira spp. Here, a serological test was performed on 131,660 pig sera collected between 2002 and 2017 from 4715 farms in Northern Italy. A positivity rate of 13.05% was determined. Australis was the most frequently identified serogroup (77.29%), followed by Pomona (18.47%), Tarassovi (1.51%) and Icterohaemorrhagie (1.40%). Culture isolation and real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were carried out on 347 kidneys and 470 clinical samples, respectively. Overall, 133 strains were cultured successfully and 43 randomly chosen isolates were identified as serogroup Pomona. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) revealed that 41 isolates and 8 DNA extracted from biological samples belonged to sequence type 140. Using a multiple-locus, variable-number tandem repeat analysis, 43 samples produced identical profiles but, after 2014, three new Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona genotypes were observed. Interestingly, two isolates showed new MLST profiles and an unclassified identification by monoclonal antibodies. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing clustered them into L. kirschneri species and a core genome MLST analysis revealed an allelic identity of 96% compared with Mozdok strains. Genotyping allowed us to discriminate leptospires and to identify new emerging strains. The accurate identification of infective strains is required for formulating preventive methods and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bertasio
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +030-22-90-309
| | - Alice Papetti
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Strada dei Mercati 13/a, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Tagliabue
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Mario D’Incau
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Boniotti
- National Reference Centre for Animal Leptospirosis (NRCL), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, via Bianchi 7/9, 25121 Brescia, Italy
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21
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Philip N, Bahtiar Affendy N, Ramli SNA, Arif M, Raja P, Nagandran E, Renganathan P, Taib NM, Masri SN, Yuhana MY, Than LTL, Seganathirajah M, Goarant C, Goris MGA, Sekawi Z, Neela VK. Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kirschneri are the dominant Leptospira species causing human leptospirosis in Central Malaysia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008197. [PMID: 32203511 PMCID: PMC7117766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis, commonly known as rat-urine disease, is a global but endemic zoonotic disease in the tropics. Despite the historical report of leptospirosis in Malaysia, the information on human-infecting species is limited. Determining the circulating species is important to understand its epidemiology, thereby to strategize appropriate control measures through public health interventions, diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccine development. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS We investigated the human-infecting Leptospira species in blood and serum samples collected from clinically suspected leptospirosis patients admitted to three tertiary care hospitals in Malaysia. From a total of 165 patients, 92 (56%) were confirmed cases of leptospirosis through Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) (n = 43; 47%), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (n = 63; 68%) or both MAT and PCR (n = 14; 15%). The infecting Leptospira spp., determined by partial 16S rDNA (rrs) gene sequencing revealed two pathogenic species namely Leptospira interrogans (n = 44, 70%) and Leptospira kirschneri (n = 17, 27%) and one intermediate species Leptospira wolffii (n = 2, 3%). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) identified an isolate of L. interrogans as a novel sequence type (ST 265), suggesting that this human-infecting strain has a unique genetic profile different from similar species isolated from rodents so far. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kirschneri were identified as the dominant Leptospira species causing human leptospirosis in Central Malaysia. The existence of novel clinically important ST 265 (infecting human), that is different from rodent L. interrogans strains cautions reservoir(s) of these Leptospira lineages are yet to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noraini Philip
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Norliza Bahtiar Affendy
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nur Alia Ramli
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Arif
- Center of Excellence in Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Pappitha Raja
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Elanngovan Nagandran
- Clinical Research Centre Unit, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pukunan Renganathan
- Clinical Research Centre Unit, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Niazlin Mohd Taib
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Norbaya Masri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Yazli Yuhana
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Leslie Thian Lung Than
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mithra Seganathirajah
- General Medicine, Hospital Serdang, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Puchong, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Cyrille Goarant
- Institut Pasteur de Noume´a, Leptospirosis Research and Expertise Unit, Noume´a, New Caledonia
| | - Marga G. A. Goris
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Zamberi Sekawi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Vasantha Kumari Neela
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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22
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Caimi K, Ruybal P. Leptospira spp., a genus in the stage of diversity and genomic data expansion. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 81:104241. [PMID: 32061688 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a widespread global zoonotic bacterial disease with a noteworthy human-animal-ecosystem interface. The disease presents different clinical manifestations and a high mortality and morbidity rates in humans and animals throughout the world. Characterization and correct classification of Leptospira isolates is essential for a better understanding the epidemiological properties of the disease. In the last ten years, molecular typing tools have been developed and applied to this field. These methods together with the availability of hundreds of new whole genome sequences that belong to known and new described species are shaping the understanding and structure of the entire genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Caimi
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABiMo), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - P Ruybal
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Paraguay 2155 Piso: 12, CABA 1121, Argentina
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23
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Ferreira AS, Ahmed A, Rocha T, Vieira ML, Paiva-Cardoso MDN, Mesquita JR, van der Linden H, Goris M, Thompson G, Hartskeerl RA, Inácio J. Genetic diversity of pathogenic leptospires from wild, domestic and captive host species in Portugal. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67:852-864. [PMID: 31677243 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution with a significant veterinary and public health impact. It is caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The availability of effective tools to accurately identify and type leptospires is of utmost importance for the diagnosis of the disease and for assessing its epidemiology. Several multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) approaches were described for the typing of worldwide isolates of Leptospira but an extensive agreement towards the adoption of a unique consensus scheme for this agent is still lacking. Most genotyped strains originate from Asian and South American countries, with a minority originating from Europe (being most countries represented only by one or a few isolates). The knowledge of the diversity of circulating leptospires is the key to understanding the disease transmission and its zoonotic implications. In this study, we revisited the taxonomy of several isolates of pathogenic Leptospira obtained from domestic, wild and captive animals in Portugal, between 1990 and 2012. A selection of these isolates was genotyped using two previously published MLST schemes. A total of seven distinct sequence types (STs) were detected among the Portuguese isolates with two STs representing L. borgpetersenii (ST149 and ST152), two STs representing L. kirschneri (ST117 and ST100) and three STs representing L. interrogans (ST17, ST24 and ST140). Global widespread (and maybe more virulent) Leptospira genotypes seem to circulate in Portugal, particularly the L. interrogans ST17 isolates which are associated with several outbreaks of leptospirosis among humans and animals in different regions of the world. This study contributes to the enrichment of the global MLST databases with a new set of allele and sequence type information also providing novel data on circulating Leptospira serovars in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Ferreira
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Oporto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ahmed Ahmed
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Teresa Rocha
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Unidade Estratégica de Produção e Saúde Animal, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Maria L Vieira
- Unidade de Microbiologia Médica, Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria das Neves Paiva-Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB)/Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hans van der Linden
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marga Goris
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gertrude Thompson
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Rudy A Hartskeerl
- OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - João Inácio
- Unidade de Microbiologia Médica, Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal.,School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
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24
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Novel MLST sequence types of pathogenic Leptospira spp.: Opening the black box of animal leptospirosis in Brazil. Acta Trop 2019; 196:135-141. [PMID: 31121146 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.05.025] [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: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In the current context of the emergence of certain infectious diseases and discussion of the One Health concept for many of these, the study of leptospirosis - both in domestic and wild hosts - cannot be neglected. The study of animal leptospirosis has evolved in recent years. It has been demonstrated that the human-animal-environment interface is more important than previously thought. In the present study, 35 strains of five pathogenic Leptospira species were isolated from different animal species in Brazil and characterized by rrs, secY, and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) sequencing. Phylogenetic inferences were performed and the molecular diversity of the populations (intra- and inter-population levels) was evaluated. Among the five studied species, 18 different sequence types (STs) were found (22 new alleles and 11 new STs). eBURST analysis revealed two clonal complexes (CCs) and seven singletons. A high genetic diversity was demonstrated (H = 0.954 ± 0.017), mainly for the L. santarosai population (H = 0.942 ± 0.034, n = 20). The same strain was identified in different host species, as well as strains with zoonotic potential circulating in the country. Although the difficulty of culturing Leptospira strains is well known, the high variability of the strains found in Brazil highlights the importance of animals in maintaining the biological cycle of the bacterium in nature. Moreover, the selection of autochthonous strains for the development of vaccines becomes a challenge.
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25
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Ricardo T, Monje LD, Landolt N, Chiani YT, Schmeling MF, Beldoménico PM, Vanasco NB, Previtali MA. [First report on Leptospira interrogans in the sigmodontine rodent Scapteromys aquaticusPrimeiro relato da presença de Leptospira interrogans em roedores sigmodontíneos Scapteromys aquaticus]. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2018; 42:e83. [PMID: 31093111 PMCID: PMC6386106 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2018.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with the urine or tissues of infected animals. In Argentina, leptospirosis is endemic in the province of Santa Fe and epidemic outbreaks occur during floods. However, very little is known about the role that wild rodents play in the spread of the disease in Argentina. The objective of this study was to identify the host species of pathogenic Leptospira among rodents in a riverine settlement in the province of Santa Fe.We conducted a trapping session in October 2015. Kidneys of the captured animals were analyzed by real-time PCR for the LipL32 gene of pathogenic Leptospira. Animals that were positive were subjected to microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and molecular typing by amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and two multilocus sequence typing (MLST) schemes.A total of 37 rodents of the species Akodon azarae, Cavia aperea, Oligoryzomys flavescens, Rattus rattus, and Scapteromys aquaticus were captured. Real-time PCR found one male Scapteromys aquaticus that was positive. The serum of this individual and of the rest of the S. aquaticus captured (n = 18) were analyzed by MAT and were non-reactive for the 10 serovars tested. Amplification of the 16S rRNA gene identified the infective species as Leptospira interrogans, while amplification could not be obtained for the two MLST schemes.The findings of this study contribute new information concerning the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in wild rodents, which is relevant in this region because the species is widely distributed in swampy and flood-prone environments of South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Ricardo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lucas D Monje
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades (LecEn), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET), UNL-CONICET, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Noelia Landolt
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Dr. E. Coni", Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS "Dr. C.G. Malbran"), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Yosena T Chiani
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Dr. E. Coni", Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS "Dr. C.G. Malbran"), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Fernanda Schmeling
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Dr. E. Coni", Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS "Dr. C.G. Malbran"), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pablo M Beldoménico
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades (LecEn), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET), UNL-CONICET, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - N Bibiana Vanasco
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Dr. E. Coni", Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS "Dr. C.G. Malbran"), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Andrea Previtali
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Varni V, Chiani Y, Nagel A, Ruybal P, Vanasco NB, Caimi K. Simplified MLST scheme for direct typing of Leptospira human clinical samples. Pathog Glob Health 2018; 112:203-209. [PMID: 30064347 PMCID: PMC6147079 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1480137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis. Epidemiological data are scarce and present major challenge because of the varied clinical presentations. Multilocus Sequence Typing has already proven to be a robust molecular typing method providing accurate results for strain characterization. We have adapted our MLST scheme by reducing the set of loci to facilitate Leptospira typing directly from human clinical samples. The application of this 3-locus scheme provides Leptospira species and allelic profiles of the samples retaining the power of discrimination of the whole scheme. Moreover, an approach to the serogroups was also achieved. Our results contribute to the epidemiological study of Leptospirosis, since the direct typing on clinical specimens could detect and update allelic variants and serogroups present in a region. The simplified scheme allowed at the same time to take advantage of limited genetic material available in clinical samples that may increase the sources of information for epidemiological monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanina Varni
- Biotechnology Institute, National Institute of Agropecuarian Technology (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yosena Chiani
- National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Santa Fé, Argentina
| | - Ariel Nagel
- Biotechnology Institute, National Institute of Agropecuarian Technology (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Ruybal
- Institute of Research in Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (IMPAM), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Norma Bibiana Vanasco
- National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Santa Fé, Argentina
| | - Karina Caimi
- Biotechnology Institute, National Institute of Agropecuarian Technology (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Guernier V, Allan KJ, Goarant C. Advances and challenges in barcoding pathogenic and environmental Leptospira. Parasitology 2018; 145:595-607. [PMID: 28716157 PMCID: PMC6010154 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017001147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease of global importance. A large spectrum of asymptomatic animal hosts can carry the infection and contribute to the burden of human disease. Environmental sources of human contamination also point to the importance of a hydrotelluric reservoir. Leptospirosis can be caused by as many as 15 different pathogenic or intermediate Leptospira species. However, classification of these bacteria remains complicated through the use of both serological and genetic classification systems that show poor correlation. With the advent of molecular techniques, DNA-based barcoding offers a conceptual framework that can be used for leptospirosis surveillance as well as source tracking. In this review, we summarize some of the current techniques, highlight significant successes and weaknesses and point to the future opportunities and challenges to successfully establish a widely applicable barcoding scheme for Leptospira.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanina Guernier
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Kathryn J. Allan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Cyrille Goarant
- Institut Pasteur in New Caledonia, Institut Pasteur International Network, Leptospirosis Research and Expertise Unit, Noumea, New Caledonia. 11 rue Paul Doumer, BP 61; 98845 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia
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