First report of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Tadarida brasiliensis bats (family Molossidae) and Eptesicus furinalis (family Vespertilionidae) of Argentina. New host species in this country?

Leptospirosis is an endemic disease caused by Leptospira spp., a bacterium that affects animals and humans. In recent years, the number of reports of leptospirosis in wild animals has increased, which highlights the need to study the infectious agents in these animals. In this study, a duplex PCR for the detection of leptospiral DNA was performed on 50 kidney samples from bats, and a MAT (Microscopic Agglutination Test) for serological detection of anti-leptospiral antibodies was applied to 47 serum samples from bats from different regions of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. DNA was extracted using Chelex-100 and duplex PCR was performed by targeting the detection of genes secY and flaB, of pathogenic Leptospira spp. Of the 50 kidney samples, 3 were positive for Eumops sp. and Tadarida brasiliensis by duplex PCR. Of the 47 serum samples, 12 were positive for different serovars: Leptospira interrogans serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Cynopteri and Bataviae, and Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Ballum. This is the first report of the detection of pathogenic leptospires by serology in bats belonging to the T. brasiliensis and Eptesicus furinalis species in Argentina. In addition, this is the first report of the detection of pathogenic leptospiral DNA by PCR in T. brasiliensis species. The detection of Leptospira spp. in these wild animals shows that they may play an important role as wildlife reservoirs of leptospires.

Primer aislamiento de Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo tipo Hardjo Bovis a partir de un caso clínico en Argentina / First isolation of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo type Hardjo Bovis from aclinical case in cattle in Argentina

Resumen Se describe el primer aislamiento y la tipificación molecular de Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo Bovis en Argentina, obtenido a partir de orina de vacas abortadas de unrodeo de cría ubicado en Saladillo, provincia de Buenos Aires. Los abortos coincidieron con unperíodo de importantes inundaciones, en el que varios animales presentaron títulos serológicossospechosos y posterior seroconversión. El porcentaje de abortos alcanzó el 3,5% del total delrodeo, compuesto por 1700 vacas, y se aisló el microorganismo en 7 de 20 muestras de orinaobtenidas.

Abstract We here describe the first isolation and molecular typing of Leptospira borgpe-tersenii serovar Hardjo Bovis in Argentina, obtained from urine of aborted cows from abreeding herd located in Saladillo, Buenos Aires Province. The abortions occurred in coincidence with important floods with many cows presenting suspicious serological titers and subsequentseroconversion. The percentage of abortions was 3.5% of a herd of 1700 cows and the microor-ganism was isolated from 7 of the 20 urine samples obtained.

New host species for Leptospira borgpetersenii and Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni.

We investigated the presence of infection by Leptospira spp. in an assembly of Sigmodontinae rodents from the Paraná Delta, Argentina. Rodents were captured in places with natural grassland, implanted forest, with and without raising cattle and in sites prone and not prone to flooding. The DNA was amplified from cultured isolates by PCR and Leptospira spp. strains were genotyped using Multiple - Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA). We isolated Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni from Oligoryzomys nigripes, Leptospira borgpetersenii from Scapteromys aquaticus and Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae from Akodon azarae. The zoonotic Leptospira isolated and genotyped from O. nigripes and S. aquaticus are the first reports from these species. The geographic range of these rodent species include, in addition to Argentina, the countries of Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil, suggesting that these rodents might be involved in the transmission of spirochetes in other regions. Human and animal health care professionals should be alert to the potential occurrence of leptospirosis in areas where these rodent species are present.

Isolation of Leptospira spp. from a man living in a rural area of the Municipality of Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil / Isolamento de Leptospira spp. em um morador da zona rural do Município de Cruz Alta, RS, Brasil

The aim of this study was to describe the isolation of a pathogenic strain of Leptospira interrogans from the urine sample of a male human living in the rural area of the County of Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul. An aliquot of each urine sample was sown in a Fletcher and Ellinghausen - McCullough - Johnson - Harris (EMJH) media. Samples in which there was growth of spirochetes were sent to the Leptospirosis Laboratory of the Institute of Pathobiology in the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Buenos Aires, Argentina and were typified by the Multiple Locus of Variable Number Tandem Repeat technique (MLVA). Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130 was isolated, and this is a very important finding that serves as a warning to characterize risk situation of leptospirosis epidemic by a pathogenic strain. Health professionals need to be more committed to the primary health care in Brazil and routinely apply actions of preventive medicine in rural communities in order to get success in the control of leptospirosis and other important zoonoses.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever um caso de isolamento de espécie patogênica de Leptospira interrogans em amostra de urina de um humano morador da zona rural do Município de Cruz Alta, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. De cada amostra de urina, uma alíquota foi semeada nos meios Fletcher e Ellinghausen - McCullough - Johnson - Harris (EMJH). As amostras, nas quais houve crescimento de espiroquetas, foram encaminhadas para o Laboratório de Leptospirose do Instituto de Patobiologia do Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuária, Buenos Aires, Argentina e foram tipificadas pela técnica Multiple Locus of Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MLVA). De um residente do sexo masculino da área rural do município de Cruz Alta, foi isolada Leptospira interrogans sorovariedade Copenhageni cepa Fiocruz L1-130, uma descoberta muito importante e que serve como um alerta por caracterizar uma situação de risco de epidemia de leptospirose por uma cepa patogênica. Os profissionais de saúde precisam ser mais comprometidos com a atenção primária à saúde no Brasil e rotineiramente aplicar ações de medicina preventiva nas comunidades rurais, a fim de obter sucesso no controle da leptospirose e de outras importantes zoonoses.

Search of leptospires and of antibodies against leptospires in animals and human beings in farms in Pantanal and Caatinga Brazilian biomes / Pesquisa de leptospiras e de anticorpos contra leptospiras em animais e humanos de propriedades rurais nos biomas brasileiros Pantanal e Caatinga

The occurrence of Leptospira and of seroreactivity against Leptospira was investigated in animals and humans from six farms located in two Brazilian biomes that have different geoclimatic conditions: Pantanal municipalities of Miranda (MS), Itiquira (MT) and Pocone (MT) and Caatinga municipalities of Sobradinho (BA), Garanhuns (PE) and Sobral (BA). Blood and urine samples of wildlife, domestic animals and humans were collected at each property. The samples were collected from February to April 2012 in Caatinga and from July to September 2012 in Pantanal. The serological reactivity against Leptospira spp. was verified by microscopic agglutination technique (MAT) made with a collection consisting by 24 antigens of Leptospira spp. The leptospires research was carried out by urine samples crop sown in Fletcher resources and Ellinghausen McCullough Johnson Harris (EMJH). Crops with growth of leptospires were referred to the Leptospirosis Laboratory of the Institute of Pathobiology, National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Buenos Aires, Argentina and isolated Leptospira strains were genotyped with the technique of Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA). The classification procedure employed the VNTR 4, 7, 9, 10, 19, 23, 31, LB4 and LB5, which discriminate strains of L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii. In Pantanal, 17 wildlife, 65 domestic animals and two humans were examined. In Caatinga, seven wild animals were examined, along with 100 domestic animals and 26 humans. Of 84 blood samples tested in Pantanal, 47 (55.95%) were positive and, of 133 in Caatinga, 59 (44.36%) were reactant. By Fishers exact test, considering a 0.05 significance level, there was no difference between the proportions of serum reagent animals against Leptospira spp. in two biome reviews (p = 0.063). The predominant serovars in SAM reactions were: 1) Pantanal Bratislava (wildlife, dogs and humans), Grippotyphosa (horses and cattle); 2) Caatinga Copenhageni...

Foi investigada a ocorrência de leptospiras e de sororreatividade para leptospiras em animais e seres humanos de seis propriedades rurais localizadas em dois biomas brasileiros que apresentam condições geoclimáticas distintas: Pantanal municípios de Miranda (MS), Itiquira (MT) e Poconé (MT) e Caatinga municípios de Sobradinho (CE), Garanhuns (PE) e Sobral (BA). Em cada uma das propriedades, foram realizadas colheitas de sangue e de urina de animais selvagens de vida livre, animais domésticos e de seres humanos. As colheitas de materiais foram realizadas no período de fevereiro a abril de 2012 no bioma Caatinga e no período de julho a setembro de 2012 no bioma Pantanal. A reatividade sorológica contra Leptospira spp. foi verificada pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM) efetuada com uma coleção de antígenos constituída por 24 sorovares de Leptospira spp. A pesquisa de leptospiras foi efetuada por cultivos de amostras de urina semeadas nos meios Fletcher e de Ellinghausen McCullough Johnson Harris (EMJH). Os cultivos em que houve crescimento de leptospiras foram encaminhados ao Laboratório de Leptospirose do Instituto de Patobiologia, Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuária, Buenos Aires, Argentina e as estirpes de leptospiras isoladas foram genotipadas com o emprego da técnica de Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA). O procedimento de tipificação empregou os VNTR 4, 7, 9, 10, 19, 23, 31, Lb4 e Lb5, que discriminam estirpes de L. interrogans e L. borgpetersenii. No Pantanal, foram examinados 17 animais selvagens, 65 animais domésticos e dois humanos. Na Caatinga, foram examinados sete animais selvagens, 100 animais domésticos e 26 humanos. Das 84 amostras de sangue examinadas no Pantanal, 47 (55,95%) foram reagentes e, das 133 da Caatinga, 59 (44,36%) foram reagentes. Pelo teste exato de Fisher, considerando-se um nível de significância de 0,05, não houve diferença entre as proporções de animais...

Genotypes of pathogenic Leptospira spp isolated from rodents in Argentina

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world and significant efforts have been made to determine and classify pathogenic Leptospira strains. This zoonosis is maintained in nature through chronic renal infections of carrier animals, with rodents and other small mammals serving as the most important reservoirs. Additionally, domestic animals, such as livestock and dogs, are significant sources of human infection. In this study, a multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was applied to genotype 22 pathogenic Leptospira strains isolated from urban and periurban rodent populations from different regions of Argentina. Three MLVA profiles were identified in strains belonging to the species Leptospira interrogans (serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola); one profile was observed in serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and two MLVA profiles were observed in isolates of serovars Canicola and Portlandvere. All strains belonging to Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis exhibited the same MLVA profile. Four different genotypes were isolated from urban populations of rodents, including both mice and rats and two different genotypes were isolated from periurban populations.

Genotypes of pathogenic Leptospira spp isolated from rodents in Argentina.

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world and significant efforts have been made to determine and classify pathogenic Leptospira strains. This zoonosis is maintained in nature through chronic renal infections of carrier animals, with rodents and other small mammals serving as the most important reservoirs. Additionally, domestic animals, such as livestock and dogs, are significant sources of human infection. In this study, a multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was applied to genotype 22 pathogenic Leptospira strains isolated from urban and periurban rodent populations from different regions of Argentina. Three MLVA profiles were identified in strains belonging to the species Leptospira interrogans (serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola); one profile was observed in serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and two MLVA profiles were observed in isolates of serovars Canicola and Portlandvere. All strains belonging to Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis exhibited the same MLVA profile. Four different genotypes were isolated from urban populations of rodents, including both mice and rats and two different genotypes were isolated from periurban populations.