Three Leptospira Strains From Western Indian Ocean Wildlife Show Highly Distinct Virulence Phenotypes Through Hamster Experimental Infection

Cordonin, Colette; Turpin, Magali; Bascands, Jean-Loup; Dellagi, Koussay; Mavingui, Patrick; Tortosa, Pablo; Roche, Marjolaine

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.00382

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

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“…An alternative explanation of our observations is that the absence of renal colonization in rats by the endemic strains could result from some natural incompatibility possibly genetically determined between the bacterium and this alternative vertebrate host: the L. mayottensis and L. borgpetersenii isolates may not be able to adhere to cells of the host kidney tubules of rats and hamsters and organize bacterial biofilms 27,34 . Noteworthily, L. mayottensis has been recently detected in rats from Madagascar but mostly as co-infections with L. interrogans 19 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…challenging bats and tenrecs with all three isolates, would bring further relevant information although such experiments require accessing to lab colonies of bats and tenrecs, which are very few worldwide. Other biological characteristics of the Leptospira isolates may also account for our results such as attenuated virulence; 27 low growth rate of Leptospira may also hamper L. mayottensis and L. borgpetersenii from chronically infecting mammalian host other than their natural reservoir. Further experiments are needed to solve this issue and unravel factors that may be at play in such interactions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Similarly, one may consider that the inability of L. borgpetersenii and L mayottensis recovered from endemic hosts to colonize rats' kidneys may also reflect an attenuated virulence of these isolates. In a previous study 27 , we have shown that the L. interrogans isolate, the same than the one used in the present study, was (i) significantly more virulent than L. mayottensis and L. borgpetersenii (2020) 10:7239 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64172-4 www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ isolates and (ii) able to colonize kidneys after experimental infection of the highly sensitive hamsters more efficiently than did the Leptospira isolates recovered from endemic hosts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…All Leptospira isolates were grown in Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) liquid medium (Difco, Detroit, MI, USA) supplemented with albumin fatty acid supplement (AFAS) (purchased at AO/OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam) and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) at 28 °C (for detailed protocol, see http://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.ifccbiw). The isolates were stored at −80 °C or in liquid nitrogen for three to four years and their virulence was restored by two serial passages in hamsters, then stored at −80 °C and passaged less than 5 times before the start of the experiments 27 . The virulence of the three isolates has been tested on hamsters in a previous study in our lab and revealed a higher virulence of L. interrogans compared to the two other strains 27 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The isolates were stored at −80 °C or in liquid nitrogen for three to four years and their virulence was restored by two serial passages in hamsters, then stored at −80 °C and passaged less than 5 times before the start of the experiments 27 . The virulence of the three isolates has been tested on hamsters in a previous study in our lab and revealed a higher virulence of L. interrogans compared to the two other strains 27 . infection and sample collection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathogenic Leptospira and their animal reservoirs: testing host specificity through experimental infection

Cordonin

Turpin

Bringart

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic Leptospira transmitted through contact with contaminated environments. Most mammalian species are infectable by Leptospira but only few act as efficient reservoir being capable of establishing long term kidney colonization and shedding Leptospira in urine. In Madagascar, a large diversity of pathogenic Leptospira display a tight specificity towards their endemic volant or terrestrial mammalian hosts. The basis of this specificity is unknown: it may indicate some genetically determined compatibility between host cells and bacteria or only reflect ecological constraints preventing contacts between specific hosts. In this study, Rattus norvegicus was experimentally infected with either Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira borgpetersenii or Leptospira mayottensis isolated from rats, bats or tenrecs, respectively. Leptospira borgpetersenii and L. mayottensis do not support renal colonization as featured by no shedding of live bacteria in urine and low level and sporadic detection of Leptospira DNA in kidneys. In contrast 2 out of the 7 R. norvegicus challenged with L. interrogans developed renal colonization and intense Leptospira shedding in urine throughout the 3 months of experimental infection. These data suggest that host-Leptospira specificity in this biodiversity hotspot is driven at least in part by genetic determinants likely resulting from long-term co-diversification processes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathogenic Leptospira and their animal reservoirs: testing host specificity through experimental infection

Cordonin

Turpin

Bringart

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Tracking animal reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira: the right test for the right claim

Gomard

Dellagi

Goodman

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Leptospirosis, caused by a pathogenic Leptospira bacteria, is the most prevalent zoonosis worldwide and in this context has been extensively investigated through a One Health framework. Diagnosis of human leptospirosis includes molecular and serological tools, with serological Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) still being considered as a gold standard. Mammals considered as biological reservoirs include species or populations that are able to maintain chronic infection and shed the bacteria via their urine in the environment. Leptospira bacteria are often investigated using the same diagnosis tool, serological MAT. However, MAT testing of putative animal reservoirs can lead to mis-interpretations as it can signal previous infection and not necessarily bring in robust information regarding the capacity of such sero-positive animals to maintain chronic infection. We use previously published data and present new results on introduced and endemic small mammals to show that MAT should not be used for the identification of reservoirs. By contrast, serological data are informative on the level of exposure of animals occupying a specific environment. Finally, we present a sequential methodology to investigate human leptospirosis in a One Health framework that associates molecular detection in humans and animals, together with MAT of human samples using Leptospira isolates obtained from reservoir animals occurring in the same environment.

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Divergent lineages of pathogenic Leptospira species are widespread and persisting in the environment in Puerto Rico, USA

Stone

Hall

Ortiz

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BackgroundLeptospirosis, caused by Leptospira bacteria, is a common zoonosis worldwide more prevalent in the tropics. Reservoir species and risk factors have been identified but surveys for environmental sources of leptospirosis are rare. Furthermore, understanding of environmental Leptospira containing pathogenic genes and possibly capable of causing disease is incomplete and could result in some pathogenic strains evading detection, thereby convoluting diagnosis, prevention, and epidemiology.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe collected environmental samples from 22 sites in Puerto Rico during three sampling periods over 14-months (Dec 2018-Feb 2020); 10 water and 10 soil samples were collected at each site. Samples were screened for pathogenic Leptospira DNA using the lipL32 PCR assay and positive samples were sequenced to assess genetic diversity. One urban site in San Juan was sampled three times over 14 months to assess persistence in soil; live leptospires were obtained during the last sampling period. Isolates were whole genome sequenced and LipL32 expression was assessed in vitro.We detected pathogenic Leptospira DNA at 15/22 sites; both soil and water were positive at 5/15 sites. We recovered lipL32 sequences from 83/86 positive samples (15/15 positive sites) and secY sequences from 32/86 (10/15 sites); multiple genotypes were identified at 12 sites. These sequences revealed significant diversity across samples, including four novel lipL32 phylogenetic clades. Most samples from the serially sampled site were lipL32 positive at each time point. We sequenced the genomes of six saprophytic and two pathogenic Leptospira isolates; the latter represent a novel pathogenic Leptospira species likely belonging to a new serogroup.Conclusions/SignificanceDiverse and novel pathogenic Leptospira are widespread in the environment in Puerto Rico. The disease potential of the novel lineages is unknown but several persisted for >1 year in soil, which could contaminate water. This work increases understanding of environmental Leptospira and should improve leptospirosis surveillance and diagnostics.Author SummaryLeptospirosis is a common zoonotic disease worldwide, but more prevalent in the tropics. Cases are more common following severe weather events, possibly due to flooding, which may more readily distribute soil and/or water contaminated with Leptospira spp., the disease agents. Human cases increased following the 2017 hurricanes that ravaged Puerto Rico (Maria and Irma), prompting environmental sampling of soil and water to assess the presence, abundance, and persistence of pathogenic leptospires in these environments. The goal was to better understand these potential reservoirs of human and animal disease. Divergent and novel groups of pathogenic Leptospira were abundant and widespread in soil and water in Puerto Rico and sometimes persisted in these environments for >1 year. However, most groups we identified have not previously been described from humans and/or other animals, so the disease potential of these novel organisms is unknown. The results of this study reveal a tremendous amount of previously uncharacterized Leptospira diversity in soil and water in Puerto Rico, which could contribute to cryptic disease. The description and characterization of these novel types improves our understanding of the genus Leptospira, and will aid in the developent of improved diagnostics and preventative tools to advance public health outcomes.

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Three Leptospira Strains From Western Indian Ocean Wildlife Show Highly Distinct Virulence Phenotypes Through Hamster Experimental Infection

Cited by 14 publications

References 51 publications

Pathogenic Leptospira and their animal reservoirs: testing host specificity through experimental infection

Pathogenic Leptospira and their animal reservoirs: testing host specificity through experimental infection

Tracking animal reservoirs of pathogenic Leptospira: the right test for the right claim

Divergent lineages of pathogenic Leptospira species are widespread and persisting in the environment in Puerto Rico, USA

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