Detection of virulence factors and molecular typing of pathogenic Leptospira from capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris).
Leptospirosis is a globally prevalent zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp.; several serologic variants have reservoirs in synanthropic rodents. The capybara is the largest living rodent in the world, and it has a wide geographical distribution in Central and South America. This rodent is a significant source of Leptospira since the agent is shed via urine into the environment and is a potential public health threat. In this study, we isolated and identified by molecular techniques a pathogenic Leptospira from capybara in southern Brazil. The isolated strain was characterized by partial rpoB gene sequencing and variable-number tandem-repeats analysis as L. interrogans, serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. In addition, to confirm the expression of virulence factors, the bacterial immunoglobulin-like proteins A and B expression was detected by indirect immunofluorescence using leptospiral specific monoclonal antibodies. This report identifies capybaras as an important source of infection and provides insight into the epidemiology of leptospirosis.
Laboratório de Vacinologia, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Sérgio
S
Jorge
Leonardo G
LG
Monte
Marco Antonio
MA
Coimbra
Ana Paula
AP
Albano
Daiane D
DD
Hartwig
Caroline
C
Lucas
Fabiana K
FK
Seixas
Odir A
OA
Dellagostin
Cláudia P
CP
Hartleben
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D058889:Molecular Typing; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C105078:RNA polymerase beta subunit