Multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis of acute leptospirosis in dogs naturally infected by Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae: A prospective study.

Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution, is caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. In dogs, this disease is frequently misdiagnosed. Few studies have attempted to associate the detection of Leptospira spp. infection with clinicopathological and renal histopathological findings using a multidisciplinary approach. The present study isolated and characterized Leptospira spp. obtained from naturally infected dogs and described relevant clinical and histopathological findings. Blood and urine were collected from 57 dogs with clinical symptomatology suggestive of leptospirosis; 38 cases were confirmed by PCR in urine or by culture or microscopic agglutination testing (titers ≥800). A total of 12 strains of pathogenic Leptospira were isolated from the studied dogs (seven in blood, four in urine and one in both blood and urine samples). All isolates were characterized as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. Of the confirmed cases, almost one-third of the animals had been vaccinated. Our analysis of laboratory testing revealed that azotemia and proteinuria were statistically significant predictors of infection. The main histopathological findings seen in kidney tissues were necrosis, degeneration, tubular regeneration, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and congestion. A multidisciplinary approach involving clinicopathological and histopathological characterization of renal involvement can aid in the identification of acute leptospirosis infection.

Unusual case of polyarthritis and hepatorenal syndrome associated with Leptospira interrogans infection in a dog: A case report.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetal bacterial of the genus Leptospira affecting virtually all mammals. The infection has a broad range of effects, from mild clinical manifestation to multiple organ failure, and ultimately death. A 5-months-old male unvaccinated dog was admitted to the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital presenting dullness, dehydration, jaundiced mucous, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and hyporexia. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) detected serological titers of 1:1.600 for serogroup Canicola. After five days of monitoring by the medical team he developed fever and swelling of carpal and tarsal joints, accompanied by functional limitation. Initial antimicrobial treatment was instituted for leptospirosis. Polyarthritis responsiveness to glucocorticoid therapy was observed through decreasing signs of inflammation of the affected joints. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was further confirmed by molecular investigation for Leptospira spp. on blood and synovial fluid samples. Amplification and sequencing of the secY partial gene characterized the infective bacterial as Leptospira interrogans. From the 7th day the respiratory condition worsened and on Day 14 the patient evolved to death, when necropsy and histological evaluation were performed. Prominent anatomopathological findings included: fibrinous polyarthritis, bronchointerstitial pneumonia, intense hepatocyte dissociation, cholestasis, and periportal multifocal hepatitis, diffuse acute tubular necrosis, and significant dystrophic mineralization in the renal parenchyma, lungs, and atrial endocardium. Here, we present a case report of systemic clinical manifestations polyarthritis associated with the presence of leptospiras in the synovial fluid. We highlight the need for richer knowledge about the different clinical manifestations of leptospirosis.

Serological survey of leptospirosis, brucellosis, and lentivirus in herds of small ruminants in Recôncavo Baiano, Bahia, Brazil / Inquérito sorológico de leptospirose, brucelose e lentiviroses em rebanhos de pequenos ruminantes no Recôncavo Baiano, Bahia, Brasil

A serological survey was carried out to assess the frequency of leptospirosis, small ruminants lentivirus (SRLV), and brucellosis in small ruminant herds in the Recôncavo Baiano, State of Bahia, Brazil, from February to December 2017. In four goat herds, 125 animals were tested for SRLV and leptospirosis, while in five sheep herds, 378 animals were tested for leptospirosis, brucellosis, and SRLV. Regarding leptospirosis, MAT detected 80% of goats and 15.34% of sheep seroreactive. Reactivity was most frequent to serogroups Autumnalis and Grippotyphosa in goats and sheep, respectively. Regarding SRLV, 8.8% of goats and 0.79% of sheep were reactive. Search for anti-B. ovis antibodies revealed 0.52% reactivity. In sheep, three animals showed simultaneous seroreactivity for SRLV and leptospirosis, while one animal had a serological response for brucellosis and leptospirosis. In goats, simultaneous seroreactivity for SRLV and leptospirosis was observed in only one animal. Leptospirosis was the most frequent of the three infectious diseases in investigated herds.(AU)

Foi realizado um inquérito sorológico para avaliar a frequência de ocorrência de leptospirose, lentiviroses de pequenos ruminantes (LVPR) e brucelose em rebanhos de pequenos ruminantes no Recôncavo Baiano, estado da Bahia, Brasil, no período de fevereiro a dezembro de 2017. Em quatro rebanhos de caprinos, foram testados 125 animais para LVPR e leptospirose, enquanto em cinco rebanhos de ovinos, foram testados 378 animais para leptospirose, brucelose e LVPR. Em relação à leptospirose, 80% das cabras e 15,34% das ovelhas foram sororreativas. Os sorogrupos de Leptospira spp. predominantes foram Autumnalis e Grippotyphosa para caprinos e ovinos, respectivamente. Em relação as LVPR, 8,8% dos caprinos e 0,79% dos ovinos foram reativos. Adicionalmente, a pesquisa de anticorpos Anti-B. ovis revelou 0,52% de ovinos reativos. Em ovinos, três animais apresentaram sororreatividade simultânea para LVPR e leptospirose, enquanto um animal teve resposta sorológica para brucelose e leptospirose. Em caprinos, sororreatividade simultânea para LVPR e leptospirose foi observada em apenas um animal. A leptospirose foi a doença infecciosa mais frequente nos rebanhos investigados.(AU)

Detection of Leptospira spp. in Captive Broad-Snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris).

Leptospira sp. is an important waterborne zoonotic bacterium, known to cause infection in animals and humans worldwide. The role of reptiles in the transmission of this microorganism is poorly understood and historically neglected. This study aimed to investigate the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies and leptospiral DNA in captive Caiman latirostris (broad-snouted caiman). Of the 23 reptiles studied by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), 22/23 (95.65%) were considered reactive (titers ≥ 100) and 1/23 (4.35%) non-reactive (titer < 100). The serogroup with highest occurrence was Grippotyphosa (68.18%, n = 15/22) followed by serogroup Djasiman (18.18%, n = 4/22). Specific amplification of Leptospira spp. gene lipL32 was observed in six (26.09%, n = 6/23) blood samples. Five of six samples, previously detected as pathogenic leptospira by PCR, were amplified and sequenced. All the samples corresponded to the pathogenic species Leptospira interrogans (presented 100% of identity) using the PCR targeting to secY gene. We demonstrated high detection of DNA of L. interrogans in crocodilians, and the authors suggest that further research is needed to elucidate the impact of Leptospira spp. infection in health broad-snouted caimans as well as the pathophysiology of leptospirosis in crocodilians.

Water relation, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging of soybean leaves infected with Colletotrichum truncatum.

Considering the potential of anthracnose to decrease soybean yield and the need to gain more information regarding its effect on soybean physiology, the present study performed an in-depth analysis of the photosynthetic performance of soybean leaflets challenged with Colletotrichum truncatum by combining chlorophyll a fluorescence images with gas-exchange measurements and photosynthetic pigment pools. There were no significant differences between non-inoculated and inoculated plants in leaf water potential, apparent hydraulic conductance, net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapor and transpiration rate. For internal CO2 concentration, significant difference between non-inoculated and inoculated plants occurred only at 36 h after inoculation. Reductions in the values of the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters [initial fluorescence (F0), maximal fluorescence (Fm), maximal photosystem II quantum yield (Fv/Fm), quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation (Y(NPQ))] and increases in effective PS II quantum yield (Y(II)), quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation Y(NO) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) were noticed on the necrotic vein tissue in contrast to the surrounding leaf tissue. It appears that the impact of the infection by C. truncatum on the photosynthetic performance of the leaflets was minimal considering the preference of the fungus to colonize the veins.