title: Human leptospirosis caused by a new, antigenically unique Leptospira associated with a Rattus species reservoir in the Peruvian Amazon.
abstract: As part of a prospective study of leptospirosis and biodiversity of Leptospira in the Peruvian Amazon, a new Leptospira species was isolated from humans with acute febrile illness. Field trapping identified this leptospire in peridomestic rats (Rattus norvegicus, six isolates; R. rattus, two isolates) obtained in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas of the Iquitos region. Novelty of this species was proven by serological typing, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and DNA-DNA hybridization analysis. We have named this species "Leptospira licerasiae" serovar Varillal, and have determined that it is phylogenetically related to, but genetically distinct from, other intermediate Leptospira such as L. fainei and L. inadai. The type strain is serovar Varillal strain VAR 010(T), which has been deposited into internationally accessible culture collections. By microscopic agglutination test, "Leptospira licerasiae" serovar Varillal was antigenically distinct from all known serogroups of Leptospira except for low level cross-reaction with rabbit anti-L. fainei serovar Hurstbridge at a titer of 1:100. LipL32, although not detectable by PCR, was detectable in "Leptospira licerasiae" serovar Varillal by both Southern blot hybridization and Western immunoblot, although on immunoblot, the predicted protein was significantly smaller (27 kDa) than that of L. interrogans and L. kirschneri (32 kDa). Isolation was rare from humans (2/45 Leptospira isolates from 881 febrile patients sampled), but high titers of MAT antibodies against "Leptospira licerasiae" serovar Varillal were common (30%) among patients fulfilling serological criteria for acute leptospirosis in the Iquitos region, and uncommon (7%) elsewhere in Peru. This new leptospiral species reflects Amazonian biodiversity and has evolved to become an important cause of leptospirosis in the Peruvian Amazon.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Matthias
authors.forename: Jessica N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Ricaldi
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cespedes
authors.forename: M Monica
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Renee L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Arnold G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Steigerwalt
authors.forename: Kailash P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.forename: Carlos Vidal
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ore
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotuzzo
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Levett
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vinetz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006224:Cricetinae; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010568:Peru; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D012703:Serotyping; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S