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Balcázar L, Azócar-Aedo L, Barrera V, Meniconi G, Muñoz V, Valencia-Soto C. Detection of Antibodies for Pathogenic Leptospira in Wild Mammals and Birds from Southern Chile-First Record of Seropositivity in a Guiña ( Leopardus guigna). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:601. [PMID: 38396569 PMCID: PMC10886123 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040601] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a neglected bacterial zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution that is present in different animal species. This epidemiological study determined the seroprevalence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in animals at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Puerto Montt, southern Chile, by sampling 60 animals belonging to three classes (birds, mammals, and reptiles). Diagnosis was performed using the microscopic agglutination test with a panel of eight serovars and serogroups. The results showed that 15 animals had anti-Leptospira antibodies, obtaining a seroprevalence of 25.00%, with Leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup Tarassovi presenting reactivity in 13 of the seropositive animals. Among the classes of mammals, chilla foxes (Lycalopex griseus) and pudus (Pudu puda) were seropositive. A guiña (Leopardus guigna) was also seropositive, which was described for the first time in mammals. Among the classes of birds, choroy parrots (Enicognathus leptorhynchus), bandurrias (Theristicus melanopis), and Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were seropositive. Routine examinations to diagnose leptospirosis, perform epidemiological surveillance, and apply prevention and control measures are necessary, and additional research focusing on the One Health approach to explore the epidemiological role of different wild animal species in the maintenance and transmission of leptospirosis at the local and global levels are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Balcázar
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Universidad San Sebastián Sede de la Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Lucía Azócar-Aedo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Universidad San Sebastián Sede de la Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Violeta Barrera
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Universidad San Sebastián Sede de la Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Gloria Meniconi
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Universidad San Sebastián Sede de la Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Victoria Muñoz
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Universidad San Sebastián Sede de la Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Carola Valencia-Soto
- Parque Nacional Puyehue, Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), Ruta 215, Puyehue 5360000, Chile
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Xue H, Zhao Z, Wang J, Ma L, Li J, Yang X, Ren L, Xu L, Liu Z, Li Z. Native circulating Brucella melitensis lineages causing a brucellosis epidemic in Qinghai, China. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1233686. [PMID: 37799605 PMCID: PMC10547896 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2010, the cases and incidences of human brucellosis have been increasing annually in Qinghai (QH) Province. Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analyses of strains from this region are crucial to better understand the transmission of the disease and the evolutionary patterns of Brucella strains. In this study, classical bio-typing assay, multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis, and the whole-genome sequencing-single-nucleotide polymorphism approach were used to illustrate the epidemiological and evolutionary patterns of Brucella melitensis. A total of 54 B. melitensis bv. 3 strains were isolated and molecularly characterized, with all strains belonging to the East Mediterranean lineages. Cross-regional transmission events (i.e., between counties) were caused by common sources of infection, suggesting that predominant circulating genotypes are endemic in different regions. Strengthening surveillance in animal brucellosis and controlling infected animals' cross-border movement are necessary. Two strains isolated from humans and marmots were clustered in the same sub-clade, implying the possible existence of direct and/or indirect contact between sheep (and goats) and wildlife (marmots), but this needs to be verified by further investigations. The global-scale phylogenetic analysis indicated that 54 strains sorted into six subclades, four of which formed independent lineages, suggesting that the increase in the incidence rate of human brucellosis may be caused by local circulating lineages. Further strengthening the serology and pathogen surveillance of animals (wildlife) and humans will contribute to an in-depth understanding of the transmission chain of human brucellosis in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Xue
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Jianling Wang
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Jiquan Li
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Xuxin Yang
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Lingling Ren
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Liqing Xu
- Department of Brucellosis Prevention and Control, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Zhiguo Liu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- Vocational and Technical College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Baotou, China
