Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of bovine carriers of Leptospira by serological, bacteriological, and molecular tools

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bovine leptospirosis is an important infectious disease that causes reproductive problems and economic risks, particularly in the tropics. The present study aimed to determine the extent of Leptospira infection among bovines on a slaughterhouse from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil via serological, bacteriological, and molecular tests. Two hundred eight bovines were examined in total, and we obtained 208 blood samples for serology, 198 urine samples collected via direct bladder puncture for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture, 208 kidney samples (one from each animal) for PCR and culture, and 92 vaginal fluid samples from sterile swabs for PCR and culture. Serology demonstrated that 77/208 (37%) of the animals presented anti-Leptospira antibodies. Serogroup Sejroe was by far the most common. One hundrd thirty-three animals (63.9%) were PCR positive in at least one of the tested samples and were considered as Leptospira carriers. Furthermore, ten isolates were obtained by pure culture, all of them from urine samples. Bovine leptospirosis is widely prevalent, and the occurrence of renal carriers was unexpectedly much higher than generally reported.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdollahpour, G., English, A. W. and Tasler, J. 1996. Isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa from a heifer in New South Wales. Australian Veterinary Journal, 73, 109–110

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Adler B and De La Peña Moctezuma A. 2010. Leptospira and leptospirosis. Veterinary Microbiology, 140, 287–296

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Azizi S., Tajbakhsh E., Hajimirzaei M.R., Varnamkhasti M.G., Sadeghian H. and Oryan A. 2012. Evaluation of ‘white-spotted kidneys’ associated with leptospirosis by polymerase chain reaction based LipL32 gene in slaughtered cows. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 83 Suppl 1, 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Balamurugan V., Gangadhar N.L., Mohandoss N., Thirumalesh S.R.A., Dhar M., Shome R. and Rahman H. 2013. Characterization of leptospira isolates from animals and humans: phylogenetic analysis identifies the prevalence of intermediate species in India. Springer Plus, 2, 362

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bomfim M.R.Q., Barbosa-Stancioli E.F. and Koury M.C. 2008. Detection of pathogenic leptospires in urine from naturally infected cattle by nested PCR. The Veterinary Journal, 178, 251–256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chiarelli D.C., Cosate M.R.V., Moreira E.C., Leite R.C., Lobato F.C.F., Silva J.A., Teixeira J.F.B. and Marcelino A.P. 2012. Controle da leptospirose em bovinos de leite com vacina autógena em Santo Antônio do Monte, Minas Gerais [Control of leptospirosis in dairy cattle with autogenous vaccine in Santo Antônio do Monte, MG, Brazil]. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 32 Supp l7, 633–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corney, B. G., Slack, A. T., Symonds, M. L., Dohnt, M. F., McClintock, C. S., McGowan, M. R., & Smythe, L. D. (2008). Leptospira weilii serovar Topaz, a new member of the Tarassovi serogroup isolated from a bovine source in Queensland, Australia. International Journal Of Systematic And Evolutionary Microbiology, 58 Suppl. 10, 2249–2252.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhaliwal G.S., Murray R.D. and Dobson H. 1996. Presence of antigen and antibodies in serum and genital discharges of heifers after experimental intrauterine inoculation with Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo. Research in Veterinary Science, 60, 157–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Director A, Penna B, Hamond C, Loureiro A.P, Martins G, Medeiros M.A. and Lilenbaum W. 2014. Isolation of Leptospira interrogans Hardjoprajitno from vaginal fluid of a clinically healthy ewe suggests potential for venereal transmission. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 63, 1234–1236

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis W.A. 2015. Animal leptospirosis, p. 99–137. In: Adler B. (Ed.), Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. Vol. 387. (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis W.A., McParland P.J., Bryson D.G., Thiermann A.B. and Montgomery J. 1986. Isolation of leptospires from the genital tract and kidneys of aborted sows. Veterinary Record, 118, 294–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faine S., Adler B., Bolin C. & Perolat P. 2000. Leptospira and Leptospirosis. 2nd ed. (Medical Sciences, Melbourne. 296 p).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornazari F., Silva R.C., Richini-Pereira V.B., Beserra H.E.O., Luvizotto M.C. and Langoni H. 2012. Comparison of conventional PCR, quantitative PCR, bacteriological culture and the Warthin Starry technique to detect Leptospira spp. in kidney and liver sample from naturally infected sheep from Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 90, 321–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gamage C.D., Koizumi N., Muto M., Nwafor-Okoli C., Kurukurusuriya S., Rajapakse J.R.P.V., Kularatne S.A.M., Kanda K., Lee R.B., Obayashi Y., Watanabe H. and Tamashiro H. 2011. Prevalence and carrier status of leptospirosis in smallholder dairy cattle and peridomestic rodents in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 11 Suppl 8, 1041–147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gamage C.D., Koizumi N., Perera A.K.C., Muto M., Nwafor-Okoli C., Ranasinghe S., Kularatne S.A.M., Rajapakse R.P.V.J., Kanda K., Lee R.B., Obayashi Y., Ohnishi M. and Tamashiro H. 2014. Carrier Status of Leptospirosis Among Cattle in Sri Lanka: A Zoonotic Threat to Public Health. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 61:91–96

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genovez M.E., Escócio C., Castro V., Gabriel F.H.L., Chiebao D.P. and Azevedo S.S. 2011. Fatores de risco associados à infecção pela Leptospira spp. Sorovar Hardjo em rebanhos exclusivos de ovinos e nos consorciados com bovinos. (Risk factors associated to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo infection in sheep-only herds and in sheep-cattle herds). Arquivos Instituto Biológico, São Paulo, 78 Suppl 4, 587–592

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamond C, Martins G., Loureiro A.P., Pestana C., Lawson-Ferreira R., Medeiros M.A. and Lilenbaum W. 2014. Urinary PCR as an increasingly useful tool for an accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis in livestock. Veterinary Research Communications, 38, 81–85

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamond C., Pestana C.P., Medeiros M.A and Lilenbaum, W. 2015a. Genotyping of Leptospira directly in urine samples of cattle demonstrates a diversity of species and strains in Brazil. Epidemiology & Infection, 144, 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamond C., Martins G., Lilenbaum W., Pinna M. and Medeiros M.A. 2015b. Infection by Leptospira spp. in Cattle in a Tropical Region, Rio de Janeiro. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 92, 210–210

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Rodríguez P., Díaz C. A., Dalmau E. A. and Quintero G. M. 2011. A comparison between polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and traditional techniques for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in bovines. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 8, 1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IBGE Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Available in 2012. <www.sidra.ibge.gov.br> of subordinate document. Accessed 04 Abr 2017

  • Levett P.N. 2015. Systematics of Leptospiraceae, p 11–20. In: Adler B. (Ed.), Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. Vol. 387. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilenbaum W. and Santos M.R.C. 1996. Effect of management systems on the prevalence of bovine leptospirosis. Veterinary Record, 138, 570–571

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lilenbaum W., Varges R., Medeiros L., Cordeiro A.G., Cavalcanti A., Souza G.N., Richtzenhain L. and Vasconcellos S.A. 2008. Risk factors associated with leptospirosis in dairy goats under tropical conditions in Brazil. Research in Veterinary Science, 84, 14–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martins G. and Lilenbaum W. 2013. The panorama of animal leptospirosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, regarding the seroepidemiology of the infection in tropical regions. BMC Veterinary Research, 9, 237

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Martins G., Loureiro A. P., Hamond C., Pinna M.H., Bremont S., Bourhy P. and Lilenbaum W. 2014. First isolation of Leptospira noguchii serogroups Panama and Autumnalis from cattle. Epidemiol Infection, 143 Suppl 7, 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Mineiro A.L.BB., Vieira R.J., Costa E.A., Santos R.L, Gonçalves L.M.F., Carvalho S.M., Bomfim M.R.Q. and Costa F.A.L. 2011. Serology, polymerase reaction and histopathology for leptospirosis in sample collected at slaughter dairy cows of Parnaiba region, state of Piauí, Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 31 Suppl 10, 859–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mughini-Gras L., Bonfanti L., Natale A., Comin A., Ferronato A., La Greca E., Patregnani T., Lucchese L. and Marangon S. 2014. Application of an integrated outbreak management plan for the control of leptospirosis in dairy cattle herds. Epidemiology & Infection, 142 Suppl 6, 1172–1181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OIE. Manual of diagnostic tests and vacines for terrestrial animals. World Organization for Animal Health, Paris, 2014. http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahm/2.01.12_LEPTO.pdf. of subordinate document. Accessed 28 Abr 2017

  • Oliveira F.C.S., Azevedo S.S., Pinheiro S.R., Batista C.S.A., Moraes Z.M., Souza G.O., Gonçalves A.P. and Vasconcellos S.A. 2010. Fatores de risco para a leptospirose em fêmeas bovinas em idade reprodutiva no Estado da Bahia, nordeste do Brasil [Risk factors associated with leptospirosis were identified in cows in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil]. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 30 Suppl 5, 398–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira F S., Oliveira D., Martins Filho E F, Costa F, Ristow P, Pinna M H, Lilenbaum W. 2016. Avaliação histológica e imuno-histoquímica da colonização vaginal por Leptospira em vacas com fluido vaginal positivo à PCR. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 38(Supl.1):163–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otaka D., Penna B., Martins G. and Lilenbaum W. 2012. Serology and PCR for bovine leptospirosis: a herd and individual approaches. Veterinary Record, 170, 338

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Picardeau, M. 2013. Diagnosis and epidemiology of leptospirosis. Médecine et maladies infectieuses, 43, 1–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Picardeau M., Bertherat E., Jancloes M., Skouloudis A.N., Durski K. and Hartskeerl R.A. 2014. Rapid tests for diagnosis of leptospirosis: current tools and emerging technologies. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 78 Suppl 1 1–8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan E.G., Leonard N., O’grady L., More S.J. and Doherty M.L. 2012. Seroprevalence of Leptospira Hardjo in the Irish suckler cattle population. Irish Veterinary Journal, 65 Suppl 8, 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva É.F., Cerqueira G.M., Seyffert N., Seixas F.K., Hartwig D.D., Ahanazio D.A., Pinto L.S., Queiroz A., Ko A.I., Brod C.S., and Dellagostin O.A. 2009. Leptospira noguchii and human and animal leptospirosis, Southern Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 15: 621–623.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stoddard R.A., Gee J.E., Wilkins P.P., Mccaustland K. and Hoffmaster A.R. 2009. Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. through TaqMan polymerase chain reaction targeting the LipL32 gene. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 64, 247–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Subharat S., Wilson P.R., Heuer C. and Collins-Emerson J.M. 2011. Evaluation of a SYTO9 real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect and identify pathogenic Leptospira species in kidney tissue and urine of New Zealand farmed deer. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 23, 743–752

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Talpada M.D., Garvey N., Sprowls R., Eugster A.K. and Vinetz J.M. 2003. Prevalence of leptospiral infection in Texas cattle: implications for transmission to humans. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 3 Suppl 3, 141–147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tourbah A., Fontaine B., Veil N., Mazetti P., Lyon-Caen O. 1992. Lymphocytic meningitis caused by Leptospira panama. La Presse Médicale, 21: 536.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Camila Hamond, Professor Bruno Penna (UFF), and Sabrina Thomé for their assistance. This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Walter Lilenbaum is CNPq fellows.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Adhemar de Barros, 500, Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, CEP: 40170-110, Brazil

    Melissa H. Pinna

  2. Laboratório de Bacteriologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Hernani Melo 101, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, 24210-130, Brazil

    Gabriel Martins, Ana Paula Loureiro & Walter Lilenbaum

Authors
  1. Melissa H. Pinna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriel Martins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ana Paula Loureiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Walter Lilenbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melissa H. Pinna.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pinna, M.H., Martins, G., Loureiro, A.P. et al. Detection of bovine carriers of Leptospira by serological, bacteriological, and molecular tools. Trop Anim Health Prod 50, 883–888 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1512-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1512-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation