Characterization of leptospira isolates from animals and humans: phylogenetic analysis identifies the prevalence of intermediate species in India

Abstract

In this study, 191 culture isolates were recovered from suspected samples of animals and humans in Ellinghausen McCullough Johnson and Harris (EMJH) medium and assessed for its morphological features by dark field microscopy. Extracted DNA from individual culture was subjected to different PCR assays for identification and characterization of leptospira. Out of 99 positive leptospira cultures, 52 pathogenic leptospira isolates were characterized at species level by using partial RNA polymerase β-subunit (rpoB) gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed that 30, 8, and 14 isolates belong to L. borgpetersenii / L. interrogans, L. kirschneri, and Leptospira intermediate species, respectively. Based on analysis of 99 leptospira isolates, the prevalent Leptospira species were L. borgpetersenii or L. interrogans (30.30%), L. kirschneri (8%) and Leptospira intermediate species (14.14%) in animals and humans. To the best of authors knowledge, this is the first study to use rpoB gene nucleotide sequence based phylogenetic analysis to identify/detect Leptospira intermediate species (L. wolffii) in animals and humans in India. Hence, the prevalence of this species will surely emphasize the importance of consideration of Leptospira intermediate species and formulate a way for further studies especially in understanding the newly emerging Leptospira in animals and humans and to combat the problem associated with the disease conditions.

Investigation on the Distribution of Leptospira Serovars and its Prevalence in Bovine in Konkan Region, Maharashtra, India

“…The major reactive serovars in these regions were Australis, Hardjo, Hebdomadis, Bankinang, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Kaup, Shermani, etc., The reactive Leptospira intermediate species serovars namely Kaup, Tarassovi, Hurstbridge, Shermani may of significance as the prevalence of intermediate species in India has been reported (Balamurugan et al, 2013a;. Hence, further systematic random screening of the samples will determine the exact prevalence of serovars, in this region, which will enable to select the required or prevalent limited panel of serovars representing their respective serogroups to be used for MAT without false negative in the diagnostic laboratory for providing early diagnosis of leptospirosis in humans as well as in animals and prompt treatment to be taken to reduce the extent of problem caused by the leptospira and the economic losses associated with it.…”

Molecular characterisation of Leptospira strains in Pakistan

“…Prevalence of leptospiral serovars varies depending on particular geographical regions (4). Titres of various serovars have been reported in horses, but Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bratislava, Copenhageni, and Pomona are among the most prevalent serovars (27).…”

Potentially Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> Species Isolated from a Waterfall in Thailand

“…The intermediate L. wolffii was originally isolated from the urine of a male patient with suspected leptospirosis from Nakornrachasima province, Thailand (13). Some studies have shown that L. wolffii can be detected in clinical samples from human patients with suspected leptospirosis and various kinds of animals in Iran (14) and India (15). The circulation of L. wolffii among different host species is suggestive of its role in the transmission cycle and its potential to cause the disease in human and animal hosts: possibly either symptomatic or asymptomatic diseases.…”