Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of Leptospira spp. in the animal-environment interface (swine-water) in pig production cycle

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

Abstract

Introduction

Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira spp., is a zoonosis with multiple hosts and reservoirs. Thus, the “One Health” approach must be addressed in order to guide prevention and control measures regarding this microorganism. There are few studies involving all stages of the pig production cycle and potential sources of infection such as water sources, which could represent a risk for local rural communities.

Objective

To identify Leptospira spp. in the animal-environment interface (swine-water) in the pig production cycle.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted in a swine farm in Puerto López in the department of Meta, Colombia. Swine blood samples (n = 65) were collected for microscopic agglutination test (MAT), while urine and water samples (n = 80) were tested for Leptospira using bacterial isolation, serotyping of the isolates, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

A total of 58 (89.2%) porcine sera were positive for at least one Leptospira serogroup, with Grippotyphosa as the most frequent serogroup. Leptospira spp. were isolated in 25% (20/80) of the urine and water samples. Leptospira-positive cultures were 100% (20/20) identified within the genus Leptospira (rrl gene) and 50% (10/20) corresponded to pathogenic species (lipL32 gene) by PCR, and 45% (9/20) were positive to at least one antiserum. None of the direct urine and water samples was positive by PCR.

Conclusion

It is suggested that the bacteria might be transmitted in the animal-environment interface in the pig production cycle.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Adler, B. and Peña, A., 2010. Leptospira and Leptospirosis, Veterinary Microbiology, 140, 287–296.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allan, K.J., Biggs, H.M., Halliday, J.E.B., Kazwala, R.R., Maro, V.P., Cleaveland, S. and Crump, J.A., 2015. Epidemiology of Leptospirosis in Africa: A Systematic Review of a Neglected Zoonosis and a Paradigm for ‘One Health’ in Africa, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(9), e0003899.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Almenteros, C., Arrieta, G., Máttar, S., Barguil, A., Tamayo, L., Padilla, T., Padilla, T., Bedoya, Z., Mendoza, S., Estereta, F., Díaz, N., Estrada, C., Medina, A., Rodríguez, A., De la Ossa, M., Pérez, A. and Ríos, R., 2004. Seroprevalencia de Leptospirosis porcina en el Departamento de Córdoba, Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias, 17(2), 141–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anampa, L., Rivera, H., Falcón, N., Arainga, M. and Ramírez, M., 2012. Frecuencia de Leptospira spp. en porcinos de crianza tecnificada y de traspatio beneficiados en dos mataderos de Lima, Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú, 23(2), 240–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrieta, G., Rodríguez, V. and Calderón, A., 2010. Seroepidemiología de Leptospira spp., en porcinos de algunos municipios del Sinú medio, departamento de Córdoba-Colombia, Revista MVZ Córdoba, 15(1), 2023–2024.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bal, A., Gravekamp, C., Hartskeerl, R., Meza-Brewster, J., Korver, H. and Terpstra W., 1994. Detection of Leptospires in Urine by PCR for Early Diagnosis of Leptospirosis, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 32(8), 1894–1898.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barragán, V., Nieto, N., Keim, P. and Pearson, T., 2017. Meta-analysis to estimate the load of Leptospira excreted in urine: beyond rats as important sources of transmission in low-income rural communities, BMC Research Notes, 10, 71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barreto, G. and Rodríguez, H., 2018. Sistemática y nomenclatura actual de Leptospira, Revista de Producción Animal, 30(1), 66–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolívar, S., Lagares, A., Varela, L. and Vergara, C., 2012. Prevalencia de Leptospira interrogans por PCR, en la población porcina del municipio de Baranoa-Atlántico (Colombia), Revista Colombiana de Ciencias de la Salud, 1(1), 11–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burriel, A.R., Varoudis, L., Alexopoulos, C., Kritas, S. and Kyriakis, S.C., 2003. Serological evidence of Brucella species and Leptospira interrogans serovars in Greek swine herds, Journal of Swine Health and Producion, 11(4), 186–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calderón, A., Rodríguez, V., Máttar, S. and Arrieta, G., 2014. Leptospirosis in pigs, dogs, rodents, humans, and water in an area of the Colombian tropics, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 46, 427–432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campagnolo, E.R., Warwick, M.C., Marx, H.L., Cowart, R.P., Donnell, H.D., Bajani, M.D., Bragg, S.L., Esteban, E., Alt, D.P., Tappero, J.W., Bolin, C.A. and Ashford, D.A., 2000. Analysis of the 1998 outbreak of leptospirosis in Missouri in humans exposed to infected swine, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 216(5), 676–682.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cárdenas-Marrufo, M.F., Vado-Solís, I., Pérez-Osorio, C.E. and Segura-Correa, J.C., 2011. Seropositivity to leptospirosis in domestic reservoirs and detection of Leptospira spp. from water sources, in farms of Yucatan, México, Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 14(1), 185–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carreño, L.A., Salas, D. and Beltrán, K.B., 2017. Prevalencia de leptospirosis en Colombia: revisión sistemática de literatura, Revista de Salud Pública, 19(2), 204–209.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chávez, Á., Somarriba, B.F., Soto, A., Sheleby-Elías, J., Duttmann, C., Jiménez, E., Pérez, E., Mora, B. and Jirón, W., 2018. Detección de Leptospira spp. en animales y muestras ambientales de áreas peridomésticas en Nicaragua, Revista panamericana de salud publica, 42, e26.

  • Dechner, A., 2014. A retrospective analysis of the leptospirosis research in Colombia, Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 8(3), 258–264.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feraud, D. and Abeledo, M.A., 2005. Primer reporte en Cuba de Leptospira interrogans serovar Tarassovi y caracterización clínica epizootiologica en focos de Leptospirosis porcina, Revista Electrónica de Veterinaria REDVET, 6(4), 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freitas, J.C., Silva, F.G., Oliveira, R.C., Delbem, A.C.B., Muller, E.E., Alves, L.A. and Teles, P.S., 2004. Isolation of Leptospira spp. from dogs, bovine and swine naturally infected, Ciência Rural, 34(3), 853–856.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giraldo, G., Orrego, A., Santacruz, M. and Yepes, E., 2002. Leptospirosis. Las aguas de la explotación porcina como vehículo de la Leptospira, en la zona central cafetera de Colombia, Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria, 34(1), 79–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerra, M.A., 2013. Leptospirosis: Public health perspectives, Biologicals, 41, 295–297.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  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 

  • 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 Microbiolical Methods, 84, 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Rodríguez, P., Gomez, A., Baquero, M. and Quintero, G., 2014. Identification of ompL1 and lipL32 Genes to Diagnosis of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. isolated from Cattle, Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 4, 102–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jobbins, S.E., Sanderson, C.E. and Alexander, K.A., 2013. Leptospira interrogans at the Human–Wildlife Interface in Northern Botswana: A Newly Identified Public Health Threat, Zoonoses and Public Health, 61(2), 113–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jung, B.Y., Park, C.K., Lee, C.H. and Jung, S.C., 2009. Seasonal and age-related seroprevalence of Leptospira species in pigs in Korea, Veterinary Record, 165, 345–346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kessy, M.J., Machang’u, R.S. and Swai, E.S., 2010. A microbiological and serological study of leptospirosis among pigs in the Morogoro municipality, Tanzania, Tropical Animal Health and Producion, 42, 523–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurilung, A., Chanchaithong, P., Lugsomya, K., Niyomtham, W., Wuthiekanun, V. and Prapasarakul, N., 2017. Molecular detection and isolation of pathogenic Leptospira from asymptomatic humans, domestic animals and water sources in Nan province, a rural area of Thailand, Research in Veterinary Science, 115, 146–154.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, C.L., Townell, N., Stephenson, E., Van Den Berg, D. and Craig, S.B., 2018. Leptospirosis: An important zoonosis acquired through work, play and travel, Australian Journal of General Practice, 47(3), 105–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H.S., Khong, N.V., Xuan, H.N., Nghia, V.B., Nguyen-Viet, H. and Grace, D., 2017. Sero-prevalence of specific Leptospira serovars in fattening pigs from 5 provinces in Vietnam, BMC Veterinary Research, 13, 125.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, P., Arauz, M. and Stanchi, N., 2015. Diagnóstico de leptospirosis mediante técnicas moleculares: ventajas y limitaciones en Medicina Veterinaria, AnalectaVet, 3(1), 26–38.

    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 

  • Mazet, J.A.K., Clifford, D.L., Coppolillo, P.B., Deolalikar, A.B., Erickson, J.D. and Kazwala, R.R., 2009. A “One Health” Approach to Address Emerging Zoonoses: The HALI Project in Tanzania, PLoS Medicine, 6(12), e1000190.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Medina, A., Negrete, L. and Almentero, C., 2003. Prevalencia de leptospirosis porcina en el municipio de Circasia (Quindío), Revista MVZ Córdoba, 8(1), 281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mejía, W., Zapata, D., Sánchez, A., Quintero, A., Torres, P., Chango, M. and Padrino, T., 2012. Estudio serológico de la brucelosis y leptospirosis en granjas porcinas del municipio Mauroa del estado Falcón, Venezuela, Revista de la Universidad del Zulia, 3(5), 43–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miraglia, F., Moreno, A.M., Gomes, C.R., Paixão, R., Liuson, E., Morais, Z.M., Maiorka, P., Seixas, F.K., Dellagostin, O.A. and Vasconcellos, S.A., 2008. Isolation and characterization of Leptospira interrogans from pigs slaughtered in São Paulo state, Brazil, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 39, 501–507.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Miraglia, F., Moreno, L.Z., Morais, Z.M., Langoni, H., Shimabukuro, F.H., Dellagostin, O.A., Hartskeerl, R., Vasconcellos, S.A. and Moreno, A.M., 2015. Characterization of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona isolated from swine in Brazil, Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 9(10), 1054–1061.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morales-Cabezas, R.J., Bravo-Tamayo, D., Moreno-Velasquez, D., Góngora, A. and Ocampo, A., 2007. Asociación serológica de la infección por Leptospira en humanos, porcinos y roedores en una granja de Villavicencio-Colombia, Revista Orinoquia, 11(2), 73–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, N. and Agudelo-Flórez, P., 2010. Aplicación de las Pruebas de PCR Convencional Simple y Múltiple para la Identificación de Aislamientos de Leptospira spp. en Colombia, Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública, 27(4), 548–556.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.Z., Miraglia, F., Kremer, F.S., Eslabao, M.R., Dellagostin, O.A., Lilenbaum, W., Freitas, J.C., Vasconcellos, S.A., Heinemann, M.B. and Moreno, A.M., 2018. Comparative genomics of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola isolated from swine and human in Brazil, Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 113(2), 126–129.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Naito, M., Sakoda, Y., Kamikawa, T., Nitta, Y., Hirose, K., Sakashita, M., Kurokawa, S. and Kida, H., 2007. Serological Evidence of Leptospiral Infection in Pig Populations in Different Districts in Japan, Microbiology and Immunology, 51(6), 593–599.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ngugi, J.N., Fèvre, E.M., Mgode, G.F., Obonyo, M., Mhamphi, G.G., Otieno, C.A. and Cook, E.A.J., 2019. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of leptospirosis in slaughter pigs; a neglected public health risk, western Kenya, BMC Veterinary Research, 15, 403.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ochoa, J.E., Sánchez, A. and Ruiz, I., 2000. Epidemiología de la Leptospirosis en una zona andina de producción pecuaria, Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 7(5), 325–331.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orrego, A., Giraldo, G., Bohórquez, A., Escobar, J., Quiceno, J., Ríos, B., Santafé, M. and Hurtado, J.E., 2001. Aproximación a la prevalencia serológica real de la leptospirosis en porcinos-cría, Revista Corpoica, 3(2), 11–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ospina-Pinto, M.C., Rincón-Pardo, M., Soler-Tovar, D. and Hernández-Rodríguez, P., 2019. Alteration of the Reproductive Indicators by the Presence of Leptospira spp. in Sows of Swine Farms, Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 47, 1628.

  • Peláez-Sánchez, R.G., Lopez, J.Á., Pereira, M.M., Arboleda-Naranjo, M. and Agudelo-Flórez, P., 2016. Genetic diversity of Leptospira in northwestern Colombia: first report of Leptospira santarosai as a recognised leptospirosis agent, Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 111(12), 737–744.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Perez, J. and Goarant, C., 2010. Rapid Leptospira identification by direct sequencing of the diagnostic PCR products in New Caledonia, BMC Microbiology, 10(1), 325.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Petrakovsky, J., Bianchi, A., Fisun, H., Nájera-Aguilar, P. and Pereira, M.M., 2014. Animal Leptospirosis in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries: Reported Outbreaks and Literature Review (2002–2014), International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11, 10770–10789.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, N. and Rajeev, S., 2018. Leptospira seroprevalence in animals in the Caribbean region: A systematic review, Acta Tropica, 182, 34–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pulido-Villamarín, A., Castañeda-Salazar, R., Mendoza-Gómez, M.F. and Vivas-Díaz, M., 2019. Presencia de anticuerpos frente a algunos patógenos de interés zoonótico en cuatro granjas porcícolas de Cundinamarca, Colombia, Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú, 30(1), 446–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romero, E.C., Blanco, R.M. and Galloway, R.L., 2009. Application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for the discrimination of leptospiral isolates in Brazil, Letters in Applied Microbiology, 48, 623–627.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Romero-Vivas, C.M., Thiry, D., Rodríguez, V., Calderón, A., Arrieta, G., Máttar, S., Cuello, M., Levett, P.N. and Falconar, A.K., 2013. Molecular serovar characterization of Leptospira isolates from animals and water in Colombia, Biomédica, 33(1), 179–184.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shiokawa, K., Welcome, S., Kenig, M., Lim, B. and Rajeev, S., 2019. Epidemiology of Leptospira infection in livestock species in Saint Kitts, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 51, 1645–1650.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strutzberg-Minder, K., Tschentscher, A., Beyerbach, M., Homuth, M. and Kreienbrock, L., 2018. Passive surveillance of Leptospira infection in swine in Germany, Porcine Health Management, 4, 10.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Suepaul, S.M., Carrington, C.V., Campbell, M., Borde, G, and Adesiyun, A.A., 2011. Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis in livestock in Trinidad, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 43(2), 367–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thibeaux, R., Girault, D., Bierque, E., Soupé-Gilbert, M.E., Rettinger, A., Douyère, A., Meyer, M., Iraola, G., Picardeau, M. and Goarant, C., 2018. Biodiversity of Environmental Leptospira: Improving Identification and Revisiting the Diagnosis, Frontiers in Microbiology, 9, 816.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Organisation for Animal Health. Taking a Multisectoral, One Health Approach: A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries. World Health Organization. 2019. http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Media_Center/docs/EN_TripartiteZoonosesGuide_webversion.pdf. Accessed 26 Jul 2019.

  • World Organisation for Animal Health. Leptospirosis. In: OIE Terrestrial Manual 2018. World Organisation for Animal Health. 2018. https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahm/3.01.12_LEPTO.pdf. Accessed 26 Jul 2019.

  • Zaki, A.M., Rahim, M.A.A., Azme, M., Mahmood, N.A., Jeffree, M.S., Ghazi, H.F. and Hassan, M.R., 2018. Animal Reservoirs for Leptospira spp. in South-East Asia: A Meta-Analysis, Journal of Advanced Research in Medicine, 5(3), 23–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, J.J., Karriker, L.A., Ramirez, A., Schwartz, K.J. and Stevenson, G.W., 2012. Diseases of Swine. 10th ed., (Wiley-Blackwell, Ames, Iowa).

  • Zinsstag, J., Schelling, E., Waltner-Toews, D. and Tanner, M., 2011. From “one medicine” to “one health” and systemic approaches to health and well-being, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 101, 148–156.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Universidad de La Salle, to the research group Molecular Biology and Immunogenetics (BIOMIGEN), to the owner of the pig farm and to the researchers and students who collaborated in the field and laboratory activities of the study.

Funding

The research group Molecular Biology and Immunogenetics (BIOMIGEN) of the Universidad de La Salle supported this study, as well as researchers’ own resources.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agricultural Sciences. Molecular Biology and Immunogenetics Research Group (BIOMIGEN), Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia

    Maria Catalina Ospina-Pinto

  2. Department of Basics Sciences. Molecular Biology and Immunogenetics Research Group (BIOMIGEN), Universidad de La Salle, Carrera 2 No. 10 - 70, Bogotá, Colombia

    Patricia Hernández-Rodríguez

Authors
  1. Maria Catalina Ospina-Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patricia Hernández-Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Maria Catalina Ospina-Pinto did the sample collection. Patricia Hernández-Rodríguez and Maria Catalina Ospina-Pinto designed the experiments, performed the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), the Leptospira spp. isolations, the serological classification of the isolates, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All authors analyzed the data and contributed to the manuscript writing, reviewed and approval.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia Hernández-Rodríguez.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

This study was approved and performed under the guidelines of the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences from the Universidad de La Salle under the code 76141209. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. The manuscript does not contain any research involving human participants.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ospina-Pinto, M.C., Hernández-Rodríguez, P. Identification of Leptospira spp. in the animal-environment interface (swine-water) in pig production cycle. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 155 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02567-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02567-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation