Leptospirosis in pigs, dogs, rodents, humans, and water in an area of the Colombian tropics

Leptospirosis is a reemerging zoonosis of global distribution and is one of the causes of hemorrhagic fevers in the tropics. We sought to determine seroprevalence in humans and animals and isolate Leptospira interrogans sensu lato in domestic animals, rodents, and water sources. The study was conducted in a tropical area of the middle Sinú in Cordoba, Colombia. In a prospective descriptive study,we collected blood and urine from pigs and dogs, sera from rural human workers, sera and kidney macerates of rodents, and water samples from environmental sources. We used microagglutination to screen for antibodies to 13 serovars. Strains were cultured on the Ellinghausen–McCullough–Johnson–Harris medium and confirmed by PCR amplifying lipL32 gene. Seroprevalence was 55.9 % in pigs, 35.2 % in dogs, and 75.8 % in humans; no antibody was detected, and no Leptospira were isolated from kidney macerates of rodents. Seven L. interrogans sensu lato strains were isolated: three from pigs, two from dogs, and two from water. High seroprevalence in pigs, dogs, and humans, concomitant to isolation of strains, demonstrates that in Cordoba, transmission exists among animals, the environment, and humans, which warrants the implementation of public health intervention measures to reduce the epidemiological impact of leptospirosis in the region

Alteration of the Reproductive Indicators by the Presence of Leptospira spp. in Sows of Swine Farms

Background: Leptospirosis is a worldwide disease that impacts health, welfare and animal production. Manifestations in swine range from subclinical to severe cases of reproductive failure, generating abortions, embryonic resorption, litters with few piglets, and piglets born weak or dead, which causes great economic losses. Tropical conditions in Colombia favor transmission and maintenance of Leptospira, highlighting the importance of implementing direct diagnostic techniques such as isolation through culture to reach a definitive diagnosis. The objective of the present study was to relate reproductive indicators behavior with the presence of Leptospira spp. in two pig farms in Cundinamarca, Colombia.Materials, Methods & Results: Sows in reproductive stage in two pig farms were selected. A clinical examination of the animals was performed to demonstrate the presence of signs suggestive of Leptospirosis, also the sow records were reviewed to find reports of any of these clinical manifestations, and the average of the reproductive indicators was calculated to set which were altered in the sows. Blood and urine samples were obtained and analyzed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and isolation through culture, respectively. Among the altered reproductive indicators were identified: total pigs born (TPB) in 72.5%, stillbirths (SB) by 70%, mummified pigs (MUM) in a 52.5%, pre-weaning death (PWD) by 40% and the 24 h mortality (M24h) in the 20%. The 77.5% of the sows were positive by MAT. The predominant serovars of Leptospira spp. included Grippotyphosa (67.5%), Canicola (22.5%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (20%), Hardjo (17.5%) and Pomona (12.5%). The bacterium was isolated in 32.5% of the analyzed urine samples. There is increased risk of alteration in the indicators M24h (1.27), TPB (1.08), SB (1.15) and MUM (1.27) with the presence of Leptospira by isolation through culture.Discussion: The birth of weak piglets and the alteration of indicators such as SB were the most common findings in this study, which are of the major alterations caused by the bacteria because Leptospira can be located in the uterus. Positive cultures, 32.5% (13/40), indicate a high percentage of positive animals in the population. The total of positive culture results reveal that humans, pigs and other animal species from the farms and surrounding areas, are at risk of exposure to the bacteria, because these positive sows are eliminating the microorganism through urine to the environment, representing a problem for public health. This is why it is important to perform the identification of bacteria in urine. It establishes whether the animal is a carrier, although the non-detection of the microorganism in the urine does not rule out that this is a chronic renal carrier because it may indicate that at the moment of the test the animal was not excreting detectable amounts of the bacteria. The total of positive sera (77.5%) indicates a high seropositivity of swine leptospirosis in the population. Regarding serovars of Leptospira spp. identified, Grippotyphosa has the largest presentation (67.5%), therefore, as pigs are not maintenance hosts of this serovar, the results of this study suggest that synanthropic rodents that are found on farms may be transmitting the bacteria to pigs. The reproductive indicators related to the Leptospira serovars by X2 test, demonstrated significant association between the average of SB and the serovar Pomona, which has as reservoir the swine species and it is related with the production of piglets born dead, while through the Pearson correlation coefficient it was found that the greater the number of positive samples to serovar Pomona there is a greater presentation of weak piglets, and also was demonstrated that animals with Leptospira spp. have a higher risk to present alterations of the M24h, the average of TPB, SB and MUM.

