title: New serovars of Leptospira isolated from patients in Costa Rica: implications for public health.
abstract: Leptospira strains JICH 05 and INCIENSA 04 were isolated from hospitalized leptospirosis patients in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The isolates produced agglutination titres notably against members of serogroups Pyrogenes and Tarassovi, respectively, but appeared serologically unique in the cross agglutinin absorption test (CAAT). Therefore, JICH 05 and INCIENSA 04 were considered to represent two new serovars, designated Corredores and Costa Rica of the serogroups Pyrogenes and Tarassovi, respectively. Multilocus sequence genotyping revealed that both strain INCIENSA 04 and strain JICH 05 belong to Leptospira santarosai. These two new serovars are in addition to various other recently identified highly virulent serovars, including the new L. santarosai, serovar Arenal. Considering the fact that isolation and typing of leptospires from patients has only recently been introduced in Costa Rica, these findings suggest that various known and unknown virulent serovars of Leptospira are circulating in this country and probably beyond, thus posing a severe threat to public and probably veterinary health in the region.
authors.affiliation: Costa Rican Institute for Research in Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA), National Reference Centre for Leptospirosis, Tres Rios, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Ma de Los A
authors.initials: MLA
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.affiliation: KIT Biomedical Research, WHO/FAO/OIE Leptospirosis Reference Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G A
authors.initials: MGA
authors.lastname: Goris
authors.affiliation: Area Rectora Salud Corredores (Ministerio de Salud), Corredores, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Ciudad Neilly Hospital (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social), Corredores, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Anchia
authors.affiliation: Ciudad Neilly Hospital (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social), Corredores, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: KIT Biomedical Research, WHO/FAO/OIE Leptospirosis Reference Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: KIT Biomedical Research, WHO/FAO/OIE Leptospirosis Reference Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hartskeerl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003364:Costa Rica; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010802:Phylogeny; D011634:Public Health; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins