Presence of leptospires on genital tract of mares with reproductive problems

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, and has a worldwide distribution. Equine leptospirosis is commonly manifested by recurrent uveitis, reproductive disorders, as abortions, embryonic absorption, stillbirth and the birth of weak foals. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of Leptospira sp or its DNA in genital tract of mares with reproductive problems. A total of 38 mares with reproductive problems were studied. All the mares were sampled for blood (for serology), urine (for culturing and qPCR), vaginal fluid-VF and endometrial biopsy-EB (for culturing, qPCR and indirect immunofluorescence). PCRs products were sequenced for secY gene. Seventeen (44.7%) serum samples were reactive, predominantly against serogroups Australis (76.4%) and Pomona (23.6%). No positive culture was obtained, but DNA was detected by qPCR on urine samples (26.3%), VF (44.7%) and EB (18.4%) collected 2 months or longer following diagnosis of early fetal death and endometritis. Leptospira cell aggregations were visible by indirect immunofluorescence on 57.1% (4/7) EBs and 17.6% (3/17) VFs. A total of 18 amplicons showed interpretable sequences. Out of those 18 amplicons, 15 presented 100% of identity with the species L. interrogans (sv Bratislava and Pomona), while three were L. borgpertersenii. This study suggests the presence of leptospires in the uterus of mares with reproductive problems. Moreover, serology was shown not to be indicated for the diagnosis of presumptive Leptospira infection in early gestation. The most common agent of the genital infection in those mares was L. interrogans, most probably sg Australis.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo strain Hardjobovis in the urine of naturally infected cattle in Brazil

“…Other studies in Brazil have used molecular methods to identify leptospira in cattle urine (Hamond et al, 2015a) and even in the reproductive tract of mares (Hamond et al, 2015b); however, none of these studies were successful in isolating the bacteria.…”

Leptospirosis in horses: special reference to equine recurrent uveitis

“…PCR results were positive for 17 vaginal fluid samples and 10 urine samples and the PCR products were sequenced which showed that the samples belonged to L. interrogans (sv Bratislava and Pomona) and L. borgpertersenii. Thus this study implies the presence of leptospira in reproductive tract (Hamond et al, 2015). Sixty two cart horse samples were screened in Curitiba, southern Brazil by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and real time PCR of which 80.8% of the samples were positive for Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar (Finger et al, 2014).…”

“…Other animals which are not natural carriers of infection have mild to severe infection and even death. The leptospires may cause reproductive problems mainly abortions (Coghlan & Bain, 1969;Faine et al, 1984;Faine et al, 1999;Bharti et al, 2003;Hamond et al, 2015;Hamond et al, 2016). Mother to foetus transmission is also common (Vinetz, 1997;Bharti et al, 2003;Alder & de la Pena Moctezuma, 2010;Verma et al, 2013;Hamond et al, 2014).…”

Determinación molecular de Leptospira spp. en semen y líquido preseminal y estudio serológico de caballos criollos en el departamento de Cundinamarca (Colombia)

“…La colonización de los túbulos renales proximales de los animales portadores lleva a la eliminación de la bacteria a través de la orina (5). Sin embargo, el hallazgo de ADN por PCR de Leptospira interrogans, serovariedades Bratislava y Pomona, en fluido vaginal de yeguas, sugiere la posibilidad de transmisión sexual (6)(7)(8). Solo se conocen dos registros de detección de ADN por PCR de Leptospira spp.…”

“…en semen de ganado bovino, pequeños rumiantes y porcinos, lo que demuestra una posible transmisión de leptospirosis por contacto sexual (7,8). En equinos, una manifestación común de leptospirosis crónica es la presentación de uveítis recurrente y disminución en el rendimiento atlético; también se presentan fallas reproductivas, abortos debido a la infección intrauterina y muerte fetal (5,11,12), nacidos muertos, mortalidad neonatal y potros débiles al nacimiento (13,11).…”