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beyond rabies: are free-ranging skunks (mephitis mephitis) in british columbia reservoirs of emerging infection?wild animal reservoirs are an important source of emerging and zoonotic infection. skunks (mephitis mephitis) are a reservoir of skunk strain rabies virus in canada, with the exception of some areas including the province of british columbia (bc). beyond rabies, the reservoir status of skunks for emerging and zoonotic pathogens in bc is unknown. from march 2011 to february 2015, 50 free-ranging skunks were necropsied and tested for 4 pathogens: influenza a, aleutian disease virus (adv), leptospi ...201726392297
immune response and protective profile elicited by a multi-epitope chimeric protein derived from leptospira interrogans.pathogenic leptospira is the causative agent of leptospirosis, a widely disseminated disease of human and veterinary concern. the development of vaccines that elicit cross-protective immunity through multiple leptospiral serovars has long been pursued. the aim of this study was to develop a novel chimeric multi-epitope fusion antigen, containing sequences of previously studied outer membrane proteins (omps) of leptospira.201728161462
characterization of two new putative adhesins of leptospira interrogans.we here report the characterization of two novel proteins encoded by the genes lic11122 and lic12287, identified in the genome sequences of leptospira interrogans, annotated, respectively, as a putative sigma factor and a hypothetical protein. the cdss lic11122 and lic12287 have signal peptide spii and spi and are predicted to be located mainly at the cytoplasmic membrane of the bacteria. the genes were cloned and the proteins expressed using escherichia coli. proteinase k digestion showed that ...201728198346
genome-wide transcriptional start site mapping and srna identification in the pathogen leptospira interrogans.leptospira are emerging zoonotic pathogens transmitted from animals to humans typically through contaminated environmental sources of water and soil. regulatory pathways of pathogenic leptospira spp. underlying the adaptive response to different hosts and environmental conditions remains elusive. in this study, we provide the first global transcriptional start site (tss) map of a leptospira species. rna was obtained from the pathogen leptospira interrogans grown at 30°c (optimal in vitro tempera ...201728154810
comparison of leptospira interrogans and leptospira biflexa genomes: analysis of potential leptospiral-host interactions.leptospirosis, a potentially life-threatening disease, remains the most widespread zoonosis caused by pathogenic species of leptospira. the pathogenic spirochaete, leptospira interrogans, is characterized by its ability to permeate human host tissues rapidly and colonize multiple organs in the host. in spite of the efforts taken to comprehend the pathophysiology of the pathogen and the heterogeneity posed by l. interrogans, the current knowledge on the mechanism of pathogenesis is modest. in an ...201728294222
crystallization of fcpa from leptospira, a novel flagellar protein that is essential for pathogenesis.the protein fcpa is a unique component of the flagellar filament of spirochete bacteria belonging to the genus leptospira. although it plays an essential role in translational motility and pathogenicity, no structures of fcpa homologues are currently available in the pdb. its three-dimensional structure will unveil the novel motility mechanisms that render pathogenic leptospira particularly efficient at invading and disseminating within their hosts, causing leptospirosis in humans and animals. f ...201728291747
animal models of leptospirosis: of mice and hamsters.pathogenic leptospira sp. are spirochetal bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, an emerging worldwide zoonosis. these spirochetes are very successful pathogens that infect a wide range of hosts such as fish, reptiles, birds, marsupials, and mammals. transmission occurs when chronically infected animals excrete live bacteria in their urine, contaminating the environment. leptospira sp. enter their hosts through damaged skin and mucosa. chronically infected rats and mice are asymptomatic and are ...201728270811
[epidemiological investigation of two leptospirosis death cases in guizhou province].objective: to conduct an epidemiological investigation of two leptospirosis death cases reported in guizhou province in 2014. methods: the information of the patients were investigated and analyzed. the serological detection, samples of the two patients was detected using elisa and microscopic agglutination test (mat). leptospira carrier status of murine host animal in the living environment of the two patients was investigated in october and november of 2014. leptospires in the kidney were cult ...201728260339
adipose tissue is the first colonization site of leptospira interrogans in subcutaneously infected hamsters.leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world, and its most severe form in humans, "weil's disease," may lead to jaundice, hemorrhage, renal failure, pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome, and sometimes,fatal multiple organ failure. although the mechanisms underlying jaundice in leptospirosis have been gradually unraveled, the pathophysiology and distribution of leptospires during the early stage of infection are not well understood. therefore, we investigated the hamster leptospiros ...201728245231
