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Tropical medicine and infectious disease2023; 8(3); doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8030183

Animals Exposed to Leptospira Serogroups Not Included in Bacterins in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease. Pathogenic leptospires colonize the renal tubules and genital tract of animals and are excreted via urine. Transmission occurs via direct contact or through contaminated water or soil. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is the gold standard for the serodiagnosis of leptospirosis. The present study aims to evaluate animal exposure to Leptospira in the U.S. and Puerto Rico during the period 2018-2020. The presence of antibodies against pathogenic Leptospira spp. was assessed with the MAT according to the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health. A total of 568 sera were submitted for diagnostic, surveillance, or import/export testing from the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Seropositivity (≥1:100) was 51.8% (294/568) with agglutinating antibodies found in 115 (39.1%) cattle, 84 (28.6%) exotic animals, 38 (12.9%) horses, 22 (7.5%) goats, 15 (5.1%) dogs, 11 (3.7%) swine, and 9 (3.1%) sheep. The most detected serogroups were Australis, Grippotyphosa, and Ballum. The results showed that animals were exposed to serogroups/serovars not included in commercial bacterins such as Ballum, Bratislava (only in swine vaccine), and Tarassovi. Our findings suggest that more studies should include culture and concomitant genotyping to reduce animal disease and zoonotic risk through efficacious vaccine and diagnostic strategies.
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Publication Date: 2023-03-22 PubMed ID: 36977184PubMed Central: PMC10051158DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8030183Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigated the exposure of animals in the U.S and Puerto Rico to Leptospira serogroups that are not included in bacterins (vaccines) during 2018-2020. The findings showed a high rate of exposure in several animal types and revealed the prevalence of specific serogroups not covered in existing vaccines, suggesting a need for expanding vaccine and diagnostic strategies.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed to evaluate the exposure levels of animals to leptospires, bacteria that are responsible for the zoonotic disease leptospirosis, across the United States and Puerto Rico from 2018 to 2020.
  • The researchers used the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), the gold standard for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis, to assess the presence of antibodies against pathogenic leptospires in animal blood samples.
  • A total of 568 serum samples were analyzed, which were submitted for reasons such as diagnostics, surveillance, or import/export testing.

Key Findings

  • The overall rate of seropositivity (indicating exposure to leptospirosis) was 51.8%. This was seen across cattle, exotic animals, horses, goats, dogs, swine, and sheep.
  • The serogroups most frequently detected were Australis, Grippotyphosa, and Ballum.
  • Of particular importance, the study found that animals were exposed to serogroups/serovars that are not included in the current commercial bacterins. These include Ballum, Bratislava (which is only present in swine vaccine), and Tarassovi.

Implications

  • The research highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach towards leptospirosis vaccination and diagnostic strategies, considering the serogroups not currently included in the available bacterins.
  • The researchers suggest further studies incorporating culture and concurrent genotyping for more effective disease prevention and risk reduction of zoonotic threat.

Cite This Article

APA
Anderson T, Hamond C, Haluch A, Toot K, Nally JE, LeCount K, Schlater LK. (2023). Animals Exposed to Leptospira Serogroups Not Included in Bacterins in the United States and Puerto Rico. Trop Med Infect Dis, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030183

Publication

Tropical medicine and infectious disease
ISSN: 2414-6366
NlmUniqueID: 101709042
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Anderson, Tammy
  • National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
Hamond, Camila
  • National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
Haluch, Andréa
  • National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
Toot, Kari
  • National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
Nally, Jarlath E
  • Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, ARS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
LeCount, Karen
  • National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
Schlater, Linda K
  • National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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