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PubMed1991

[The serogroup and serotype distribution of Leptospira in Sichuan Province from 1958-1987].

This paper summarized the serogroup and serotype distribution of 7,560 strains Leptospira in Sichuan province from 1958 to 1987. At present, Leptospira 16 serogroup and 35 serotype have been found. The Icterohaemorrhagiae group Lai type is the major and stable serogroup and serotype in patients. We have proved that Rodents insectivores and domestic animals are the main reservoir host. The former carries Icterohaemorrhagiae group and the latter carries Pomona group. The serotype carried on the reservoir animal Apodemus agrarius is mostly Icterohaemorrhagiae Lai and is the principal infection source of Leptospirosis in Sichuan province. In addition, this paper discussed the reason of main serogroup change, the possible role of frog as an infection source of Hebdomadis Leptospirosis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Renal involvement in leptospirosis at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo and Persahabatan Hospitals.

AIM: To describe clinical pattern of ARF caused by leptospirosis and its related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using medical record data of all leptospirosis cases admitted to Cipto Mangunkusumo and Persahabatan General Hospitals between January 1993 and December 1996. Patient identification included age, sex, and occupation. Clinical symptoms were described in details and followed by laboratory testing i.e. peripheral blood count, urinalysis, blood urea and creatinine, liver function test, and pancreatic enzymes assay. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent were men and the mean age was 38.3 years old. Sixty out of 68 (88.2%) patients had ARF as defined by an increase of plasma creatinine level of >1.5 mg/mL. The most common presenting symptoms in patients with ARF were fever (100%), nausea and vomiting (95.0%), muscle pain (88.1%) and jaundice (71.3%). The mean duration of fever 7.2 days. The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (100%), leukocytosis (90%) and increase total bilirubin level (87.5%). Only leukocytosis showed a significant difference between ARF and non-ARF patients (p=0,014). Leptospira bataviae was found in 95.6% of patients and 96.7% of ARF patients. Penicillin was given to 80.9% of patients with only 2 (2.9%) deaths. CONCLUSION: Although significant correlation cannot be established, we concluded that nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, jaundice, increased ESR and total bilirubin level should alert the physician about the possibility of renal involvement in leptospirosis patients with prolonged fever. Leptospira bataviae was an important virulent pathogen. Treatment with penicillin may significantly improve organ failure and was considered the drug of choice in managing leptospiral infection.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2002

Serological survey of leptospiral infection in kennelled dogs in Italy.

Two hundred and forty-five dogs were examined serologically for the presence of antibodies against different serovars of Leptospira interrogans. The dogs belonged to five different groups: group 1 was composed of clinically healthy pet dogs referred for a regular veterinary check-up visit or for vaccination; group 2 was composed of stray dogs; and groups 3, 4 and 5 were composed of dogs maintained in three different kennels which had varying standards of hygiene. Seventy-two out of the 245 dogs examined were seropositive for leptospirosis. In group 1, there were 3-4 per cent seropositive dogs; in group 2, 30.3 per cent; in group 3, 13.8 per cent; in group 4, 38.6 per cent; and in group 5, 49.2 per cent. This study demonstrates that leptospiral infection is common in dogs housed in kennels, despite most of them being vaccinated, and that crowding of animals into unsanitary quarters is associated with a high prevalence of infection. The most common infecting serovars found were bratislava and grippotyphosa, confirming recent observations that demonstrate a significant change in the epidemiology of canine leptospirosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Transcript expression of the CPL 5x, BMD-3A, BMD-10 Interrogans leptospira].

Total RNA of Leptospira interrogans SV Lai strain 017 was prepared by the method of Licl-Urea, and was used in dot hybridization with biotin-labelled DNA probes. The probes included BMD-3A, BMD-10, which were the leptospirial protective antigen genes, and CPL 5x, which was the genus specific gene of interrogans Leptospira. All of the three probes have shown various degrees of hybridization signs, proving that they all have transcript expression in leptospira. The transcript expression is the main way of regulating the gene expression in procaryotae, and it is significant in molecular genetics of Leptospira. The results indicate that the antigens encoded by the BMD-3A, BMD-10 may play an important role in immune reaction against leptospiral infection and provide a clue to the development of gene-engineering vaccine. The results also suggest that the antibody against the antigen encoded by CPL 5x is a useful tool in the classification of Leptospira interrogans.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1996

[Leptospirosis: a cause of pseudo-malarial fever in Gabon].

