LEPTOSPIRA: Morphology, Classification and Pathogenesis

Abstract

Leptospirosis, caused by the pathogenic leptospires, is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases known. Leptospirosis cases can occur either sporadically or in epidemics, Humans are susceptible to infection by a variety of serovars. These bacteria are antigenically diverse. Changes in the antigenic composition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are thought to account for this antigenic diversity. The presence of more than 200 recognized antigenic types (termed serovars) of pathogenic leptospires have complicated our understanding of this genus. Definitive diagnosis is suggested by isolation of the organism by culture or a positive result on the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Only specialized laboratories perform serologic tests; hence, the decision to treat should not be delayed while waiting for the test results.

Development of real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RealAmp) method for sensitive and rapid detection of pathogenic and nonpathogenicLeptospira

“…The genus Leptospira includes pathogenic and nonpathogenic species which can be found in the free environment (Babudieri ; Mohammed et al . ). The presence of Leptospira species has included agricultural fields, sewage water and other water bodies (Saito et al .…”

“…Leptospirosis or Weil's disease is caused by the spirochete Leptospira (Haake and Levett 2015). The genus Leptospira includes pathogenic and nonpathogenic species which can be found in the free environment (Babudieri 1958;Mohammed et al 2011). The presence of Leptospira species has included agricultural fields, sewage water and other water bodies (Saito et al 2013;Muñoz-Zanzi et al 2014).…”

Simultaneous Detection of Pathogenic and Saprophyte Leptospira in Human Plasma by Multiplex Taqman Real Time PCR

“…However to date, using molecular techniques and DNA analysis of identified Leptospires, 20 pathogenic, 6 saprophytic species and 1 intermediate species have been identified in humans, animals, soil and surface water (3). Saprophyte species are commonly found in soil, surface and environment water (8). Main pathogenic Leptospira belong to Leptospira interrogans and main saprophytic Leptospira belong to Leptospira biflexa that each have many strains (9).…”

Leptospirosis. The comparison of classification and nomenclature approaches of this zoonosis in Ukraine and in other countries of the world (review)

“…За рахунок розвитку молекулярної біології, все більшої популярності та практичності серед науковців набув генотипний підхід у класифікації лептоспір, який базується на відмінностях побудови геному різних штамів і групуванням сероварів і серогруп за геномовидами. Необхідні дані для цієї класифікації отримуються за допомогою повногеномного секвенування або методів мультилокусного ферментного електрофорезу (MLEE) і мультилокусного варіативного аналізу (MLVA) [10,12]. Використовуючи ці методи, було виявлено види, що включають одночасно як патогенні, так і вільноживучі серовари лептоспір (проміжні види), а саме: L. broomii, L. inadai, L. licerasiae, L wolfii та L. fainei [13,14].…”