Leptospira: the dawn of the molecular genetics era for an emerging zoonotic pathogen

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality among impoverished populations. One centenary after the discovery of the causative spirochaetal agent, little is understood of Leptospira pathogenesis, which in turn has hampered the identification of new intervention strategies to address this neglected disease. However the recent availability of complete genome sequences for Leptospira and discovery of genetic tools to transform the pathogen has led to major insights into the biology and pathogenesis of this pathogen. We discuss the life cycle of the bacterium and the new advances that have been made and their implications for the future prevention of this disease.

Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage is Associated with Leptospirosis Acute Kidney Injury

“…Only 10% progress to the second phase: the Weil syndrome. 3 This phase lasts from 4 to 30 days, and more severe symptoms, such as jaundice, meningitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and acute kidney injury (AKI), can occur. 4 The kidney is one of the main target organs of Leptospira, and AKI can occur in 20-85% of patients in the second phase of the disease.…”

Genetic stability of vaccine strains by multilocus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis: Implications for quality control of the leptospiral vaccine

“…[1][2][3][4] At least 200 animal host species have been identified for pathogenic Leptospira spp. Leptospirosis can be maintained in chronic carrier mammalian hosts (e.g., rats and dogs), and it is typically transmitted to humans by direct or indirect contact with urine or body fluids from the reservoir hosts.…”

“…Leptospirosis can be maintained in chronic carrier mammalian hosts (e.g., rats and dogs), and it is typically transmitted to humans by direct or indirect contact with urine or body fluids from the reservoir hosts. 2,4 Although this condition manifests relatively mild symptoms in humans, some severe cases presenting with pulmonary hemorrhage, jaundice, and meningitis have been reported. 5,6 According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, the number of human leptospirosis cases averages over 500,000 annually, and the mortality rate can reach up to 25%.…”

Genotipificación y evaluación de la dinámica de infección de un aislamiento colombiano de Leptospira santarosai en el modelo experimental hámster

“…La infección es producida por especies patógenas del género Leptospira, un grupo diverso compuesto por 21 especies, entre las que se encuentran ocho saprófitas o de vida libre, cinco de capacidad patógena intermedia y ocho claramente patógenas para humanos y huéspedes sensibles (1).…”

“…En el humano la enfermedad puede cursar con manifestaciones clínicas variables que van desde la infección subclínica (asintomática o estado febril indiferenciado con cefalea y mialgias) hasta la forma grave caracterizada por ictericia progresiva, falla renal y pulmonar, y alteraciones neurológicas y hemorragias, signos estos del síndrome de Weil, que puede ser fatal en 10 a 15% de los casos (1). El compromiso pulmonar es una característica emergente de la enfermedad, la cual fue descrita a partir de la epidemia de 1995 en Nicaragua (3) y, posteriormente, también caracterizada en Brasil (4,5), Argentina (6,7) y Perú (8), donde se reportan mortalidades entre 30 y 60 %.…”