Alteraciones histopatológicas en ratas naturalmente infectadas con Leptospira

Abstract

Introduction:Histopathological changes by Leptospira in naturally infected rodent reservoirs have been poorly described. Objective: The aim of the current study is to describe renal histopathology associated with leptospirosis infection of naturally infected rodents captured in the urban area of the city of Medellin, Colombia. Materials and methods: We performed hematoxilin-eosin (H-E) on kidney samples collected from 254 captured rodents. The positive samples were processed by Warthin Starry (W-S) staining and PCRLipL32. Results: Fifty one rodent kidneys showed H-E histopathological changes that consisted of inflammatory infiltrate with lympho-plasmocitary cells and histiocytes. We performed W-S staining and PCR-LipL32 to 67 kidney samples, including the 51 that had shown detectable changes by H-E and 16 (8%) of 203 rodents with negative results. Eight of the samples that tested positive for H-E (15.7%) were also positive for W-S staining. All negative for H-E were also negative for W-S staining. Of the W-S positive samples also tested for culture only three tested positive for both. Additionally, 47 (92.1%) samples positive for H-E were positive for PCR; while eleven of the 16 (68.8%) negative for H-E were positive for PCR. The samples positive for PCR were subsequently tested for culture and 11 (23.4%) were positive. Seven samples were positive for PCR and W-S and three were positive for PCR, W-S and culture. All of the PCR-LipL32 fragments were sequenced and showed specific amplicons for L. interrogans. Conclusions:The Leptospira infection was confirmed in all of the animals tested. The only histological kidney lesion attributable to leptospiral infection in the reservoir was interstitial nephritis.

Phylogenetic relationships and diversity of bat-associated Leptospira and the histopathological evaluation of these infections in bats from Grenada, West Indies

“…Staining with WS is an established method for the detection of Leptospira spp. within tissue sections [37,38].…”

Physiological strategies in wild rodents: immune defenses of commensal rats

“…The presence of inflammatory reaction with lymphoplasmacytic cells and histiocytes in all wild rats with confirmed Leptospira infection (Agudelo‐Florez et al. 2013), a coincidence of marked histiocytic component with Leptospira sp. antigen in the distal renal tubules of wild rats (Seguel et al.…”

“…Infections are asymptomatic (except in very young rats), and bacteria are cleared from all organs, except the kidneys (Evangelista & Coburn 2010). The presence of inflammatory reaction with lymphoplasmacytic cells and histiocytes in all wild rats with confirmed Leptospira infection (Agudelo-Florez et al 2013), a coincidence of marked histiocytic component with Leptospira sp. antigen in the distal renal tubules of wild rats (Seguel et al 2017), and pyelitis (with lymphoplasmacytic interstitial inflammation in the close vicinity of the renal pelvis) seems ascribable to Leptospira interrogans infection (as suggested by multivariable logistic regression modeling) (Rothenburger et al 2019a).…”

Urban rat exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides and zoonotic infection risk

“…For instance, infected rats could be more attracted to bait stations if they have less energy to actively forage for other food. However, rats are considered asymptomatic, chronic carriers of Leptospira ( [17]; though see [34]), suggesting it is unlikely that infected rats are more likely to consume AR bait. Future work could also investigate behavioural and physiological changes in poisoned and infected rats to clarify causal mechanisms.…”