title: Genotypes of pathogenic Leptospira spp isolated from rodents in Argentina.
abstract: Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world and significant efforts have been made to determine and classify pathogenic Leptospira strains. This zoonosis is maintained in nature through chronic renal infections of carrier animals, with rodents and other small mammals serving as the most important reservoirs. Additionally, domestic animals, such as livestock and dogs, are significant sources of human infection. In this study, a multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was applied to genotype 22 pathogenic Leptospira strains isolated from urban and periurban rodent populations from different regions of Argentina. Three MLVA profiles were identified in strains belonging to the species Leptospira interrogans (serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola); one profile was observed in serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and two MLVA profiles were observed in isolates of serovars Canicola and Portlandvere. All strains belonging to Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis exhibited the same MLVA profile. Four different genotypes were isolated from urban populations of rodents, including both mice and rats and two different genotypes were isolated from periurban populations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sylvia Grune
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Loffler
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Biochemiq SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria Elisa
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Dr E Coni, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr Carlos G Malbrán, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanasco
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Samartino
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auteri
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Leptospirosis, Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brihuega
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D048293:Didelphis / Q000382:microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D041341:Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola / Q000235:genetics; D041383:Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae / Q000235:genetics; D041401:Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona / Q000235:genetics; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000635:transmission; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology*; D065288:Serogroup; D012703:Serotyping; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics; D014505:Urban Population; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics