Molecular detection of Leptospira interrogans in human tissues and environmental samples in a lethal case of leptospirosis

Luchini, Duccio; Meacci, Francesca; Oggioni, Marco R.; Morabito, Giovanna; Damato, Valentina; Gabbrielli, Mario; Pozzi, Gianni

doi:10.1007/s00414-007-0212-4

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The entry of leptospires directly via epidermis has been poorly studied. Some reports of clinical leptospirosis cases have clearly identified the initial cutaneous injury [25], others have not noted such a preexistent lesion [26,27]. It is not known whether the organism can penetrate intact skin or abraded skin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishment of a leptospirosis model in guinea pigs using an epicutaneous inoculations route

et al. 2012

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BackgroundLeptospires are presumed to enter their host via small abrasions or breaches of the skin. The intraperitoneal route, although commonly used in guinea pig and hamster models of leptospirosis, does not reflect conditions encountered during natural infection. The aim of this study is to develop a novel leptospirosis guinea pig model through epicutaneous route and to elucidate the pathogenesis of leptospirosis in experimental guinea pigs by comparing the data from other studies using different infection routes.MethodsThe guinea pigs were inoculated with 5 × 108 Leptospira interrogans strain Lai onto either shaved-only or abraded skin. The guinea pigs were sacrificed at 2, 8, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 144 h post-infection (p.i.) followed by harvest of the lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and the skin around the inoculated sites for further examinations. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and electron microscopy were used to detect the pathologic changes. Real time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining were performed to detect dynamic distribution of leptospires in blood and tissues, respectively.ResultsIn the guinea pigs with abraded skin inoculations, leptospires were detected in blood as early as 2 h post infection (p.i.) and then disseminated to the liver, lungs and kidneys of almost all animals within 96 h p.i.. Leptospires were also detected engulfed in the swelling vascular endothelial cells and were frequently aggregated around the capillaries in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue under the inoculated site. For the guinea pigs with abraded skin inoculations, hemorrhage at the dermis around the inoculated site was found before the appearance of internal organs hemorrhage, severe lesions such as hemorrhages in the lungs, nephritis, jaundice, haematuria were also observed, and two of seven guinea pigs died at 144 h p.i. while no lesions and leptospires were detected in the shaved-only guinea pigs using the same dose of strain Lai.ConclusionIntact keratinocyte layer is a very efficient barrier against leptospires, and intact skin can prevent the infiltration of leptosipres to the host. Leptospires can penetrate abraded skin and quickly establish a systemic infection by crossing tissue barriers. We have successfully established a novel leptospirosis guinea pig model through epicutaneous inoculations route, which replicates a natural course of infection and appears to be an alternative way to investigate the pathogenesis of leptospirosis, especially in terms of early stage of host-pathogen interactions. This novel model may also be advantageous for studies of the mechanisms involved in cutaneous barriers and epidermal interactions with this organism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishment of a leptospirosis model in guinea pigs using an epicutaneous inoculations route

et al. 2012

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“…Early studies used 16S rRNA primers to detect saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira [49,50] but most PCR techniques target genes only present in pathogenic Leptospira species like lipL32 [51][52][53][54][55]. Other targets are sequences of flaB [10], secY [56][57][58] or lfb1 genes [59,60] which display relevant polymorphisms; the PCR used and their possible applications to epidemiological studies have been reviewed recently [61]. Some studies combined two sets of primers to implement a multiplex PCR targeting both lipL32 (a gene present only in species from the P1 and P2 subclades, but detected by most PCR only in species from the P1 subclade) and genus-specific 16S rRNA (detecting all Leptospira spp.)…”

Section: Methods Used For the Detection Or Isolation Of Leptospira Frmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments

Bierque¹,

Thibeaux²,

Girault³

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

128

151

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Background Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira, is a zoonosis of global distribution. This infectious disease is mainly transmitted by indirect exposure to urine of asymptomatic animals via the environment. As human cases generally occur after heavy rain, an emerging hypothesis suggests that rainfall re-suspend leptospires together with soil particles. Bacteria are then carried to surface water, where humans get exposed. It is currently assumed that pathogenic leptospires can survive in the environment but do not multiply. However, little is known on their capacity to survive in a soil and freshwater environment. Methods We conducted a systematic review on Leptospira and leptospirosis in the environment in order to collect current knowledge on the lifestyle of Leptospira in soil and water. In total, 86 scientific articles retrieved from online databases or institutional libraries were included in this study. Principals findings/significance This work identified evidence of survival of Leptospira in the environment but major gaps remain about the survival of virulent species associated with human and animal diseases. Studies providing quantitative data on Leptospira in soil and water are a very recent trend, but must be interpreted with caution because of the uncertainty in the species identification. Several studies mentioned the presence of Leptospira in soils more frequently than in waters, supporting the hypothesis of the soil habitat and dispersion of Leptospira with resuspended soil particles during heavy rain. In a near future, the growing use of high throughput sequencing will offer new opportunities to improve our understanding of the habitat of Leptospira in the environment. This better insight into the risk of leptospirosis will allow implementing efficient control measures and prevention for the human and animal populations exposed.

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“…In urban area, other Leptospira (P1) contamination from water samples were detected in public toilet 66,7% [ 23 ], water canal from slaughterhouse 16,7% [ 29 ], rice field 8,3% [ 26 ], recreational lake 1,7% [ 27 ], open drainage around household between 1,9% − 36% [ 20 , 26 , 28 , 47 , 48 ], human drinking water 8% [ 45 ], household water storage between 4% − 17,2% [ 21 , 24 , 25 ], groundwater and well between 1,6% − 33,3% [ 21 , 22 , 25 , 46 ]. Pathogenic Leptospira (P1) were not detected in industrial drainage [ 48 ], the puddle at slaughterhouses [ 29 ], irrigation and dry canals near the market [ 30 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of Pathogenic Leptospira (P1) in soil samples was investigated in 15 out of 38 articles. Six articles investigate contamination in soil samples only from urban areas [ 23 , 25 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 50 ], eight articles investigate only from rural areas [ 16 , 19 , 33 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 51 , 52 ], the remain 1 article investigate in both area [ 48 ]. In total, soil samples from rural and urban were 989 samples.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenic Leptospira contamination in the environment: a systematic review

Sayanthi,

Susanna

2024

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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Background The pathogenic Leptospira is maintained in renal tubules of certain animals, mostly rodents, and excreted in the urine which can contaminate the environment. It is necessary to detect pathogenic Leptospira in environmental samples. Knowing the survival of Leptospira in the environment (water and soil) can provide an overview of where and how they can be transmitted to humans. Objective Therefore, this study aimed to provide a systematic overview of pathogenic Leptospira presence in water and soil environment, the various species of pathogenic Leptospira that are harmful for human, and the ability to survive using a systematic review method. Methods The search process used four databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and ProQuest. Furthermore, the articles sought were published from 2000 to July 2021, and 38 were analysed. Results The pathogenic Leptospira contamination in water was higher in urban areas, while soil samples were higher in rural areas. Various pathogenic Leptospira detected in the environment were L. alstonii, L. kmetyi, L. noguchii, and L. interrogans. Those pathogenic Leptospira can survive in water at 4–30°C and at pH < 7; in soil, it can survive at a humidity of < 20% and a pH < 6. Conclusion Urban and rural areas have the same risk for leptospirosis disease because pathogenic Leptospira (P1).

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Molecular detection of Leptospira interrogans in human tissues and environmental samples in a lethal case of leptospirosis

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Establishment of a leptospirosis model in guinea pigs using an epicutaneous inoculations route

Establishment of a leptospirosis model in guinea pigs using an epicutaneous inoculations route

A systematic review of Leptospira in water and soil environments

Pathogenic Leptospira contamination in the environment: a systematic review

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