| | - Zhenjun Li
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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Azócar-Aedo L. Basic Aspects and Epidemiological Studies on Leptospirosis Carried Out in Animals in Chile: A Bibliographic Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020097. [PMID: 36828513 PMCID: PMC9964289 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an important zoonosis worldwide. This disease affects numerous animal species, some of them are classified as "maintenance hosts", and others are categorized as "incidental hosts". Humans are at risk of becoming infected by having contact with domestic and wild animals. In this paper, general aspects of the etiology and transmission of leptospirosis are addressed, data regarding the clinical presentation of the pathology in humans and animals are also presented, and the results of some epidemiological studies on leptospirosis carried out in Chile in different animal species and humans are summarized through a bibliographic review of the literature. The research on domestic canines and horses stands out in terms of their number in the country, with prevalences between 12.0% and 59.1% in dogs and from 23.3% to 65.4% in equids. Studies have been performed on domestic felines in recent years with frequencies ranging from 3.0% to 25.2%, as well as on wild animals (mainly in mammals). In pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats, the information is scarce, with little updated research dating back several decades and variable prevalence rates, which are generally high, except for in sheep. Leptospirosis is a disease of varied etiology in terms of infecting species, serovars and serogroups, which influences its epidemiology, and its prevalence is variable in different animals. An increase in the awareness given to this pathology in human and veterinary public health is required, as well as more scientific studies in Chile, to update the existing knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Azócar-Aedo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede De La Patagonia, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
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Arzamani K, Abdollahpour G, Azimian A, van Belkum A, Ghasemzadeh‐Moghaddam H. High‐level seroprevalence against
Leptospira interrogans
serovars among wild foxes, jackals and stray dogs in the North Khorasan Province, Iran. Vet Med Sci 2022; 8:1915-1921. [PMID: 35840123 PMCID: PMC9514457 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.890] [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] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusions
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourosh Arzamani
- Vector‐Borne Disease Research Center North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences Bojnurd Iran
| | - Gholamreza Abdollahpour
- Leptospira Research Laboratory Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Internal Medicine University of Tehran Tehran Iran
| | - Amir Azimian
- Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Sciences North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences Bojnurd Iran
| | - Alex van Belkum
- Open Innovation & Partnerships BaseClear Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Hamed Ghasemzadeh‐Moghaddam
- Vector‐Borne Disease Research Center North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences Bojnurd Iran
- Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Sciences North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences Bojnurd Iran
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SEROSURVEY FOR SELECTED PARASITIC AND BACTERIAL PATHOGENS IN DARWIN'S FOX (LYCALOPEX FULVIPES): NOT ONLY DOG DISEASES ARE A THREAT. J Wildl Dis 2021; 58:76-85. [PMID: 34714909 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is one of the most endangered carnivores worldwide, with the risk of disease spillover from domestic dogs being a major conservation threat. However, lack of epidemiologic information about generalist, non-dog-transmission-dependent protozoal and bacterial pathogens may be a barrier for disease prevention and management. To determine the exposure of some of these agents in Darwin's fox populations, 54 serum samples were collected from 47 Darwin's foxes in Southern Chile during 2013-18 and assessed for the presence of antibodies against Brucella abortus, Brucella canis, Coxiella burnetii, pathogenic Leptospira (serovars Grippotyphosa, Pomona, Canicola, Hardjo, and Copehageni), Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum. The highest seroprevalence was detected for T. gondii (78%), followed by pathogenic Leptospira (14%). All the studied Leptospira serovars were confirmed in at least one animal. Two foxes seroconverted to Leptospira and one to T. gondii during the study period. No seroconversions were observed for the other pathogens. No risk factors, either intrinsic (sex, age) or extrinsic (season, year, and degree of landscape anthropization), were associated with the probability of being exposed to T. gondii. Our results indicate that T. gondii exposure is widespread in the Darwin's fox population, including in areas with minimal anthropization, and that T. gondii and pathogenic Leptospira might be neglected threats to the species. Further studies identifying the causes of morbidity and mortality in Darwin's fox are needed to determine if these or other pathogens are having individual or population-wide effects in this species.
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