Increasing incidence of canine leptospirosis in Switzerland.

A marked increase in canine leptospirosis was observed in Switzerland over 10 years with a peak incidence of 28.1 diagnosed cases/100,000 dogs/year in the most affected canton. With 95% affected dogs living at altitudes 90% cases being diagnosed between May and October. The increasing yearly incidence however was only weakly correlated with climatic data including number of summer (r2 0.25) or rainy days (r2 0.38). Serovars Australis and Bratislava showed the highest seropositivity rates with 70.5% and 69.1%, respectively. Main clinical manifestations included renal (99.6%), pulmonary (76.7%), hepatic (26.0%), and hemorrhagic syndromes (18.2%), leading to a high mortality rate (43.3%). Similar to the human disease, liver involvement had the strongest association with negative outcome (OR 16.3). Based on these data, canine leptospirosis presents similar features and severity as the human infection for which it therefore can be considered a model. Its re-emergence in a temperate country with very high incidence rates in canines should thus be viewed as a warning and emphasize the need for increased awareness in other species

Zoonoses Public Health

Leptospirosis is considered the most widespread of zoonotic diseases. It was a notifiable disease in the United States until 1995 and was reinstated to the list of nationally notifiable diseases in 2014. During the time of national surveillance, Hawaii consistently led the nation in reported annual incidence rates. Leptospirosis has remained a reportable disease in Hawaii. Significant changes have been documented since the early 1970s in the predominant serogroup infecting humans in Hawaii: infections due to Icterohaemorrhagiae have declined while infections due to Australis have increased. A recent study from Hawaii demonstrated that Australis was an uncommon infecting serogroup for small mammal hosts. Swine have not been previously studied in Hawaii but are well-recognized maintenance hosts for leptospires belonging to the Australis serogroup. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of Leptospira antibody in feral swine in Hawaii. From January 2007 through December 2009, blood samples were collected opportunistically from feral swine. Using the microscopic agglutination test, we found antibody titres 651\ua0:\ua0100 to leptospires in 272 (33.8%) of 804 feral swine. The most frequently reacting serovars to the swine sera were Icterohaemorrhagiae (Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup) (41.5%) and Bratislava (Australis serogroup) (33.8%). The high seroprevalence and presumptively infecting serovars suggest a link between swine and human infection.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States2019-02-14T00:00:00Z26969849PMC6374768vault:3149

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with the presence of bovine leptospirosis in the municipality of Sotaquirá, Colombia

Background: Bovine leptospirosis is a zoonotic, infectious, and cosmopolitan disease of worldwide distribution, caused by the spirochete Leptospira spp., which has been diagnosed in humans; domestic mammals, such as dogs, sheep, goats, swine, horses and cattle; and wild animals. It is considered a significant cause of economic losses in livestock because it causes infertility, abortion and reduced milk production. Aim: To establish the prevalence and the main risk factors associated with Leptospira spp. in cattle in the municipality of Sotaquirá, Colombia. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was carried out. 1,000 cattle of Ayrshire, Holstein, Jersey, Normande, Zebu, and crossbreeds were sampled. Blood samples were taken by coccygeal venipuncture and processed by microscopic agglutination technique; animals were considered positive when titers were ≥1:100. The data obtained were processed with the statistical program EpiInfo®. Results: A general apparent prevalence (AP) of 16% (160/1,000) was established, where the crossbreeds (20.5% AP), the 2–4 years age group (17% AP), and the serovars Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona (5.1%) and L. interrogans serogroup Sjroe serovar Hardjo (3.4%) presented the highest seropositivity. The variables barnyard, artificial insemination, and use of certified semen were identified as protective factors against the disease, while diarrhea was considered a risk factor. Conclusion: The prevalence in this study is within the range of those reported at the national level; however, it is essential to establish plans to control and prevent the disease

