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Arboleda M, Mejía-Torres M, Posada M, Restrepo N, Ríos-Tapias P, Rivera-Pedroza LA, Calle D, Sánchez-Jiménez MM, Marín K, Agudelo-Flórez P. Molecular Diagnosis as an Alternative for Public Health Surveillance of Leptospirosis in Colombia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2759. [PMID: 38004770 PMCID: PMC10673046 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112759] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis represents a public health problem in Colombia. However, the underreporting of the disease is an unfortunate reality, with a clear trend towards a decrease in cases since 2019, when the guidelines for its confirmatory diagnosis changed with the requirement of two paired samples. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of leptospirosis. While the access to rapid diagnosis is available at practically all levels of care for dengue and malaria, leptospirosis-a doubly neglected disease-deserves recognition as a serious public health problem in Colombia. In this manner, it is proposed that molecular tests are a viable diagnostic alternative that can improve the targeted treatment of the patient and the timeliness of data and case reporting to SIVIGILA, and reduce the underreporting of the disease. Taking advantage of the strengthened technological infrastructure derived from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic for molecular diagnosis in Colombia, with a network of 227 laboratories distributed throughout the national territory, with an installed capacity for PCR testing, it is proposed that molecular diagnosis can be used as an alternative for early diagnosis. This would allow case confirmation through the public health network in Colombia, and, together with the microagglutination (MAT) technique, the epidemiological surveillance of this disease in this country would be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Arboleda
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Mariana Mejía-Torres
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Maritza Posada
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Nicaela Restrepo
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Paola Ríos-Tapias
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Luis Alberto Rivera-Pedroza
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - David Calle
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Miryan M. Sánchez-Jiménez
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
| | - Katerine Marín
- Tropical Medicine Group, Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sabaneta 055450, Colombia; (M.M.-T.); (M.P.); (N.R.); (P.R.-T.); (L.A.R.-P.); (D.C.); (M.M.S.-J.); (K.M.)
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de Oliveira NR, Kremer FS, de Brito RSA, Zamboni R, Dellagostin OA, Jorge S. Pathogenesis and Genomic Analysis of a Virulent Leptospira Interrogans Serovar Copenhageni Isolated from a Dog with Lethal Infection. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7110333. [PMID: 36355875 PMCID: PMC9698576 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs are highly susceptible to leptospirosis and are a public health concern due to their important role as a source of spreading disease, particularly in urban settings. In this study, we present the pathogenesis, serological characterization, and complete genome sequencing of a virulent Brazilian strain (NEG7) of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni isolated from the urine of a dog that died due to acute leptospirosis. Clinical investigation showed that the dog was presented with icteric mucous membranes, weakness, dehydration, anorexia, and kidney and liver failures. Necropsy followed by histopathological evaluation revealed lesions compatible with liver and kidney leptospirosis. The leptospires recovered from the urine were further characterized by genome analysis, which confirmed that the isolate belonged to L. interrogans serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Copenhageni. Multiple bioinformatics tools were used to characterize the genomic features, and comparisons with other available Copenhageni strains were performed. Characterization based on absence of an INDEL in the gene lic12008, associated with phylogenetic and ANI (99.99% identity) analyses, confirmed the genetic relatedness of the isolate with L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. A better understanding of the diversity of the pathogenic Leptospira isolates could help in identifying genotypes responsible for severe infections. Moreover, it can be used to develop control and prevention strategies for Leptospira serovars associated with particular animal reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Frederico Schmitt Kremer
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Rosimeri Zamboni
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Odir Antônio Dellagostin
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, RS, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Sérgio Jorge
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96160-000, RS, Brazil
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Santos CM, Dias GCDRS, Saldanha AVP, Esteves SB, Cortez A, Guedes IB, Heinemann MB, Gonçales AP, Miotto BA. Molecular and serological characterization of pathogenic Leptospira spp. isolated from symptomatic dogs in a highly endemic area, Brazil. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:221. [PMID: 34154583 PMCID: PMC8215866 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02930-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Background Leptospirosis is an endemic zoonosis in Brazil, with a great impact on human and animal health. Although dogs are frequently infected by pathogenic Leptospira, the current epidemiological understanding of canine leptospirosis is mainly based on serological tests that predict the infecting serogroup/serovar. Thus, the present study aimed at identifying the causative agent for severe cases of canine leptospirosis in a highly endemic area through the isolation and characterization of the isolated strains. Results Urine, serum and blood samples were collected from 31 dogs with suspected acute leptospirosis treated at the Veterinary Hospital Service of Santo Amaro University between 2018 and 2019. Acute infection was confirmed in 17 dogs (54.8%) by the associated use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Microscopic Agglutination (MAT) and bacteriological culture. Eleven dogs (35.5%) had titers ≥800, with the most frequent serogroups being Autumnalis and Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 4 each) and Canicola (n = 2). Leptospires were recovered from four dogs, and Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) revealed infection caused by L. interrogans, which were further characterized as serogroups Canicola (n = 1) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 3). Conclusion The identity of the isolates and serological pattern of MAT suggest that dogs are highly exposed to the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola, also indicating possible circulation of serogroups not yet isolated in Brazil, notably serogroup Autumnalis. Our findings also reinforce the usefulness of using multiple diagnostic approaches to confirm acute canine leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Israel Barbosa Guedes
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Bryan Heinemann
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Putz EJ, Nally JE. Investigating the Immunological and Biological Equilibrium of Reservoir Hosts and Pathogenic Leptospira: Balancing the Solution to an Acute Problem? Front Microbiol 2020; 11:2005. [PMID: 32922382 PMCID: PMC7456838 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a devastating zoonotic disease affecting people and animals across the globe. Pathogenic leptospires are excreted in urine of reservoir hosts which directly or indirectly leads to continued disease transmission, via contact with mucous membranes or a breach of the skin barrier of another host. Human fatalities approach 60,000 deaths per annum; though most vertebrates are susceptible to leptospirosis, complex interactions between host species and serovars of Leptospira can yield disease phenotypes that vary from asymptomatic shedding in reservoir hosts, to multi-organ failure in incidental hosts. Clinical symptoms of acute leptospirosis reflect the diverse range of pathogenic species and serovars that cause infection, the level of exposure, and the relationship of the pathogen with the given host. However, in all cases, pathogenic Leptospira are excreted into the environment via urine from reservoir hosts which are uniformly recognized as asymptomatic carriers. Therefore, the reservoir host serves as the cornerstone of persistent disease transmission. Although bacterin vaccines can be used to abate renal carriage and excretion in domestic animal species, there is an urgent need to advance our understanding of immune-mediated host–pathogen interactions that facilitate persistent asymptomatic carriage. This review summarizes the current understanding of host–pathogen interactions in the reservoir host and prioritizes research to unravel mechanisms that allow for colonization but not destruction of the host. This information is required to understand, and ultimately control, the transmission of pathogenic Leptospira.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie J Putz
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Jarlath E Nally
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, United States
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Leptospira Infection in African Green Monkeys in an Endemic Area: An Opportunity for Comparative Studies in a Natural Environment. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9060474. [PMID: 32560055 PMCID: PMC7350389 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the potential asymptomatic Leptospira reservoir status among African green monkeys (AGMs) in the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, and whether there is any renal pathology associated with Leptospira exposure. Forty-eight percent of AGMs tested were positive for Leptospira antibodies by the microscopic agglutination test. Leptospira DNA was detected in 4% of kidney samples tested using a lipl32 gene based PCR. We observed minimal to severe microscopic renal lesions in 85% of the AGM kidneys evaluated. The majority of the AGMs (n = 26) had only minimal to mild interstitial nephritis and a few (n = 3) had moderate to severe lesions. The presence of interstitial nephritis was not significantly associated with Leptospira exposure. The presence of infected AGMs in a small surface limited geographic region may pose zoonotic threat to humans and animals. The impact of Leptospira infection in renal pathology in AGMs warrants further investigation. AGMs residing in a natural setting in an insular, surface limited Leptospira endemic geographic region may offer opportunities for comparative studies to advance the field of leptospirosis. Due to their similarity to humans, such studies in AGMs may also provide translational opportunities to advance Leptospira research.
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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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Complete Genome Sequence of a Virulent Leptospira interrogans Serovar Copenhageni Strain, Assembled with a Combination of Nanopore and Illumina Reads. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/17/e00200-20. [PMID: 32327507 PMCID: PMC7180280 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00200-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present the complete genome sequence of a highly virulent Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain isolated from a dog with severe leptospirosis. In this work, a gapless genome draft was assembled with a combination of Nanopore and Illumina data of relatively low coverage. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of a highly virulent Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain isolated from a dog with severe leptospirosis. In this work, a gapless genome draft was assembled with a combination of Nanopore and Illumina data of relatively low coverage.
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Rajeev S, Shiokawa K, Llanes A, Rajeev M, Restrepo CM, Chin R, Cedeño E, Ellis E. Detection and Characterization of Leptospira Infection and Exposure in Rats on the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E350. [PMID: 32098357 PMCID: PMC7071179 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we detected and characterized Leptospira infection and exposure in rats on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts for the first time. We detected Leptospira infection in 17/29 (59%), 14/29 (48)%, and 11/29 (38)% of rats by RT-PCR, culture, and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and analysis and serogrouping of 17 Leptospira strains isolated from rats revealed their close relationship with L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 10) and L. borgpetersenii serogroup Ballum (n = 7). WGS, serogrouping, and additional PCR tests on rat kidneys confirmed mixed infections with L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii in the kidneys of three rats. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was positive for 25/29 (87%) of the rats tested, and the response was restricted to serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae {24/29(83%)}, Mankarso {4/29(14%)}, Copenhageni {4/29(14%)}, Grippotyphosa {2/29(7%)}, and Wolffi {1/29(3%)}. Interestingly, there was no agglutinating antibody response to serovar Ballum. We observed a similar pattern in the serologic response using Leptospira isolates obtained from this study with each of the rat sera, with strong response to L. interrogans isolates but minimal reactivity to L. borgpetersenii isolates. Our findings suggest the use of multiple complementary diagnostic tests for Leptospira surveillance and diagnosis to improve the accuracy of the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreekumari Rajeev
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint Kitts, KN 0101, West Indies;
| | - Kanae Shiokawa
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint Kitts, KN 0101, West Indies;
| | - Alejandro Llanes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Malavika Rajeev
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA;
| | - Carlos Mario Restrepo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Raymond Chin
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Eymi Cedeño
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Esteban Ellis
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama; (A.L.); (C.M.R.); (R.C.); (E.C.); (E.E.)
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Jaeger LH, Pestana CP, Carvalho-Costa FA, Medeiros MA, Lilenbaum W. Characterization of the clonal subpopulation Fiocruz L1-130 of Leptospira interrogans in rats and dogs from Brazil. J Med Microbiol 2018; 67:1361-1367. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Hubert Jaeger
- 1Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- 2Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | | | - Filipe Anibal Carvalho-Costa
- 2Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | | | - Walter Lilenbaum
- 1Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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