Leptospirosis with multiple organ dysfunction in a mongoose-scat-detection dog infected with Leptospira interrogans serogroup Hebdomadis, Okinawa, Japan.

A 2-year-old male mongoose-scat-detection dog was diagnosed with leptospirosis by urine PCR. The patient developed acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Treatment with antibiotics was administered, including ampicillin and doxycycline, and supportive care management was provided. Seroconversion against serogroup Hebdomadis was observed on day 8. The leptospiral gene flaB was detected only in urine collected on day 1, from which Leptospira interrogans ST329 was identified by multilocus sequence typing using seven housekeeping genes. L. interrogans serogroup Hebdomadis ST329 has been isolated from mongooses and humans in Okinawa, Japan. This patient received early treatment with antibiotics, which may have contributed to the early recovery of renal function and removal of L. interrogans from kidney tissue.

Detection of anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins in captive South American river turtles, Podocnemis expansa

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis transmitted by contact with infected urine or water contaminated with the agent. Searches for Leptospira spp. in reptiles are scarce although most species have contact with aquatic environments. We evaluated the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Podocnemis expansa housed at the Amazonian Zoobotanical Garden, in Belém, Pará state, Brazil. We analyzed 74 serum samples through the microscopic agglutination test using 31 live antigens from different Leptospira spp. serogroups. Thirty samples (40.5%) were positive against Leptospira spp., with titrations between 100 and 3,200 for one or more serogroups. The Hebdomadis serogroup was the most prevalent, with 26 (87%) out of the 30 positive samples, followed by Djasiman, with two (7%) and Celledoni and Bataviae with one (3%) sample each. The detection of anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins in P. expansa suggests that the aquatic environment is a transmission route for this pathogen among chelonians. (AU)

Leptospirosis in slaughtered cows in the Triangulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais: prevalence, serological profile and renal lesions / Leptospirose em vacas abatidas no Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais: prevalência, perfil sorológico e lesões renais

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis that affects several species of domestic and wild animals and is an important cause of economic losses in cattle in Brazil. In this study, we determined the prevalence of bovine leptospirosis in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais, Brazil, identified the most frequent serovars of Leptospira interrogans, and examine the renal pathological changes associated with the disease. Samples of blood serum and kidney fragments from 100 bovine females were collected in cattle abattoir. In the serological investigation 48% of the cows were positive. The serovars for which there were more reactive animals were Wolffi (24%), Hardjo (21%) and Hebdomadis (18%). Among the positive samples, 14/48 showedantibody titers greater than 1:100, and 70.83% of the seropositive animals responded to more than one Leptospira interrogans serovar. Only one farm did not have seropositive cows and in nine farms studied, six (66.66%) presented seropositive animals to the Hebdomadis serovar. At the histopathological examination, the most frequent microscopic lesions in positive animals were hyalinization (81.25%), congestion (81.25%) and hydropic degeneration (70.83%). However, these histopathological alterations were also found in kidneys of animals negative to serology, such as hyalinization (80.77%), congestion (48.07%) and hydropic degeneration (55.77%) and these findings are unrelated to positivity. Histopathological examination of the kidneys is not indicated to replace the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis, and may be used only as a complementary examination. Despite the low frequency of seropositive animals in the Triângulo Mineiro region, the disease is present in a large number of farms. Noteworthy is the high frequency of serovar Hebdomadis and it can be considered an emerging serovar in the region. The evaluation of the frequency of this serovar in other regions becomes important, and once verified should result in the recommendation of the inclusion of this serovar in the leptospirosis control.

A leptospirose é uma zoonose que afeta várias espécies de animais domésticos e silvestres e importante causa de prejuízos à bovinocultura nacional. Objetivou-se determinar a prevalência da leptospirose e identificar os sorovares de Leptospira interrogans mais freqüentes na região do Triângulo Mineiro, além de avaliar microscopicamente as lesões renais e correlacionar estas lesões com sorovares específicos. Foram coletadas amostras de soro sanguíneo e fragmentos de rim de 100 fêmeas bovinas em abatedouro e, destas 100 amostras, 48% foram positivas. Os sorovares para os quais houve mais animais reagentes foram Wolffi (24%), hardjo (21%) e Hebdomadis (18%). Dentre as amostras positivas, 14/48 apresentaram títulos de anticorpos aglutinantes superiores a 1:100 e notou-se que 70,83% dos animais soropositivos reagiram a mais de um sorovar de Leptospira interrogans. Somente uma propriedade não possuía vacas sororreagentes para leptospirose e das nove propriedades estudadas, seis (66,66%) apresentaram animais soropositivos ao sorovar Hebdomadis. Ao exame histopatológico, as alterações microscópicas mais encontradas em animais positivos foram hialinização (81,25%), congestão (81,25%) e degeneração hidrópica (70,83%). Porém, essas alterações histopatológicas também foram encontradas em rins de animais negativos à sorologia, como hialinização (80,77%), congestão (48,07%) e degeneração hidrópica (55,77%) e estes achados não apresentaram correlação com positividade. O exame histopatológico dos rins não é indicado para substituir o diagnóstico sorológico da leptospirose, podendo ser utilizado somente como um exame complementar. Apesar da frequência de animais sororreagentes ser baixa na região do Triângulo Mineiro, a doença está presente em um grande número depropriedades. Chama a atenção a alta frequência do sorovar Hebdomadis, podendo ser considerado um sorovar emergente na região. A avaliação da frequência deste sorovar em outras regiões se torna importante, pois uma vez verificada, deve resultar na recomendação da inclusão deste sorovar no controle da leptospirose.

Presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in captive yellow-spotted river turtles (Podocnemis unifilis) in the Eastern Amazon / Presença de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em tracajás (Podocnemis unifilis) na Amazônia Oriental

ABSTRACT: We describe anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinin in yellow-spotted river turtles (Podocnemis unifilis)in the Amazon region. Ninety-eight serum samples from individuals housed at the Bosque Rodrigues Alves Zoobotanical Garden of Amazonia, Belém, PA, Brazil, were subject to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using 19 different Leptospira spp. antigen serogroups. Thirty-four of the 98 samples (35%) were reactive, with titers ranging from 100 to 3200, and eight 8 reactive samples (23.5%) co-agglutinated under two or more serovars.The most common serogroup was Hebdomadis (26.9%, 7/26), followed by Semaranga (23%, 6/26), Shermani (19.2%, 5/26), Djasiman (11.5%, 3/26), and Australis (7.7%, 2/26); Bataviae, Javanica, and Sejroewere represented by a single sample each (3.9%). The presence of turtles reactive to anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies implies exposure to the pathogen.

RESUMO: Este trabalho descreve a detecção de aglutininas anti-Leptospira spp. em tracajás (Podocnemis unifilis) na região Amazônica. Obtivemos 98 amostras de soro, as quais foram submetidas ao teste de aglutinação microscópica (MAT), utilizando 31 antígenos de diferentes sorogrupos de Leptospira spp. Das 98 amostras de soro coletadas, 35% (34/98) reagiram apresentando titulações de 100 a 3200; 23,53% dessas amostras (8/34) coaglutinaram na presença de dois ou mais sorovares. O sorogrupo mais comum foi Hebdomadis com 26,9% (7/26), seguido de Semaranga com 23% (6/26), Shermani com 19,2% (5/26), Djasiman com 11,5% (3/26), e Australis com 7,7% (2/26). Bataviae, Javanica, e Sejroe foram representados com apenas uma amostra (3,9%). A presença de tracajás reagentes a anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. implica na exposição ao patógeno.