Studi Leptospira SP Pada Beberapa Daerah Rawan Banjir Di Jakarta

Leptospirosis termasuk re-emerging disease dan sering menjadi wabah setelah bencana banjir. Penyakit ini disebabkan oleh bakteri Leptospira patogen yang ditansmisikan secara langsung lewat hewan terinfeksi atau tidak langsung melalui lingkungan yang terkontaminasi urin hewan tersebut. Studi mengenai Leptospira yang ada di lingkungan perairan daerah rawan banjir dilakukan untuk mengetahui penyebaran Leptospira, terutama strain patogen, sehingga dapat dilakukan antisipasi pencegahan. Sampel dikumpulkan dan diukur pHnya dari 20 penampungan air, seperti waduk, danau, sungai, selokan air, di daerah rawan banjir di Jakarta, dan dikultur pada medium Korthof modifikasi mengandung 5-fluorouracil. Pengamatan hasil kultur dilakukan dengan mikroskop lapang gelap selama satu bulan. Diferensiasi Leptospira dilakukan dengan deteksi gen flaB. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa 75% dari sampel yang diperoleh, positif Leptospira. Ph sampel air sebesar 6,67,9 masih sesuai untuk pertumbuhan Leptospira. Analisis dengan gen flaB menunjukkan bahwa Leptospira yang diisolasi termasuk jenis saprofit

A cross-sectional epidemiological study of domestic animals related to human leptospirosis cases in Nicaragua

Leptospirosis is one of the most extended zoonosis worldwide and humans become infected most commonly through contact with the urine of carrier animals, either directly or via contaminated water or soil. The aim in this study was to analyse the epidemiological behaviour of Leptospira spp., from domestic animals around the sites of human leptospirosis cases in Nicaragua, from 2007 through 2013. We report the results of a cross-sectional epidemiological study with a non-probability sampling of blood (n = 3050) and urine (n = 299) from Domestic Animals (DA) around the sites of human leptospirosis cases in Nicaragua. We analysed data obtained through Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), in-vitro culture, real time PCR and sequencing of lfb1 locus. Frequencies of 30.31% (95% CI: 28.66–31.95) and 15.38% (95% CI: 11.12–19.64) were obtained from serological test and from in-vitro culture, respectively. Although similar frequencies from serology test (P = 0.05) were found in DA species, in-vitro culture frequencies were significantly higher from bovine, equine and sheep (P < 0.05) in comparison with swine and canine species. Ten serogroups of pathogenic Leptospira spp. were encountered, with the highest presence of Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup 34.65% (95% CI: 29.35–39.94). We identified 7 samples homologous to L. interrogans species Pyrogenes serovar and 3 samples as L. noguchii Louisiana or Panama serovars by analysis of lfb1 sequences. We were able to establish a temporal and spatial correlation from DA and cumulative incidence of human cases. Therefore an effective epidemiological surveillance should be implemented with a specific control program toward DA in order to reduce human leptospirosis incidence

Optimization of a DNA extraction method from complex samples (pig ́s kidneys) to detect Leptospiraspp

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira spp. In Ecuador this disease is a latent problem that can affect both humans and animals. The relevance of monitoring pathogenic Leptospira spp., specifically in backyard animals, lies in the possible exposure of humans and other animals to this pathogen and contributes to the epidemiological understanding of this disease. Molecular detection, although expensive, is a much more reliable tool for the detection of Leptospira spp.than other types of techniques...La leptospirosis es una enfermedad zoonótica causada por Leptospira spp. En Ecuador esta enfermedad es un problema latente que puede afectar tanto a humanos como a animales. La relevancia del monitoreo de Leptospira spp. patógena, específicamente en animales de traspatio, radica en la posible exposición del ser humano y otros animales a este patógeno y contribuye a la comprensión epidemiológica de esta enfermedad..