A first case of leptospirosis has been recently described in Gabon where bioclimatological characteristics could favour the transmission of that disease. Therefore, a search for antibodies to leptospirae was conducted among 55 military Frenchmen with unexplained fever during a four-month stay in Gabon. Three (5.5%) were positive with IgM levels attesting for recent contamination. A screening antigenic battery identified L. bataviae in two cases and L. sejroe in one case. The three patients were employed outside in the precedent weeks. Travelers are exposed to leptospirosis in numerous Third-World countries. Clinical and biological similarities between leptospirosis and P. falciparum malaria could induce misdiagnosis. Co-infection could also be encountered. Doxycycline, whose activity against P. falciparum is well known, is also effective against leptospirae. Therefore, this drug seems valuable for prophylactic and therapeutic actions in areas exposed to the both diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Acute renal failure caused by leptospirosis and Hantavirus infection in an urban hospital.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis (LS) and Hantavirus (HV) infection have many common clinical manifestations, including acute renal failure. In as much as clinical experience with these diseases is quite limited in urban centers, we identified cases of Leptospira and HV-induced acute renal failure and compared the clinical course and evolution of these diseases. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with acute renal failure, suspected to be caused by infection, were retrospectively studied over a 13-year period (1985-1998). Based on pertinent clinical data and positive serology, a total of 26 patients were included in the study, 17 patients with LS and 9 patients with HV infection. RESULTS: Both diseases presented as flu-like syndromes with high fever. In LS, 2 patients presented with acute meningitis and died soon after admission. Symptoms and signs from other organs began after the fifth day of illness. Jaundice occurred in 71% of LS patients but not in HV. Hemorrhagic phenomena occurred in both diseases but affected predominantly patients with icteric LS. Anuria or oliguria occurred in 76% of patients with LS and 78% with HV infection. Laboratory studies demonstrated minor transaminase elevations in all patients with LS and in 44% with HV. Hypoprothrombinemia or thrombocytopenia was uncommon, although disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed in 2 patients that had icteric Ls and major bleeding. Nephropathy was associated with haematuria in 71% with LS and all patients with HV. Proteinuria was evident in 35% of patients with LS compared to 78% with HV. Abnormal chest radiographs were seen in 24% with LS and in 33% with HV. In both diseases, aggressive supportive treatment was given, including hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in 4/26 patients. Of the 26 patients, 22 survived and four died. The latter all had LS, and the causes of death were meningitis and DIC with multiple organ failure. Follow-up, after 6 months, showed that renal function had returned to normal in the 22 survivors. CONCLUSION: It is important to include LS and HV infection in the differential diagnosis of acute renal failure. Both diseases present with flu-like symptoms and may be complicated by thrombotic microangiopathy with hemorrhagic phenomena and hepatic and pulmonary involvement. Jaundice should alert the physician to icteric LS, a severe disease associated with significant mortality that requires antimicrobial treatment.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Repetitive sequence element cloned from Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis provides a sensitive diagnostic probe for bovine leptospirosis.

A repetitive sequence element was cloned from the primary etiological agent causing bovine leptospirosis in North America, Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis. This element was used to design a sensitive diagnostic probe which distinguishes hardjo-bovis from other pathogenic leptospires which commonly infect domestic animals in North America and discriminates between hardjo-bovis and the reference strain for serovar hardjo, hardjoprajitno. By using this probe, it was possible to identify infected cattle shedding hardjo-bovis in their urine. This is the first practical demonstration of a cloned DNA probe for leptospirosis, and it provides a sensitive method for studying the transmission and pathogenesis of L. interrogans infections. Control measures for L. interrogans infections may now be improved by rapidly and efficiently identifying infected animals.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

First isolation of Leptospira fainei serovar Hurstbridge from two human patients with Weil's syndrome.

Leptospira fainei serovar Hurstbridge is a recently discovered Leptospira species and so far it has only been cultured from animal sources. Based on positive serology and positive PCR for L. fainei among patients suspected of having leptospirosis, a role in human disease seems likely. This study describes two patients with Weil's disease from whom L. fainei was cultured. A local source of the infections was suspected, as these two patients resided in the same area of Denmark, were hospitalised approximately at the same time and had not been travelling recently. The Leptospira species was determined by serology, PCR and sequencing of bacterial DNA. One patient developed autoimmune hepatitis in the course of the L. fainei infection and was treated with both antibiotics and immunosuppression with good effect. The other patient had a self-limiting disease and did not receive any treatment.

Culture Media↗
PubMed2006

Expression of Toll-like receptors in the kidney: their potential role beyond infection.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize both exogenous microbial components and endogenous molecules to promote immune activation. Both immune and nonimmune renal cells express TLRs, which are involved in the pathogenesis of a number of kidney diseases, including pyelonephritis, Leptospira nephritis, immune-complex glomerulonephritis, ischemic/reperfusion injury, and rejection of kidney transplant.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leptospirosis vaccines: past, present, and future.

It is well known that Leptospira vaccine prevents the disease. However specificity for serovars limits the efficacy of killed whole cell vaccines. Leptospiral antigens that induce cross-protective immunity to the various serovars are sought as new vaccine candidates. In this paper, we have summarized both past and current findings about leptospiral antigens that are conserved among pathogenic leptospires and that induce protective immunity in animal models. The full-length genome sequences of two Leptospira strains have been published and reverse vaccinology has been used to identify leptospiral vaccine candidates. Although humoral immunity is thought to be dominant in protection from leptospiral infection, a role for cell-mediated immunity is now being explored.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein LipL36: downregulation associated with late-log-phase growth and mammalian infection.

We report the cloning of the gene encoding a 36-kDa leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein, designated LipL36. We obtained the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a staphylococcal V8 proteolytic-digest fragment in order to design an oligonucleotide probe. A Lambda-Zap II library containing EcoRI fragments of Leptospira kirschneri DNA was screened, and a 2.3-kb DNA fragment which contained the entire structural lipL36 gene was identified. Several lines of evidence indicate that LipL36 is lipid modified in a manner similar to that of LipL41, a leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein we described in a previous study (E. S. Shang, T. A. Summers, and D. A. Haake, Infect. Immun. 64:2322-2330, 1996). The deduced amino acid sequence of LipL36 would constitute a 364-amino-acid polypeptide with a 20-amino-acid signal peptide, followed by an L-X-Y-C lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. LipL36 is solubilized by Triton X-114 extraction of L. kirschneri; phase separation results in partitioning of LipL36 exclusively into the hydrophobic, detergent phase. LipL36 is intrinsically labeled during incubation of L. kirschneri in media containing [3H]palmitate. Processing of LipL36 is inhibited by globomycin, a selective inhibitor of lipoprotein signal peptidase. After processing, LipL36 is exported to the outer membrane along with LipL41 and lipopolysaccharide. Unlike LipL41, there appears to be differential expression of LipL36. In early-log-phase cultures, LipL36 is one of the most abundant L. kirschneri proteins. However, LipL36 levels drop considerably beginning in mid-log phase. LipL36 expression in vivo was evaluated by examining the humoral immune response to leptospiral antigens in the hamster model of leptospirosis. Hamsters surviving challenge with culture-adapted virulent L. kirschneri generate a strong antibody response to LipL36. In contrast, sera from hamsters surviving challenge with host-adapted L. kirschneri do not recognize LipL36. These findings suggest that LipL36 expression is downregulated during mammalian infection, providing a marker for studying the mechanisms by which pathogenic Leptospira species adapt to the host environment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

[Exposure to Leptospira in stray dogs in the city of Cali].

In Colombia, little information is available concerning the epidemiology of leptospirosis in urban environments. Furthermore, the role of dogs in the transmission cycle of leptospirosis in the urban setting is unclear. To explore the potential role of canines in the transmission of leptospirosis in Cali, a serological study was conducted with 197 serum samples collected from stray dogs during 2001 and 2003. Serum specimens were screened with the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and 7 serovars--Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Gryppotyphosa, Hardjo strain Hardjobovis, Pomona, Hardjo strain Hardjoprajitno and Bratislava. All serovars were provided by the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA), Tuluá, Colombia. The MAT was considered positive when 50% or more leptospiras were agglutinated with one or more serovars in a serum dilution of 1:100. At least one serovar showed evidence of infection in 41.1% of the dogs. The most prevalent serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae, found in 55.6% of the seropositive dogs. 48.1% were co-agglutinations. No reactions against the serovars Pomona, Hardjo strain Hardjoprajitno and Bratislava were observed. These findings suggested that stray dogs are potential reservoirs of Leptospira in Cali and underscored the need to study the epidemiology of this disease in Colombia.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2005

Funisitis associated with leptospiral abortion in an equine placenta.

Funisitis, inflammation of the umbilical cord, is well recognized in human placentas. This report describes a case of funisitis associated with leptospiral infection in the placenta of a Thoroughbred foal born prematurely. The umbilical cord had diffuse superficial yellow discoloration along its entire length. Microscopic evaluation showed an exudate of neutrophils admixed with fibrin on the surface. Warthin-Starry staining showed spirochetes in the Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord. A locally extensive, severe placentitis not involving the star and allantoic cystic hyperplasia were the other lesions observed in the allantochorion. Leptospira funisitis is similar to the funisitis of congenital syphilis in humans, although there are some major microscopic differences. In Leptospira funisitis, lesions were limited to the cord surface, whereas in lesions in human umbilical cords with Treponema pallidum infection, the changes are observed mostly around the vessels and in the Wharton's jelly.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed2003

Identification and evaluation of LPS antigen for serodiagnosis of uveitis associated with leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that affects all mammals in different parts of the world. Though there are many commercial kits available for the diagnosis of systemic leptospirosis, the nature of the antigen has not been described. Therefore, identification of a specific antigen is important. Since ocular involvement in leptospirosis has been reported, there is a need to identify and characterize the leptospiral antigen for diagnosis of uveitis associated with past leptospiral infection (leptospiral uveitis) and for confirming the clinical diagnosis. Seven-day-old culture of Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc was used for preparing the antigen. The present study included serum samples from 81 patients with clinical criteria for leptospiral uveitis, 15 cataract controls and 15 non-leptospiral uveitis controls. Serum samples were assayed by ELISA using our antigenic preparation and by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using 19 serovars. The antigen prepared had 280 micro g LPS ml(-1) and no detectable amount of protein. Silver-staining of SDS-PAGE for protein and LPS, dot blot and Western blot analysis and proteinase K and periodate treatment showed that LPS (13-21 kDa and 28 kDa) in our preparation was the relevant antigen for serodiagnosis. IgG antibodies showed reactivity in both leptospiral uveitis patients and controls. However, on the basis of IgM response to LPS, 48 % of the leptospiral uveitis patients were significantly positive compared with controls; 58 % of leptospiral uveitis patients and none of the controls were positive for MAT. When MAT and IgM ELISA results were considered together, 77 % were significantly positive. LPS is identified as a candidate antigen for serodiagnosis of leptospiral uveitis and has sensitivity and specificity of 48 and 90 %, respectively, in ELISA for IgM antibodies. Confirmation of clinical diagnosis with a specific laboratory test would help to initiate the most appropriate treatment for leptospiral uveitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Leptospirosis in zoo workers associated with bears.

Leptospirosis due to Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae was diagnosed in two zoo animal keepers. The implicated source of infection was bear cubs that had microscopic agglutination antibody titers to leptospires of the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of dengue and leptospira antibodies in the state of Veracruz, Mexico].

OBJECTIVE: To discover the prevalence of antibodies against denguevirus and leptospira. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 500 inhabitants of Veracruz, Mexico through household sampling, administration of a questionnaire and collection of blood samples.The presence of IgG antibodies was determined and factors associated with seroprevalence were evaluated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Total denguevirus seroprevalence was 79.6% (IC 95% 76-81). The main factors associated with infection were age and residence in neighborhoods with higher vectorial indices (RMP = 2.94, IC 95% 1.46-6.1). Overall seroprevalence against leptospira was 4% (IC 95% 2-6). Prevalence was higher in the 25 to 44 years age group (35%, IC 95% 15-59). Seroprevalence in individuals who referred to living with dogs, pigs, cows and rats was 25% (IC 95% 0.63-80). Eighty-five percent of individuals who were leptospira positive were also dengue positive. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of denguevirus antibodies suggests the risk of serious dengue hemorrhagic outbreaks. Although leptospirosis prevalence was low, the coexistence of both agents was confirmed.

Adolescent↗