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At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Stillbirth/perinatal weak calf syndrome in dairy heifers: results of a pilot study].

A pilot study of 10 Dutch dairy herds was performed to investigate possible causes of stillbirth/perinatal weak calf syndrome in heifers. Possible causes and advice for further investigations on farms affected by this syndrome are discussed based on the results of investigations of blood and urine from pregnant young stock, postmortem examination of still-born calves, and a questionnaire held among farmers. Infections with Neospora caninum, Salmonella spp. or Leptospira hardjo, or a deficiency of iodine could be excluded.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1978

[Formation of group and intergroup antibodies in humans with leptospirosis infections].

The authors studied regularities attending the biosynthesis of group (homologous) and intergroup (heterologous) antibodies in man during the whole cycle of leptospirosis infection, and for three months after it. Leptospira of the serological groups Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Hebdomadis, the most prominent in the morbidity structure at present, served as etiological causative agents of the disease. Biosynthesis of both homologous and heterologous antibodies had its specific features for each serological group of the disease, and was characterized by the quadripol dynamics of 19S-macro and 7S-microglobulin antibodies production in leptospiroses of serological groups Pomona and Gryppotyphosa, whereas in leptospiroses of serological groups Icterohaemorrhagiae and Hebdomadis a graphically dipolic synthesis dynamics of 19S-macroglobulin antibodies alone was noted.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1977

The pathogenesis of leptospirosis I. Hemorrhages in experimental leptospirosis in guinea pigs.

In experimental infections of guinea pigs with a virulent strain of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae widespread hemorrhages were observed. Thrombocytopenia, prolongation of prothrombin, thrombin, partial thromboplastin and coagulation times, decrease of plasma fibrinogen, factor V, factor VIII and the presence of fibrinogen degradation products were demonstrated. Treatment of infected guinea pigs with heparin prolonged life for two to three days. The histological observations revealed that the main lesion is a severe injury of the vasculature, mainly arteries, arterioles and capillaries. Most of the endothelial cells are affected or destroyed and the muscular fibers of arteries and arterioles are injured. With Martius-Scarlet-Blue, Weigert or Picro-Mallory stains it was demonstrated that the organization seen in the vessels is not all made of fibrin. The conclusion reached was that the hemorrhages observed in experimental leptospirosis in guines pigs are due to disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Marking and detection of DNA of leptospires in the dot-blot and situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labelled probes].

DNA of Leptospira interrogans sv. lai strain 017 was labelled with digoxigenin or alpha 32P or biotin and used as probes to detect DNA of leptospires. Probes labelled with digoxigenin were able to detect 0.1-1 pg of homologous DNA and 10(2) of L. interrogans sv. lai strain 017. Probes alpha 32P and biotin detected 1 pg and 10 pg of homologous DNA and 10(3), 5 x 10(3) of L. interrogans sv. lai strain 017 respectively. These three probes couldn't detect L. biflexa sv. patoc strain Patoc I, L. illini strain 3055, Escherichia coli. Bacillus aerogenes capsulalus, Salmonella anatis, K-DNA of Leishmania, and of human WBC. Comparison of digoxigenin-, alpha 32P- and Biotin-labelled probes in the dot-blot hybridization assay on different serogroup sv. of leptospires revealed that digoxigenin-labelled probes were more sensitive than alpha 32P and biotin-labelled probes. The results indicate that digoxigenin-labelled probes DNA can be used for detection of leptospires in field and clinic. We also report procedures in situ hybridization with leptospira in tissues smear and plasma sediment of an experimentally infected guinea pig. It offers the advantage of recognizable of leptospiral morphology in combination with a hybridization signals. The results indicate that digoxigenin-labelled DNA probes of 017 strain might provide tool for routine diagnosis and classification in cases of leptospiral interrogans infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Polymerase chain reaction for detection of Leptospira spp. in clinical samples.

A sensitive assay for Leptospira spp., the causative agent of leptospirosis, was developed on the basis of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A 331-bp sequence from the Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola rrs (16S) gene was amplified, and the PCR products were analyzed by DNA-DNA hybridization by using a 289-bp fragment internal to the amplified DNA. Specific PCR products also were obtained with DNA from the closely related nonpathogenic Leptospira biflexa but not with DNA from other spirochetes, such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia hermsii, Treponema denticola, Treponema pallidum, Spirochaeta aurantia, or more distant organisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Proteus mirabilis. The assay was able to detect as few as 10 bacteria. Leptospira DNA was detected in urine from experimentally infected mice. In addition, the test was found to be suitable for diagnosing leptospirosis in humans. Cerebrospinal fluid and urine from patients with leptospirosis were positive, whereas samples from control uninfected patients were negative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Sheep as maintenance host for Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo subtype hardjobovis.

Transmission of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo subtype hardjobovis from naturally infected sheep to uninfected sheep and calves was studied. A microscopic agglutination test and ELISA were used to determine specific antibody responses in serum. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect bacterial shedding in urine. Six sheep were derived from a dairy farm where cows were infected with L hardjobovis. Three of these sheep were seropositive for L hardjobovis, and 1 also shed leptospires in the urine. The other 2 sheep shed leptospires in the urine 7 days after the first observation date. The 6 sheep were placed on an isolated pasture together with a second group of 6 noninfected sheep. During the observation period of 140 days, 1 sheep of the second group became infected with L hardjobovis. On 5 consecutive days, a urine mixture from the 4 infected sheep was sprayed on the heads of 4 noninfected calves. Within 56 days, all calves that had been sprayed with urine shed L hardjobovis in the urine and became seropositive for L hardjobovis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Antimicrobial effects of a new carboxyquinolone drug, Q-35, on five serogroups of Leptospira interrogans.

New carboxyquinolone drugs, including the recently developed Q-35, were evaluated for their in vitro potency against five serogroups of Leptospira interrogans. Q-35, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and tosufloxacin showed MICs (0.05 to 0.20 microgram/ml) comparable to those of tetracycline. However, MBCs of these drugs varied between 10- and 100-fold above the MIC for most strains tested. Q-35 was shown to be active against L. interrogans in vitro as judged by the MICs obtained.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation techniques for spirochetes and their sensitivity to antibiotics in vitro and in vivo.

Leptospira interrogans can be cultured from blood and cerebrospinal fluid during the first week of leptospirosis and from urine thereafter. Studies of in vitro sensitivity indicate that these organisms are sensitive to most antibiotics. Tetracycline and penicillin G are most often used clinically, although laboratory studies suggest that the bactericidal activity of penicillin G may be inadequate. Treponema pallidum cannot be satisfactorily cultured. It is identified by dark-field microscopy. Studies of in vivo sensitivity show that penicillin G is highly active against the syphilis pathogen. Since syphilis and gonorrhea may occur simultaneously, ceftriaxone, which is as active as penicillin G against T. pallidum but is also active against penicillinase-producing gonococci, is a logical choice for therapy. Borrelia burgdorferi has been cultured from the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and skin of patients with Lyme disease. In vitro studies have shown tetracycline and erythromycin to be effective against B. burgdorferi and penicillin G to be less so, although all are commonly used clinically. Ceftriaxone has also proven to be highly effective in laboratory studies and for clinical treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Zoonoses in Vojvodina. III. Results of a seroepidemiologic study of leptospirosis in Vojvodina].

2697 persons professionally exposed to leptospira working in contaminated waters and grounds or due to contact with infected animals or their products were seroepidemiologically examined. It was established that the presence of leptospirosis in certain categories of examined persons is three to more than ten times higher in relation with it's presence in the control groups. The most frequent serotype was Leptospira pomona. None of the seropositive persons gave data about having leptospirous infection which might be the consequence of asymptomatic infection or unidentified and not registering of the clinically manifested diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Quantitative PCR assay to evaluate ampicillin, ofloxacin, and doxycycline for treatment of experimental leptospirosis.

The susceptibility of Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae strain Verdun to selected antibiotics used in medical practice (ampicillin, doxycycline, and ofloxacin) was evaluated in a Syrian hamster model, to determine the efficacy of these antibiotics during the course of the disease. A quantitative PCR assay was used to monitor the density of leptospires in blood and in target organs (liver, kidney, lung, heart, and spleen). Our results demonstrated the ability of ampicillin at a high dose (100 mg/kg of body weight) to clear leptospires from the host, except from kidneys and heart, where 10(2) leptospires/g remained at day 6. Ofloxacin (30 mg/kg) was unable to clear bacteria from blood or kidneys. With doxycycline (10 mg/kg), the clearance of leptospires occurred in 2 days in all the target organs studied, with the exception of liver, which required 3 days. Our data demonstrate the value of monitoring the kinetics of experimental leptospiral infection in order to accurately evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics. We have demonstrated the potential value of doxycycline for the treatment of leptospirosis cases, except in circumstances where it is contraindicated. This experimental model could be used to define better therapeutic strategies for human leptospirosis, by testing associations or new formulations of antibiotics.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed2006

Production of reactive oxygen species and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat isolated Kupffer cells stimulated by Leptospira interrogans and Borrelia burgdorferi.

AIM: To evaluate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat isolated Kupffer cells (KCs) stimulated by Leptospira interrogans and Borrelia burgdorferi. METHODS: Rat Kupffer cells were separated by perfusion of the liver with 0.05% collagenase, and purified by Percoll gradients. Purified Kupffer cells were tested in vitro with alive L. interogans and B. burgdorferi preparations. The production of ROS was determined by chemiluminescence, whereas iNOS protein expression was evaluated by Western blot assay using anti-iNOS antibodies. RESULTS: B. burgdorferi and to a less extent L. interrogans induced ROS production with a peak 35 min after infection. The chemiluminescence signal progressively diminished and was undetectable by 180 min of incubation. Leptospirae and borreliae induced an increased iNOS expression in Kupffer cells that peaked at 6 hours and was still evident 22 h after infection. CONCLUSION: Both genera of spirochetes induced ROS and iNOS production in rat Kupffer cells. Since the cause of liver damage both in leptospiral as well as in borrelial infections are still unknown, we suggest that leptospira and borrelia damage of the liver can be initially mediated by oxygen radicals, and is then maintained at least in part by nitric oxide.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ocular leptospirosis.

Uveitis is a well-known late complication of systemic leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the water-borne spirochete Leptospira. Although it is one of the world's most widespread febrile diseases, it remains underdiagnosed, mainly because of protean manifestations, lack of awareness, and nonavailability of laboratory support. Systematic collection of published literature was conducted using Medline, the Cochrane library, and bibliographies of retrieved reports. Articles directly applicable to ocular leptospirosis and current reports on the epidemiology, basic research, clinical presentations, and management of leptospirosis were reviewed. Changing trends in risk factors and an expanding spectrum of ocular and systemic findings have been reported. Molecular research on leptospirosis has shown remarkable progress; several rapid diagnostic modalities are currently under study. Awareness of this entity is absolutely essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis and to prevent its potential reversible and irreversible ocular complications.

Eye Infections, Bacterial↗
PubMed1997

A polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Leptospira spp. in bovine semen.

A rapid and specific method for the detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in bovine semen using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is described. The primers used were derived from an EcoR1/BamH1 fragment that hybridized strongly to chromosomal DNA from the hardjobovis serovar. Three different extraction methods were evaluated in this study: phenol-chloroform extraction method, proteinase K (PK) in 1% SDS, followed by phenol-chloroform, and phenol-chloroform followed by 1% cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). A PCR product of approximately 500 base pairs (bp) in length was obtained when DNA from pure Leptospira culture was used as a template for PCR, regardless of the DNA extraction method used. The product was consistent with that predicted from the gene sequence. However, in semen seeded in vitro, as well as in semen from infected bulls, a PCR product was obtained only when the leptospiral DNA was extracted from the specimen using the CTAB method. In contrast, other methods used for DNA extraction did not generate suitable templates for the PCR procedure. This is the first PCR protocol developed to detect Leptospira in bovine semen. The PCR protocol provided a direct and unequivocal demonstration that Leptospira can be detected in semen of infected animals. The CTAB method was also used successfully in detecting Leptospira in the urine of infected animals. The PCR procedure was shown to be more sensitive than either the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) or culture for detecting the organism in urine.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leptospirosis survey in wild rodents living in urban areas of Rome.

The aim of the study was to survey the current extension of the infected brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) living on the site Ripa Grande-San Michele port located in the center of the sity along the accessible right bank of the Tiber river by using a specific molecular technology. The detection of Leptospira, in 11 trapped brown rats, by tube-based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed. The amplified samples were analysed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Sequence analysis of the amplified DNAs confirmed the specificity of the detection of leptospires. Five out of 11 brown rats exhibited positivity for Leptospira. The survey points out the high rate of leptospiral infection in the brown rats living in the most ancient urban area of Rome.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Bovine leptospirosis: microbiological and histological findings in cattle at slaughter.

Kidneys from cattle at slaughter were examined for the presence of leptospires. Of 218 (8.3%) kidneys leptospires were isolated from 18; all were identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo. None of the leptospire-infected kidneys had histopathological lesions indicative of leptospirosis and leptospires were demonstrated in only 2 by immunogold silver staining. Leptospires infected kidneys remained viable for at least 21 days when stored at 4 degrees but became non-viable within 14 days when stored frozen at -15 degrees.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Eleven cases of leptospirosis: clinical and microbiological features].

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim, to describe clinical and biological features of 11 cases of leptospirosis observed in Lorraine between 1996 and 2002, and to assess the interest of diagnostic methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed. The inclusion criteria was positive serological test for Leptospira. RESULTS: The contamination was mainly linked to water sports, during the summer holidays. The main symptom was fever, associated with moderate increase of aminotransferase serum level. Leptospira icterohaemorragiae was the most frequently identified serogroup. One 17-year-old male patient died after infection during water sports practice. CONCLUSION: Preventive measures should be considered for people exposed to Leptospira when practicing water sports.

Adolescent↗