seeking the environmental source of leptospirosis reveals durable bacterial viability in river soils.leptospirosis is an important re-emerging infectious disease that affects humans worldwide. infection occurs from indirect environment-mediated exposure to pathogenic leptospires through contaminated watered environments. the ability of pathogenic leptospires to persist in the aqueous environment is a key factor in transmission to new hosts. hence, an effort was made to detect pathogenic leptospires in complex environmental samples, to genotype positive samples and to assess leptospiral viabilit ...201728241042
il-10 deficient mice express ifn-γ mrna and clear leptospira interrogans from their kidneys more rapidly than normal c57bl/6 mice.leptospira interrogans (l. interrogans), the causative agent of leptospirosis, is a widespread zoonotic spirochete that lives a dual lifestyle. l. interrogans infects mice, rats, and wildlife in a persistent and asymptomatic fashion, while also causing productive and acute infections in other mammals such as humans and hamsters. infections in humans can be fatal, accompanied by a cytokine storm and shock-like symptoms. production of il-10 has been noted in both rodent and human infections which ...201728237664
leptospira interrogans serogroup pomona infections in the uk: is there a real threat for farm animals?current typing of leptospira strains requires a combination of both serological and molecular methods. study of the epidemiology of strains within the pomona serogroup has proved problematic due to the limitations of serological typing methods. this is particularly true of the two main complexes within this group, namely the pomona, monjakov, kennewicki cluster in leptospira interrogans species and the mozdok, tsaratsovo, kunming, altodouro cluster in leptospira kirschneri strains from the south ...201728213528
inhibitory effects of emodin, thymol, and astragalin on leptospira interrogans-induced inflammatory response in the uterine and endometrium epithelial cells of mice.leptospirosis is a systemic infection that causes, among others, acute kidney injury, acute liver disease, muscle pain, vasculitis, bleeding disorders, and reproductive loss. in an effort to reduce uterine inflammatory responses induced by leptospira, we evaluated the anti-inflammation effects of emodin, thymol, and astragalin in a mouse model. our results showed that treatment with emodin, thymol, and astragalin alleviated uterine inflammation induced by leptospira infection via suppression of ...201728210912
detecting signals of chronic shedding to explain pathogen persistence: leptospira interrogans in california sea lions.identifying mechanisms driving pathogen persistence is a vital component of wildlife disease ecology and control. asymptomatic, chronically infected individuals are an oft-cited potential reservoir of infection, but demonstrations of the importance of chronic shedding to pathogen persistence at the population-level remain scarce. studying chronic shedding using commonly collected disease data is hampered by numerous challenges, including short-term surveillance that focuses on single epidemics a ...201728207932
distinct antibody responses of patients with mild and severe leptospirosis determined by whole proteome microarray analysis.leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease worldwide. humans usually present a mild non-specific febrile illness, but a proportion of them develop more severe outcomes, such as multi-organ failure, lung hemorrhage and death. such complications are thought to depend on several factors, including the host immunity. protective immunity is associated with humoral immune response, but little is known about the immune response mounted during naturally-acquired leptospira infection.201728141801
jarisch-herxheimer reaction among patients with leptospirosis: incidence and risk factors.a jarisch-herxheimer reaction (jhr) may be precipitated after initiation of chemotherapy in spirochetal diseases, including leptospirosis. however, a clear idea of the importance of jhr in this disease is lacking. the incidence of and risk factors for jhr were investigated retrospectively among 262 patients with confirmed leptospirosis who received amoxicillin treatment in new caledonia and futuna. the overall rate of jhr was 21% (12% in new caledonia and 44% in futuna). two risk factors were in ...201728115662
eyedrop inoculation causes sublethal leptospirosis in mice.leptospirosis is potentially a fatal zoonosis acquired by contact of skin and mucosal surfaces with soil and water contaminated with infected urine. we analyzed the outcome of infection of c3h/hej mice with leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni using an enzootic mode of transmission, the conjunctival route. infection led to weight loss and l. interrogans dissemination from blood to urine, and spirochetes were detected in blood and urine simultaneously. the infectious dose that led to consis ...201728115508
low-dose norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin therapy worsen leptospirosis in hamster.antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of leptospirosis. many antibiotics at appropriate concentrations improved the survival rate and alleviated tissue injury, while, when dosing strategies fall below subtherapeutic levels, worse therapeutic effects are seen. in the present study, we investigated the efficacy of low-dose norfloxacin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) and ciprofloxacin (1, 2 and 5 mg/kg) against leptospirosis in a hamster model using leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrh ...201727894961
