title: Presence of leptospires on genital tract of mares with reproductive problems.
abstract: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, and has a worldwide distribution. Equine leptospirosis is commonly manifested by recurrent uveitis, reproductive disorders, as abortions, embryonic absorption, stillbirth and the birth of weak foals. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of Leptospira sp or its DNA in genital tract of mares with reproductive problems. A total of 38 mares with reproductive problems were studied. All the mares were sampled for blood (for serology), urine (for culturing and qPCR), vaginal fluid-VF and endometrial biopsy-EB (for culturing, qPCR and indirect immunofluorescence). PCRs products were sequenced for secY gene. Seventeen (44.7%) serum samples were reactive, predominantly against serogroups Australis (76.4%) and Pomona (23.6%). No positive culture was obtained, but DNA was detected by qPCR on urine samples (26.3%), VF (44.7%) and EB (18.4%) collected 2 months or longer following diagnosis of early fetal death and endometritis. Leptospira cell aggregations were visible by indirect immunofluorescence on 57.1% (4/7) EBs and 17.6% (3/17) VFs. A total of 18 amplicons showed interpretable sequences. Out of those 18 amplicons, 15 presented 100% of identity with the species L. interrogans (sv Bratislava and Pomona), while three were L. borgpertersenii. This study suggests the presence of leptospires in the uterus of mares with reproductive problems. Moreover, serology was shown not to be indicated for the diagnosis of presumptive Leptospira infection in early gestation. The most common agent of the genital infection in those mares was L. interrogans, most probably sg Australis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamond
authors.affiliation: Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pestana
authors.affiliation: Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Marcos
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rocha-de-Souza
authors.affiliation: Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis Eduardo R
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Clinical Veterinary, Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Alberto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: mipwalt@vm.uff.br.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lilenbaum
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D004716:Endometritis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Horse; Leptospira; Uterus