A sero-epidemiological study of leptospirosis in Sarawak, Malaysia

Several recent outbreaks of leptospirosis involving human deaths have alarmed health professionals in Malaysia. The study outlined in this thesis was conducted to increase the understanding of the involvement of wildlife in the disease in Malaysia. A strain of Leptospira (designated Lepto 175 Sarawak) was isolated from water in Sarawak, Malaysia. This strain did not produce any titres towards other known Leptospira sera, and thus represents a novel serovar. This serovar had 99.1% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Leptospira wolffii and was the dominant strain present in the region. In this study eight of the 12 non-human primates sampled (66.6%; 95% CI 34.9- 90.1) and 73 of 155 wild small mammals (47.1%: 95% CI 39.0-55.3) were seropositive to leptospires. The seroprevalence was slightly higher in rats than in squirrels or bats. Seropositive animals were detected in all localities sampled, with the highest prevalence at Mount Singai (64.7%; 95%CI 38.3-85.8). Antibodies were detected to two different serovars in non-human primates, eight serovars were detected in rats, six serovars in bats and five in squirrels. Of 155 kidney samples from individuals, 17 were positive for Leptospira on PCR analysis (11%; 95% CI 6.5-17). A cross-sectional serological survey of 198 humans was conducted in four villages around Kuching, Sarawak with 35.9% (95%CI 29.2-43.0) testing positive on the MAT. Antibodies to serovar Lepto 175 Sarawak were most commonly detected (31.3%; 95%CI 24.9-38.3) and were detected in individuals at all four locations. The presence of skin wounds (OR 3.1), farm animals (OR 2.5) and rats (OR 11.2) were all significantly associated with seropositivity in a multivariable logistic regression model. The results of the current study are important as wildlife may act as reservoirs of leptospires for humans. Health authorities should expand disease control measures to minimise the spill-over from wildlife to humans visiting, living or working in the sampled locations. The pathogenic status of serovar Lepto 175 Sarawak also requires further investigation

Circulación de cepas de Leptospira en zonas rurales de Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba – Colombia.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, which is cause of economic losses in farm animals with public health implications. Objetive. was to determine the presence of L. interrogans sensu lato in urine of cattle and water sources in rural areas from Córdoba (Colombia). Materials and methods. 78 urine samples were collected from cows and 39 samples of water for bacteriological culture and determination of the 16S rRNA gene from bacterial L. interrogans sensu lato. Although a definitive isolation was not achieved, L. interrogans sensu lato was detected by PCR in three urine samples and in one sample of waste water. Results. Circulation of L. interrogans sensu lato was confirmed by means PCR. Conclusions. These molecular evidences suggested the possibility of circulation of L. interrogans sensu lato in cows and water sources from rural areas of Ciénaga de Oro.La leptospirosis es una zoonosis de distribución mundial, que causa grandes pérdidas económicas en animales de interés zootécnico y de impacto en salud pública. Objetivo.&nbsp;Determinar la presencia de L. interrogans sensu lato en orina de bovinos y en fuentes de aguas en zonas rurales de Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba (Colombia). Materiales y métodos. Se tomaron&nbsp;78 muestras de orina de vacas y 39 muestras de&nbsp;agua para cultivo bacteriológico y la determinación del gen 16S rRNA de L. interrogans sensu lato. Resultados. Aunque no se logró el islamiento, se detectó por PCR L. interrogans sensu lato en tres orinas y en una muestra de aguas residuales. La determinación por PCR permitió confirmar la circulación de&nbsp;L. interrogans sensu lato. Conclusiones. Estas evidencias moleculares permiten inferir que en las zonas rurales de Ciénaga de Oro hay circulación activa de L. interrogans sensu lato en bovinos y fuentes de aguas