the ebpa-rpon regulatory pathway of the pathogen leptospira interrogans is essential for survival in the environment.leptospira interrogans is the agent of leptospirosis, a reemerging zoonotic disease. it is transmitted to humans through environmental surface waters contaminated by the urine of mammals chronically infected by pathogenic strains able to survive in water for long periods. little is known about the regulatory pathways underlying environmental sensing and host adaptation of l. interrogans during its enzootic cycle. this study identifies the ebpa-rpon regulatory pathway in l. interrogans in this pa ...201727864172
evidence for wild crocodiles as a risk for human leptospirosis, mexico.sentinel species such as crocodilians are used to monitor the health of ecosystems. however, few studies have documented the presence of zoonotic diseases in wild populations of these reptiles. herein we analyzed 48 serum samples from crocodylus acutus (n = 34) and c. moreletii (n = 14) from different sites in the state of quintana roo (mexico) to detect antibodies to leptospira interrogans by means of a microscopic agglutination test (mat). crocodylus acutus and c. moreletii tested positive to ...201727807634
evidence of leptospirosis in the kidneys and serum of feral swine (sus scrofa) in the united states.leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in humans worldwide. in the united states, widespread detection of antibodies to leptospirosis have been identified in feral swine (sus scrofa) with the highest detection of serovars, bratislava, icterohaemorrhagiae, and pomona. over the past few years, feral swine populations have expanded their geographical range and distribution in the united states with reports in at least 39 of 50 states. since feral swine serve as reservoirs for serovars that c ...201727697080
characterization of the molecular chaperone clpb from the pathogenic spirochaete leptospira interrogans.leptospira interrogans is a spirochaete responsible for leptospirosis in mammals. the molecular mechanisms of the leptospira virulence remain mostly unknown. recently, it has been demonstrated that an aaa+ chaperone clpb (a member of the hsp100 family) from l. interrogans (clpbli) is not only essential for survival of leptospira under the thermal and oxidative stresses, but also during infection of a host. the aim of this study was to provide further insight into the role of clpb in the pathogen ...201728700685
multifunctional and redundant roles of leptospira interrogans proteins in bacterial-adhesion and fibrin clotting inhibition.pathogenic leptopira is the etiological agent of leptospirosis, the most widespread zoonotic infection in the world. the disease represents a major public health problem, especially in tropical countries. the present work focused on two hypothetical proteins of unknown function, encoded by the genes lic13059 and lic10879, and predicted to be surface-exposed proteins. the genes were cloned and the proteins expressed using e. coli as a host system. we report that the recombinant proteins interacte ...201728600123
disease surveillance of california ground squirrels ( spermophilus beecheyi ) in a drive-through zoo in oregon, usa.rodents and other small wild mammals are often considered to be pests and vectors for disease in zoos that house small populations of valuable threatened and endangered animals. in 2005, three nonhuman primates at a drive-through zoo in oregon, us, acquired tularemia from an unknown source. due to an abundance of california ground squirrels ( spermophilus beecheyi ) on zoo grounds, we instituted serosurveillance of this species from july through september 2008 to determine the prevalence of anti ...201728418764
a survey of zoonotic pathogens carried by house mouse and black rat populations in yucatan, mexico.the house mouse (mus musculus) and the black rat (rattus rattus) are reservoir hosts for zoonotic pathogens, several of which cause neglected tropical diseases (ntds). studies of the prevalence of these ntd-causing zoonotic pathogens, in house mice and black rats from tropical residential areas are scarce. three hundred and two house mice and 161 black rats were trapped in 2013 from two urban neighbourhoods and a rural village in yucatan, mexico, and subsequently tested for trypanosoma cruzi, hy ...201728689507
pre-treatment with lactobacillus plantarum prevents severe pathogenesis in mice infected with leptospira interrogans and may be associated with recruitment of myeloid cells.recent estimates on global morbidity and mortality caused by leptospirosis point to one million cases and almost 60,000 deaths a year worldwide, especially in resource poor countries. we analyzed how a commensal probiotic immunomodulator, lactobacillus plantarum, affects leptospira interrogans pathogenesis in a murine model of sub-lethal leptospirosis. we found that repeated oral pre-treatment of mice with live l. plantarum restored body weight to normal levels in mice infected with l. interroga ...201728841659
leptospira diversity in animals and humans in tahiti, french polynesia.leptospirosis is a highly endemic bacterial zoonosis in french polynesia (fp). nevertheless, data on the epidemiology of leptospirosis in fp are scarce. we conducted molecular studies on leptospira isolated from humans and the potential main animal reservoirs in order to identify the most likely sources for human infection.201728658269
