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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Microbiol / Presence of leptospires on genital tract of mares with repro...
Veterinary microbiology2015; 179(3-4); 264-269; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.06.014

Presence of leptospires on genital tract of mares with reproductive problems.

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, and has a worldwide distribution. Equine leptospirosis is commonly manifested by recurrent uveitis, reproductive disorders, as abortions, embryonic absorption, stillbirth and the birth of weak foals. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of Leptospira sp or its DNA in genital tract of mares with reproductive problems. A total of 38 mares with reproductive problems were studied. All the mares were sampled for blood (for serology), urine (for culturing and qPCR), vaginal fluid-VF and endometrial biopsy-EB (for culturing, qPCR and indirect immunofluorescence). PCRs products were sequenced for secY gene. Seventeen (44.7%) serum samples were reactive, predominantly against serogroups Australis (76.4%) and Pomona (23.6%). No positive culture was obtained, but DNA was detected by qPCR on urine samples (26.3%), VF (44.7%) and EB (18.4%) collected 2 months or longer following diagnosis of early fetal death and endometritis. Leptospira cell aggregations were visible by indirect immunofluorescence on 57.1% (4/7) EBs and 17.6% (3/17) VFs. A total of 18 amplicons showed interpretable sequences. Out of those 18 amplicons, 15 presented 100% of identity with the species L. interrogans (sv Bratislava and Pomona), while three were L. borgpertersenii. This study suggests the presence of leptospires in the uterus of mares with reproductive problems. Moreover, serology was shown not to be indicated for the diagnosis of presumptive Leptospira infection in early gestation. The most common agent of the genital infection in those mares was L. interrogans, most probably sg Australis.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-07-17 PubMed ID: 26211968DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.06.014Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 investigates the presence of a kind of bacteria, Leptospira, in the genital tract of mares (female horses) with reproductive problems. The study suggests these bacteria might be contributing to disorders such as fetal death and endometritis.

Study Purpose and Methodology

  • The research aims to determine if there are Leptospira bacteria or Leptospira DNA in the genital tracts of mares showing reproductive issues. These issues included recurrent uveitis, reproductive disorders like abortions, embryonic absorption, stillbirth and the birth of weak foals.
  • 38 mares experiencing reproductive problems were included in the study. Sample materials like blood, urine, vaginal fluid (VF), and endometrial biopsy (EB) were collected from each mare for various tests such as culturing, qPCR (Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction), serology and indirect immunofluorescence.
  • The researchers also carried out gene sequencing for secY, a gene commonly found in Leptospira.

Findings

  • Serological analysis of the samples revealed Leptospira reactivity in 44.7% of the studied cases, predominantly against serogroups Australis (76.4%) and Pomona (23.6%).
  • Although no bacteria was grown in culture, Leptospira DNA was detected through qPCR on urine (26.3%), VF (44.7%), and EB (18.4%) samples.
  • Indirect immunofluorescence showed presence of Leptospira cell aggregations in 57.1% of EBs and 17.6% of VFs.
  • Gene sequencing data from 18 amplicons was interpretable, with 15 amplicons showing 100% identity with L. interrogans, while the remaining three matched L. borgpertersenii.

Conclusion

  • The presence of Leptospira in the genital tract of affected mares was confirmed, suggesting the bacteria may be a contributing factor to observed reproductive problems.
  • In terms of diagnosing Leptospira infection in early gestation, serology was deemed not an effective choice, indicating that alternative diagnostic approaches might be more effective.
  • The most common variant of Leptospira detected in the mares’ genital infections was L. interrogans, predominantly sg Australis.

Cite This Article

APA
Hamond C, Pestana CP, Rocha-de-Souza CM, Cunha LE, Brandão FZ, Medeiros MA, Lilenbaum W. (2015). Presence of leptospires on genital tract of mares with reproductive problems. Vet Microbiol, 179(3-4), 264-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.06.014

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 179
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 264-269
PII: S0378-1135(15)00250-3

Researcher Affiliations

Hamond, Camila
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pestana, Cristiane P
  • Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rocha-de-Souza, Cláudio Marcos
  • Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cunha, Luis Eduardo R
  • Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Brandão, Felipe Z
  • Department of Pathology and Clinical Veterinary, Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Medeiros, Marco Alberto
  • Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lilenbaum, Walter
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: mipwalt@vm.uff.br.

MeSH Terms

  • Abortion, Veterinary / pathology
  • Animals
  • Body Fluids / microbiology
  • Endometritis / pathology
  • Endometritis / veterinary
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Leptospira / genetics
  • Leptospirosis / pathology
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / pathology
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / veterinary
  • Uveitis / pathology
  • Uveitis / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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