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Her R, Crespin L, Etougbétché J, Groud K, Gnolonfoun M, Chapron A, Evenamia C, Houéménou G, Lurier T, Cappelle J, Dobigny G, Ayral F. Seroprevalence and renal carriage of pathogenic Leptospira in livestock in Cotonou, Benin. Vet Med Sci 2024; 10:e1430. [PMID: 38533755 PMCID: PMC10966766 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease. It is particularly prevalent in tropical countries and has major consequences for human and animal health. In Benin, the disease's epidemiology remains poorly understood, especially in livestock, for which data are lacking. OBJECTIVES To characterise Leptospira seroprevalence and locally circulating serogroups in livestock from Cotonou and to estimate the prevalence of Leptospira renal carriage in cattle. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in February 2020 during which livestock were sampled at an abattoir and in an impoverished city district. We analysed blood samples from 279 livestock animals (i.e. cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) using the microscopic agglutination test. Additionally, samples of renal tissue from 100 cattle underwent 16s rRNA (rrs) real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS For the 131 cattle, 85 sheep, and 50 goats tested, seroprevalence was 18% (95% confidence interval [CI] [12%, 26%]), 9% (95% CI [4%, 17%] and 2% (95% CI [0%, 9%]), respectively, and most of the seropositive animals were associated with 1:100 titres. All 13 pigs were seronegative. Leptospira DNA was found in the renal tissue of 10% (95% CI [5%, 18%]) of the cattle tested (n = 100). Leptospira borgpetersenii was the main species present (n = 7), but Leptospira interrogans (n = 2) and Leptospira kirschneri (n = 1) were also detected. Various serogroups (Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Pyrogenes, Australis and Autumnalis) were detected using microscopic agglutination test without a clear predominance of any of them. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that abattoir workers and people living in close contact with livestock in poor urban areas are exposed to the risk of Leptospira infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Her
- Unité RS2GPVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupSaint‐Genès‐ChampanelleFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Laurent Crespin
- UMR EPIAUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupSaint‐Genès‐ChampanelleFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Jonas Etougbétché
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Karine Groud
- Unité RS2GPVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
| | - Mathias Gnolonfoun
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Audrey Chapron
- Laboratoire des Leptospires et Analyses VétérinairesVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
| | - Camille Evenamia
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Gualbert Houéménou
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions BiologiquesÉcole Polytechnique d'Abomey‐Calavi, Université d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
| | - Thibaut Lurier
- UMR EPIAUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro SupSaint‐Genès‐ChampanelleFrance
- UMR EPIAUniversité de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Julien Cappelle
- ASTRE, Université Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAEMontpellierFrance
| | - Gauthier Dobigny
- UMR Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des PopulationsInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Université MontpellierMontpellierFrance
- Unité PesteInstitut Pasteur de MadagascarAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - Florence Ayral
- Unité RS2GPVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
- Laboratoire des Leptospires et Analyses VétérinairesVetAgro Sup, Université de LyonMarcy L'EtoileFrance
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Alinaitwe L, Aturinda CJ, Lubega A, Kivali V, Bugeza J, Wainaina M, Richter MH, Hoona JJ, Roesel K, Mayer-Scholl A, Cook EAJ, Kankya C, Dürr S. Cross-sectional serosurvey of Leptospira species among slaughter pigs, goats, and sheep in Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012055. [PMID: 38489377 PMCID: PMC10971767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leptospira are a group of bacteria, including pathogenic types that cause leptospirosis. In Uganda, Leptospira exposure has been reported in humans, with domesticated animals being speculated as the source. However, comparable evidence of Leptospira prevalence and circulating serovars/serogroups in animals is only documented for cattle, and dogs. Our study determined Leptospira seroprevalence, associated risk factors and serogroups circulating among slaughtered pigs, goats, and sheep in Uganda. METHODS During an 11-month cross-sectional survey in selected slaughter facilities in three regions of Uganda, we collected blood from 926 pigs, 347 goats, and 116 sheep. The age, sex, breed, and origin of each sampled animal were noted. The samples were tested for anti-Leptospira antibodies using the microscopic agglutination test, based on a panel of 12 serovars belonging to 12 serogroups. RESULTS Leptospira seroprevalence was 26.67% (247/926, 95%CI 23.92-29.61) among pigs, and 21.81% (101/463, 95%CI 18.29-25.80) in goats and sheep (small ruminants). L. interrogans Australis and L. kirschneri Grippotyphosa were the commonest serovars among pigs, as was L. borgpetersenii Tarassovi in small ruminants. Pigs sourced from the Eastern (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.82, 95%CI 1.84-4.30) and Northern (OR = 3.56, 95%CI 2.52-5.02) regions were more likely to be seropositive, compared to those from the Central region. For small ruminants, being female (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.69-4.57) and adult (OR 4.47, 95% CI 1.57-18.80) was significantly more associated with Leptospira seropositivity. Conclusion/significance: Detection of a moderate seroprevalence, and several Leptospira serogroups among pigs, sheep, and goats from all regions of Uganda, supports existing reports in cattle and dogs, and implies widespread Leptospira exposure in domestic animals in Uganda. These findings may inform future programs for the control of leptospirosis in livestock in Uganda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lordrick Alinaitwe
- Human and Animal Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christopher Joshua Aturinda
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ashiraf Lubega
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Velma Kivali
- Human and Animal Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James Bugeza
- Human and Animal Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Vaccinology Research Program, National Livestock Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Martin Wainaina
- Department of Biological Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin H. Richter
- Department of Biological Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jolly Justine Hoona
- Department of Animal Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Kristina Roesel
- Human and Animal Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- Department of Biological Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Clovice Kankya
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Harran E, Abi Rizk A, Angelloz-pessey S, Groud K, Lattard V, Hilan C, Ayral F. Molecular and Serological Identification of Pathogenic Leptospira in Local and Imported Cattle from Lebanon. Transbound Emerg Dis 2023; 2023:1-10. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/3784416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a worldwide bacterial zoonosis for which the risk increases in warm and wet climates. Despite the suitability of the local climate for the bacteria’s persistence, Lebanon lacks a formal system of prophylaxis for the prevention of Leptospira infection in both humans and animals, and the disease’s epidemiology is unknown so far. As a preliminary step, we focused on Leptospira infection in cattle, which is of public health and economic concern. We conducted a descriptive study in cattle from the governorate of Mount Lebanon (ML) and in imported cattle. A total of 187 blood and 135 serum samples were provided. Among the 187 blood samples, 135 were from randomly selected animals from 14 herds, while the remaining 52 were from imported livestock. Serum specimens (n = 135) were obtained exclusively from cattle in the ML governorate. DNA was extracted from all blood samples and subjected to real-time PCR targeting 16S rRNA. All Leptospira-positive DNA samples were then amplified using conventional PCR (cPCR), and Leptospira species were identified via Sanger sequencing. A microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed on the 135 serum samples from local cattle. The real-time PCR revealed Leptospira infection in 7 of 135 local animals and 1 of 52 imported animals. DNA from six of the seven local animals and the one imported animal were amplified by cPCR and successfully sequenced, identifying the pathogen as the species L. kirschneri. Seven animals located in five out of the 14 tested herds had MAT titers ≥1 : 100. Serogroup Grippotyphosa was predominant. This is the first study to provide epidemiological data on bovine Leptospira infection in Lebanon. Pathogenic Leptospira species and serogroups were identified in both local and imported cattle. These findings highlight the cattle associated risk of Leptospira infection in Lebanon, in the contexts of farming and trade. Summary. Leptospirosis is a severe zoonotic disease that can have critical consequences for people and animals. Within the country of Lebanon, this disease has been reported, but its epidemiology is unknown so far. The present study thus provides the first description of the existence of Leptospira in cattle in Lebanon (local and imported). It also highlights the existence of different pathogenic serogroups of Leptospira in local cattle. Our results should raise public health awareness of the threat posed by this underdiagnosed disease and serve as a starting point for control efforts in Lebanon.
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García-Díez J, Saraiva S, Moura D, Grispoldi L, Cenci-Goga BT, Saraiva C. The Importance of the Slaughterhouse in Surveilling Animal and Public Health: A Systematic Review. Vet Sci 2023; 10:167. [PMID: 36851472 PMCID: PMC9959654 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
From the point of public health, the objective of the slaughterhouse is to guarantee the safety of meat in which meat inspection represent an essential tool to control animal diseases and guarantee the public health. The slaughterhouse can be used as surveillance center for livestock diseases. However, other aspects related with animal and human health, such as epidemiology and disease control in primary production, control of animal welfare on the farm, surveillance of zoonotic agents responsible for food poisoning, as well as surveillance and control of antimicrobial resistance, can be monitored. These controls should not be seen as a last defensive barrier but rather as a complement to the controls carried out on the farm. Regarding the control of diseases in livestock, scientific research is scarce and outdated, not taking advantage of the potential for disease control. Animal welfare in primary production and during transport can be monitored throughout ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse, providing valuable individual data on animal welfare. Surveillance and research regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at slaughterhouses is scarce, mainly in cattle, sheep, and goats. However, most of the zoonotic pathogens are sensitive to the antibiotics studied. Moreover, the prevalence at the slaughterhouse of zoonotic and foodborne agents seems to be low, but a lack of harmonization in terms of control and communication may lead to underestimate its real prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan García-Díez
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
| | - Sónia Saraiva
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
| | - Dina Moura
- Divisão de Intervenção de Alimentação e Veterinária de Vila Real e Douro Sul, Direção de Serviços de Alimentação e Veterinária da Região Norte, Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária, Lugar de Codessais, 5000-567 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luca Grispoldi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Beniamino Terzo Cenci-Goga
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Cristina Saraiva
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
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Wambi R, Worodria W, Muleme J, Aggrey S, Mugisha L. Prevalence of leptospirosis among patients attending renal and general outpatient clinics in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8391. [PMID: 35589947 PMCID: PMC9120167 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12544-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we sought to establish the prevalence of leptospirosis among renal patients and general outpatients attending Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda. A total of 254 patients were recruited, their blood samples collected and interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires provided between July and October 2018. These questionnaires captured data on sociodemographic characteristics and symptoms of leptospirosis disease. An individual with an average body temperature of 37.3 ± 1.1 °C was considered to be having fever. The blood samples were analyzed using the standard Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) with a panel of 14 Leptospira-serovars belonging to 11 serogroups. Prevalence was reported with confidence intervals while questionnaire data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. We present an overall prevalence of leptospirosis at 4.70% (95% CI = 2.60-8.30) after analysis of samples from recruited patients. This seropositivity (12/254) was classified into 7 serovars, among which, Canicola and Djasiman presented with titers between ≥ 200 and ≥ 400 in samples of both renal patients and outpatients, indicative of the active disease. Djasiman was the highest contributor to the reported prevalence. Overall, most examined participants presented with common symptoms of abdominal pain (AOR = 24.4, 95% CI (2.42-267.89), p = 0.02) and dehydration (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI (0.01-0.69), p = 0.05). Our study suggests that these symptoms and previous history of abdominal pain may be caused by Leptospira infections among the studied participants. We therefore recommend inclusion of leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis for renal and febrile illnesses. Indeed, abdominal pain and dehydration should be further studied with a bigger sample size and for other related febrile illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogers Wambi
- Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | | | - James Muleme
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Siya Aggrey
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Zoology, College of Natural Sciences (CONAS), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lawrence Mugisha
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
- EcoHealth Research Group, Conservation & Ecosystem Health Alliance (CEHA), Kampala, Uganda.
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Sağlam YS, Yildirim S, Özkaraca M, Altun S. Investigation of leptospiral antigen with immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods in cattle kidney. Microb Pathog 2022; 164:105434. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Motto SK, Shirima GM, de Clare Bronsvoort BM, Cook EAJ. Epidemiology of leptospirosis in Tanzania: A review of the current status, serogroup diversity and reservoirs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009918. [PMID: 34784354 PMCID: PMC8631673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tanzania is among the tropical countries of Sub-Saharan Africa with the environmental conditions favorable for transmission of Leptospira. Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease, and although there are several published reports from Tanzania, the epidemiology, genetic diversity of Leptospira and its host range are poorly understood. Methods We conducted a comprehensive review of human and animal leptospirosis within the 26 regions of the Tanzanian mainland. Literature searches for the review were conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar. We further manually identified studies from reference lists among retrieved studies from the preliminary search. Results We identified thirty-four studies describing leptospirosis in humans (n = 16), animals (n = 14) and in both (n = 4). The number of studies varied significantly across regions. Most of the studies were conducted in Morogoro (n = 16) followed by Kilimanjaro (n = 9) and Tanga (n = 5). There were a range of study designs with cross-sectional prevalence studies (n = 18), studies on leptospirosis in febrile patients (n = 13), a case control study in cattle (n = 1) and studies identifying novel serovars (n = 2). The most utilized diagnostic tool was the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) which detected antibodies to 17 Leptospira serogroups in humans and animals. The Leptospira serogroups with the most diverse hosts were Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 11), Grippotyphosa (n = 10), Sejroe (n = 10), Pomona (n = 9) and Ballum (n = 8). The reported prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in humans ranged from 0.3–29.9% and risk factors were associated with occupational animal contact. Many potential reservoir hosts were identified with the most common being rodents and cattle. Conclusion Leptospirosis is prevalent in humans and animals in Tanzania, although there is regional and host variation in the reports. Many regions do not have information about the disease in either humans or their animal reservoirs. More studies are required to understand human leptospirosis determinants and the role of livestock in leptospirosis transmission to humans for the development of appropriate control strategies. Bacteria from the genus Leptospira is an important agent for causing a disease called leptospirosis in humans and a range of animal species. Leptospirosis is often under-recognized as it presents varied symptoms that mimic malaria, typhoid, brucellosis and other diseases. More than 250 pathogenic Leptospira serovars are known to cause leptospirosis in humans and animals. The diversity of Leptospira serovars and their distribution in humans and animals is little defined in Tanzania. We conducted a systematic review to gather information on the diversity of Leptospira serovars with their reservoir distribution and the most common diagnostics methods used. We included studies (n = 34) in the review and found 17 serogroups described in 28 studies that utilized microscopic agglutination test (MAT). So far human and other animal hosts including cattle, dogs, pigs, bats, buffalo, fish, rodents, goats, lion, zebra, sheep and shrews have been investigated for leptospirosis in Tanzania. Our results show that cattle and rodents are likely to be important reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira spp. and can be a source of human leptospirosis principally in the farming system. Further studies are needed to explore predominant serovars in livestock for the development of prevention strategies to reduce transmission and risks in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabani Kiyabo Motto
- Department of Global Health and Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Life Science and Bio-engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- * E-mail: (SKM); (EAJC)
| | - Gabriel Mkilema Shirima
- Department of Global Health and Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Life Science and Bio-engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Barend Mark de Clare Bronsvoort
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, United Kingdom
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Anne Jessie Cook
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail: (SKM); (EAJC)
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Goosen W, Moseley MH, Kerr TJ, Potts A, Miller M. The Seroepidemiology of a Neglected Zoonotic and Livestock Pathogen in Free-Ranging Bovids: Leptospirosis in African Buffaloes ( Syncerus caffer). Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091072. [PMID: 34578105 PMCID: PMC8469302 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-host pathogens are challenging to control and are responsible for some of the most important diseases of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Leptospira spp. are some of the most common multi-host pathogens and represent an important cause of zoonotic infections and livestock productivity loss in the developing world, where contact with wildlife species is common. Although there is increasing evidence that cattle in Africa harbour a broad diversity of Leptospira genotypes and serovars, little is known about the epidemiology of these pathogens in wild bovids, such as African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer). Using microscopic agglutination testing (MAT) on serum samples collected from free-ranging buffaloes (n = 98) captured in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa, we demonstrated an overall seroprevalence of 21% with seropositivity almost exclusively limited to serovar Tarassovi (serogroup Tarassovi). Moreover, we found no evidence of seropositivity in unweaned calves and showed temporal- or herd-specific variation in exposure risk, and increased probability of seropositivity (OR = 5.44, 95% CI = 1.4–27) in female buffaloes. Together, these findings demonstrate that free-ranging African buffaloes are exposed to Leptospira spp. infections, providing insights into the epidemiology of an emerging Leptospira serovar in herds with an absence of any disease control and minimal management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wynand Goosen
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; (W.G.); (T.J.K.); (M.M.)
| | - Mark Hamish Moseley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Tanya Jane Kerr
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; (W.G.); (T.J.K.); (M.M.)
| | - Andrew Potts
- Agricultural Research Council—Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa;
| | - Michele Miller
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; (W.G.); (T.J.K.); (M.M.)
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