scholarly journals Molecular and Serological Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) and their Habitats in Alabama, USA

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil Poudel ◽  
Md Monirul Hoque ◽  
Steven Madere ◽  
Sara Bolds ◽  
Stuart Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
East Central ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Potential Pathogen ◽  
Leptospira Species

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis and has been recognized as a re-emerging infectious disease in humans and a variety of wild and domestic animal species. In order to understand the prevalence and diversity of Leptospira spp. in feral pig populations of Alabama, we trapped 315 feral pigs in Bullock County east-central Alabama, and collected 97 environmental samples from riparian areas in Bullock County and Macon County east-central Alabama. Two previously published PCRs followed by DNA sequencing and BLASTn were performed to identify pathogenic Leptospira species in the kidney of feral pigs (3.2%, 10/315) as well as environmental samples collected from the habitats of feral pigs (2.1%, 2/97), but not in the whole blood samples (n = 276) or spleen (n = 51). An ELISA determined that 44.2% of serum samples (122/276) were antibody-positive for Leptospira. The identification of two pathogenic Leptospira species from environmental samples and the high sero-positivity in feral pigs suggests potential pathogen shedding from feral pigs to environments, and to humans and domestic animals. In order to better understand the risk to human health associated with feral swine presence, further studies are warranted to explore the interrelationship between Leptospira spp. shedding in the urine of feral pigs and bacterial culture to explore pathogenicity. Multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) and microscopic agglutination tests (MAT) should be performed in future studies to make a definite determination of pathogenic Leptospira in feral pigs in Alabama.

scholarly journals First Isolation and Molecular Typing of Pathogenic and Intermediate Leptospira Species from Urine of Symptomatic Dogs

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 304
Author(s):  
Ivana Piredda ◽  
Loris Bertoldi ◽  
Giuseppe Benvenuto ◽  
Bruna Palmas ◽  
Aureliana Pedditzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Zoonotic Risk ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Blood And Urine Samples ◽  
Healthy Dogs ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Sequence Types ◽  
Leptospira Species

Aim of this study was to evaluate, the presence and diversity of Leptospira spp. in blood and urine samples collected from 175 owned-dogs from Sardinia, Italy. After determination of leptospiral infection by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), urine from MAT-positive dogs were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipL32 rt-PCR) and then isolated by culture. In order to characterize obtained serovars, positive cultures were then subjected to 16S rRNA and secY sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Results showed that seven dogs (4%; 95% CI: 0–55) had Leptospira DNAs in their urine and five strains were isolated from urine cultures. The three different sequence types (ST17, ST198 and ST24) belonging to Leptospira interrogans genomospecies identified by MLST analyses in this study, confirmed that the leptospiral infection was widespread in Sardinian dogs. We also reported the first characterization of a new Leptospira spp. isolated from urine of one dog living in the study area. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, confirmed that this genospecies was closely related to Leptospira hovindhougenii, an intermediate Leptospira spp. with unknown pathogenicity previously isolated from a rat in Denmark. Further studies are required to clarify whether healthy dogs that shed leptospires in their urine could represent a zoonotic risk for humans in this region.

scholarly journals Potentially Pathogenic Leptospira in the Environment of an Elephant Camp in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Somjit Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan ◽  
Wasinee Thepapichaikul ◽  
Weena Paungpin ◽  
Kanokwan Ketchim ◽  
Sarin Suwanpakdee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Sampling Area ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Recreational Activities ◽  
Infection Source ◽  
Culture Positive ◽  
Leptospira Species

Leptospira is the causative agent of leptospirosis, a globally emerging zoonotic disease. The infection is commonly acquired through contact with the contaminated environment. To extend the knowledge on environmental source of leptospirosis, we investigated the presence of Leptospira in an elephant camp setting where the interaction between humans, animals, and the shared environment occur particularly when engaging in recreational activities. In this study, a total of 24 environmental samples were collected from an elephant camp area in western Thailand. All samples were processed for Leptospira isolation using the EMJH medium. The identification of Leptospira species was carried out by partial 16S rRNA and secY gene sequencing. Of those 24 samples, 18 samples (75%) were culture-positive for Leptospira. The recovered leptospires were mostly derived from water and soil sampled from a river and a mud pond, the main areas for recreational activities. The majority of the isolates were classified into “Pathogens” clade (89%, 16/18) and more than half of the isolates (61%, 11/18) contained species of the “Saprophytes” clade. Notably, two soil isolates from the river beach sampling area were found to contain leptospiral DNA with high similarity to the pathogenic L. interrogans and L. santarosai. The evidence of diverse Leptospira species, particularly those belonging to the “Pathogens” clade, suggest that the shared environments of an elephant camp can serve as potential infection source and may pose a risk to the elephant camp tourists and workers.

scholarly journals In Silico Analysis of Genetic VapC Profiles from the Toxin-Antitoxin Type II VapBC Modules among Pathogenic, Intermediate, and Non-Pathogenic Leptospira

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Alexandre Lopes ◽  
Bruna Azevedo ◽  
Rebeca Emídio ◽  
Deborah Damiano ◽  
Ana Nascimento ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Protein Alignment ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Unique Species ◽  
Silico Analysis ◽  
Leptospira Species ◽  
Complex Manner

Pathogenic Leptospira spp. is the etiological agent of leptospirosis. The high diversity among Leptospira species provides an array to look for important mediators involved in pathogenesis. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems represent an important survival mechanism on stress conditions. vapBC modules have been found in nearly one thousand genomes corresponding to about 40% of known TAs. In the present study, we investigated TA profiles of some strains of Leptospira using a TA database and compared them through protein alignment of VapC toxin sequences among Leptospira spp. genomes. Our analysis identified significant differences in the number of putative vapBC modules distributed in pathogenic, saprophytic, and intermediate strains: four in L. interrogans, three in L. borgpetersenii, eight in L. biflexa, and 15 in L. licerasiae. The VapC toxins show low identity among amino acid sequences within the species. Some VapC toxins appear to be exclusively conserved in unique species, others appear to be conserved among pathogenic or saprophytic strains, and some appear to be distributed randomly. The data shown here indicate that these modules evolved in a very complex manner, which highlights the strong need to identify and characterize new TAs as well as to understand their regulation networks and the possible roles of TA systems in pathogenic bacteria.

Molecular Detection of Leptospira Species Serotypes in Iranian Stray Dogs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saam Torkan ◽  
Hassan Momtaz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Leptospira Species

Background and Aims: Leptospirosis is a spirochetal disease with public health importance globally. This disease affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Dogs are one of the species most sensitive to Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. The present study was concluded to evaluate the prevalence rate of Leptospira species and L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars in Iranian stray dogs. Materials and Methods: One-hundred and twenty blood samples were first taken from stray dogs. Then the samples were transferred to the laboratory. Sera were extracted from blood samples and genomic DNA was extracted. DNA samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction. Positive samples for Leptospira spp. were analyzed for presence of L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiaeserovars using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Nine samples out of 120 serum samples (7.5%) were positive for the flagella gene of the Leptospira spp. Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in serum samples of male and female dogs were 5.4% and 10.86%, respectively. Prevalence of L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars were 55.55% and 33.33%, respectively. We found that 11.11% of samples were positive for both serovars. Two to three and 3-4 year old dogs had the highest prevalence of Leptospira spp. Conclusions: The considerable prevalence of leptospirta spp. and also their zoonotic serovars among Iranian stray dogs represented an important public health issue regarding the contact of healthy human with these dogs. Identification of infected dogs and their vaccination can inhibit the distribution of Leptospira spp.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. Infection in Cattle from Central and Northern Madagascar

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2014
Author(s):  
Theresa Schafbauer ◽  
Anou Dreyfus ◽  
Benedikt Hogan ◽  
Raphael Rakotozandrindrainy ◽  
Sven Poppert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agglutination Test ◽  
Microscopic Agglutination Test ◽  
Zebu Cattle ◽  
Zoonotic Infection ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Tropical Countries ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Very High

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, especially in tropical countries. The current Leptospira spp. seroprevalence in cattle from central and northern Madagascar is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence resulting from infections with pathogenic Leptospira spp. in zebu cattle from these areas. Serum samples from 194 animals were tested by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using a panel of 12 serovars as antigens. Samples with a titer of ≥1:100 were considered positive. The overall seroprevalence was 59.3% (95% CI; 52.0–66.2%) with titers ranging from 1:100 to 1:1600. Among the seropositive animals, the most frequent antibody reactions were against serovar L. Tarassovi (serogroup L. Tarassovi) with 40.2% (33.3–47.5%), followed by L. Hardjo (L. Sejroe) with 13.9% (9.5–19.8%), L. Grippotyphosa (L. Grippotyphosa) with 9.8% (6.2–15.1%), L. Pomona (L. Pomona) with 7.7% (4.5–12.7%) and L. Autumnalis (L. Autumnalis) with 5.2% (2.6–9.5%). Less than 5% of the samples reacted positively against the remaining serovars. These results indicate a very high exposure of Malagasy cattle to Leptospira spp. which, consequently, poses a definite risk for people working with cattle acquiring this zoonotic infection.

Determination of Tetracycline Using Ultrasound–Assisted Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Based on Solidification of Floating Organic Droplet Followed by HPLC-UV System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Rahimi Moghadam ◽  
Behrooz Zargar ◽  
Saadat Rastegarzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Tetracycline Hydrochloride ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Ultrasound Assisted ◽  
Dispersive Liquid Liquid Microextraction ◽  
Liquid Microextraction

Abstract Background Tetracyclines are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics that used to controls bacterial diseases in humans or are applied as feed additives to enhance growth in farm animals. Tetracyclines are released into the aquatic environment in different pathways. Many analytical methods combined with a preconcentration step have been introduced for the determination of tetracycline in various environmental samples. Objective The objective this paper is developing reliable analytical methods for determination of tetracycline trace in various environmental samples. Method In present work, combine ultrasound-assisted and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction according to the solidification of floating organic drop as a sample preconcentration procedure for determining tetracycline hydrochloride HPLC in water and serum samples was used. Results A series of parameters, including the type and volume of disperser and extraction solvents, salt effect, extraction time, and pH of solution influencing the extraction efficiency of UA-DLLME-SFO, was examined. Enrichment factors (EFs) were in the range of 125–137 for tetracycline hydrochloride under optimum conditions. The linear range was calculated from 0.005–3 mg/L and LOD 0.002 mg/L. Relative standard deviations (RSD) were in the range of 2.7 to 3.2 (n = 5). The UA-DLLME-SFO method used in water and serum samples revealed good extraction recoveries with RSD of 2.7–4.3%. Conclusion This method significantly decreased the organic solvent volume from 3 mL to 90 µL, also LOD and linear ranges were lower than or almost close to levels obtained in other research studies. In this procedure, ultrasound bath enhanced the mixing and contact between the sample solution and the extraction solvent.

scholarly journals Are Pathogenic Leptospira Species Agents of Community-Acquired Pneumonia? Case Reports of Leptospirosis Presenting as Pneumonia: TABLE 1

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hussein Gasem ◽  
Helmia Farida ◽  
Ahmed Ahmed ◽  
Juliţte A. Severin ◽  
Agus Suryanto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Reports ◽  
Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Radiological Criteria ◽  
Pneumonia Case ◽  
Qpcr Analysis ◽  
Acute Phase Serum ◽  
Leptospira Species ◽  
Serum And Urine

We report four Indonesian cases meeting the clinical and radiological criteria for community-acquired pneumonia and other findings suggestive of leptospirosis. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses of serum and urine samples and serology confirmed the diagnosis of leptospirosis in each. Results of qPCR analysis of throat swabs were concordant with those obtained with acute-phase serum samples, which suggests its potential for use as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for leptospirosis.

scholarly journals Fifteen years of human leptospirosis in São Paulo, Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta M. Blanco ◽  
Eliete C. Romero
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Human Leptospirosis ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Seasonal Analysis

Objective: Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. The aim of this study was to report theincidence of leptospirosis from 1998 to 2012 in the state of São Paulo, Brazil to show the importance of human leptospirosis andto describe some epidemiological characteristics.Methods: From January 1998 to December 2012, sera from patients with suspected leptospirosis were analyzed. The microscopicagglutination test (MAT) was used for serological investigations and MLST, serotyping and PFGE methods for the identificationof leptospires. The descriptive seasonal analysis was performed with Excel Microsoft version 2007. Pearson’s correlation wasused to assess the association between rainfall and the number of cases.Results: Among 22,795 serum samples, 2,430 cases of leptospirosis were laboratory confirmed, giving an average incidence rateof 1.35/100,000 inhabitants. Of these patients, 2,032 (83.62%) were male with a predominance in the age groups of 21-50 years.The highest incidence and rainfall were from December to April. There was correlation between the rainfall and the number ofcases. Icterohaemorrhagiae was the predominant serogroup.Conclusions: This study shows that leptospirosis is a seasonal disease in São Paulo with most cases occurring during the rainyseason, and thus, will continue to be a disease of public health importance. 

scholarly journals Laboratory investigation of adult small ruminant Leptospirosis, a neglected infection in Greece: problems and recommendations

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
A. G. BISIAS (Α.Γ. ΜΠΙΣΙΑΣ) ◽  
C. S. KRITAS (Κ.Σ. ΚΡΗΤΑΣ) ◽  
C. H. BILLINIS (Χ. ΜΠΙΛΛΙΝΗΣ) ◽  
R. A. BURRIEL
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Serological Screening ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Microagglutination Test ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Kidney Lesions ◽  
Southern Greece

Leptospirosis is in Greece a neglected infection. Small ruminants and specifically sheep are accidental hosts of Leptospira spp, but they could also be disseminators of pathogenic serovars. Thus, the objective was to investigate leptospirosis of adult small ruminants coming from areas in Southern Greece, where accidental evidence had showed that leptospirosis could be an important infection for man and animals. For this purpose, blood and kidney samples were collected at slaughter from adult females. Collected samples were examined with a commercial serological screening kit, the microagglutination test ( MAT), histology and PCR. One hundred ten serum and 110 tissue samples were collected. Of the examined serum samples 55 (50%) were suspect for leptospirosis in the screening kit and 28 (25.45%) were MAT positive. Of the tissue samples 38 (34.5%) were PCR positive and 30 (27.2%) showed various degrees of microscopic kidney lesions. The serovars identified by the MAT were Tarassovi (10 animals), Autumnalis (8 animals), Zanoni (4 animals), Hebdomadis and Javanica (2 each), Bratislava and Hardjio prajitno (one each). The conclusion is that small ruminants and specifically sheep (98 animals) are disseminators of pathogenic Leptospira spp. serovars in areas where they predominate and climatic factors favor the survival of the pathogen.

scholarly journals Bats are a potential reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira species in Colombia

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 278-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Mateus ◽  
Natalia Gómez ◽  
María Teresa Herrera-Sepúlveda ◽  
Marylin Hidalgo ◽  
Jairo Pérez-Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Glossophaga Soricina ◽  
Leptospira Spp ◽  
Potential Reservoir ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Leptospira Species

Introduction: Bats have become an epidemiologically significant source of pathogenic microorganisms, such as leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis. However, little information exists about bats and their potential role as a reservoir of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Colombia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the kidneys of bats from the Caribbean region of Colombia deposited in the collection of mammals of the Museo Javeriano de Historia Natural (MPUJ-MAMM). Methodology: DNA was extracted from twenty-six kidney samples from a total of 13 species of bats captured in Colombia. First, 16S ribosomal RNA conventional PCR was performed to detect the presence of Leptospira spp. Then, in samples that tested positive, LipL32 PCR was performed to detect pathogenic Leptospira spp. by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: The presence of Leptospira spp. was observed in 7/26 (26.9%) bats from the following 6 species: Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Dermanura phaeotis, Uroderma bilobatum, Desmodus rotundus, and Lophostoma silvicolum, and pathogenic Leptospira spp. were detected in 4/26 samples (15.4%). Conclusions: This study suggests that bats present in the Caribbean region of Colombia could be potential reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira spp.

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