5 research outputs found
Distribution of Leptospira Serogroups in Dogs from Berlin, Germany
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis in which dogs can act as a reservoir for
human infection. The annual vaccination of dogs can prevent leptospirosis
caused by serovars included in the vaccine. To date, all available vaccines in
Germany include only the serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola, the most
commonly found serovars prior to the introduction of the leptospirosis
vaccines. Yet, the involvement of additional serovars in the clinical
presentation of leptospirosis in dogs has been described. The objective of
this sero-epidemiological study was to examine the different Leptospira
serovars currently circulating in a population of dogs suspicious for
leptospirosis from Berlin. In 329 dogs presenting at the Small Animal Clinic
in Berlin, the predominant serogroup was Australis (24%), followed by
Grippotyphosa (20%) and Pomona (9%). A total of 18% of the dogs were diagnosed
with clinical leptospirosis; here the most prevalent serogroups were also
Australis (28%), Grippotyphosa (18%), and Pomona (14%). The serovar prevalence
data presented here confirm that a change of pattern of infecting Leptospira
serovars in dogs has taken place in Berlin. This data corresponds to further
sero-epidemiological studies from other regions in Germany. To ensure human
and canine health, available vaccines should be adapted to include the most
important circulating serovars
MLVA genotyping of human Brucella isolates from Peru
Recent human Brucella melitensis isolates from Peru were genotyped by multiple locus variable number repeat analysis. All 24 isolates originated from hospitalized patients living in the central part of Peru and consisted of six genomic groups comprising two to four isolates and nine unique genotypes. The isolates were most closely related to the two previously genotyped isolates from Mexico, with a maximum distance of 2 to 4. The Peruvian strains were clearly distinct from the East and West Mediterranean groups of B. melitensis genotypes, suggesting that they may constitute a unique Latin American cluster. (C) 2008 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve
Molecular Epidemiology of Brucella Genotypes in Patients at a Major Hospital in Central Peruâ–ż
The multiple-locus variable-number repeat analysis of 90 human Brucella melitensis isolates from a large urban area in central Peru revealed variations at 4 (Bruce07, Bruce09, Bruce18, and Bruce42) out of 16 loci investigated, of which 1 (Bruce42) also is used for species identification. Ten genotypes were identified, separated by the number of Bruce42 repeats into two groups that may have distinct phenotypic characteristics. Whereas genotypes with five or six Bruce42 repeats were cultured mainly from adult patients, genotypes with three Bruce42 repeats were isolated from children and young adolescents as well as from adults. In addition, the isolates with three Bruce42 repeats were obtained more often from patients with splenomegaly (P = 0.02) or hepatomegaly (P = 0.006). An annual variation in the diversity of genotypes was observed, possibly reflecting changes in sources of fresh dairy products, supply routes to city shops and markets, and the movement of infected dairy goat herds