molecular typing of leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo isolates from leptospirosis outbreaks in brazilian livestock.leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus leptospira spp. this zoonotic disease is distributed globally and affects domestic animals, including cattle. leptospira interrogans serogroup sejroe serovar hardjo and leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup sejroe serovar hardjo remain important species associated with this reproductive disease in livestock production. previous studies on brazilian livestock have reported that l. interrogans serovar hardjo is the most prevalent leptosp ...201728619055
human leptospirosis in seychelles: a prospective study confirms the heavy burden of the disease but suggests that rats are not the main reservoir.leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by pathogenic leptospira for which rats are considered as the main reservoir. disease incidence is higher in tropical countries, especially in insular ecosystems. our objectives were to determine the current burden of leptospirosis in seychelles, a country ranking first worldwide according to historical data, to establish epidemiological links between animal reservoirs and human disease, and to identify drivers of transmission.201728846678
male-specific pulmonary hemorrhage and cytokine gene expression in golden hamster in early-phase leptospira interrogans serovar hebdomadis infection.leptospirosis causes severe clinical signs more frequently in men than in women, but the mechanism underlying the gender differences in leptospirosis remains unclear. in this study, petechial hemorrhage was observed in male but not in female hamster lung tissues infected with leptospira interrogans serovar hebdomadis at 120 h pi, demonstrating that male hamsters were more susceptible to the development of a severe disease upon leptospira infection. no leptospiral dna was detected in the lung tis ...201728811249
doxycycline attenuates leptospira-induced il-1β by suppressing nlrp3 inflammasome priming.doxycycline (dox), a semisynthetic antibiotic, has been reported to exert multiple immunomodulatory effects. treatment with dox has a satisfactory curative effect against leptospirosis. in addition to its antibacterial action, we supposed that dox also modulated immune response in controlling leptospira infection. using j774a.1 mouse macrophages, the effects of dox on protein and mrna levels of il-1β and tnf-α were investigated after infection with live or sonicated leptospira interrogans serova ...201728791016
structural and mutational analyses of the leptospira interrogans virulence-related heme oxygenase provide insights into its catalytic mechanism.heme oxygenase from leptospira interrogans is an important virulence factor. during catalysis, redox equivalents are provided to this enzyme by the plastidic-type ferredoxin-nadp+ reductase also found in l. interrogans. this process may have evolved to aid this bacterial pathogen to obtain heme-iron from their host and enable successful colonization. herein we report the crystal structure of the heme oxygenase-heme complex at 1.73 å resolution. the structure reveals several distinctive features ...201728771589
leptospira interrogans causes quantitative and morphological disturbances in adherens junctions and other biological groups of proteins in human endothelial cells.pathogenic leptospira transmits from animals to humans, causing the zoonotic life-threatening infection called leptospirosis. this infection is reported worldwide with higher risk in tropical regions. symptoms of leptospirosis range from mild illness to severe illness such as liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory distress, meningitis, and fatal hemorrhagic disease. invasive species of leptospira rapidly disseminate to multiple tissues where this bacterium damages host endothelial cells, incr ...201728750011
immunoprotective properties of recombinant liga and ligb in a hamster model of acute leptospirosis.leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis and is considered a major public health problem worldwide. currently, there is no widely available vaccine against leptospirosis for use in humans. a purified, recombinant subunit vaccine that includes the last six immunoglobulin-like (ig-like) domains of the leptospiral protein liga (liga7'-13) protects against lethal infection but not renal colonization after challenge by leptospira interrogans. in this study, we examined whether the addition of th ...201728704385
data on leptospira interrogans sv pomona infection in meat workers in new zealand.the data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "comparison between generalized linear modelling and additive bayesian network; identification of factors associated with the incidence of antibodies against leptospira interrogans sv pomona in meat workers in new zealand" (pittavino et al., 2017) [5]. a prospective cohort study was conducted in four sheep slaughtering abattoirs in new zealand (nz) (dreyfus et al., 2015) [1]. sera were collected twice a year from 384 ...201728702495
mononuclear-macrophages but not neutrophils act as major infiltrating anti-leptospiral phagocytes during leptospirosis.to identify the major infiltrating phagocytes during leptospirosis and examine the killing mechanism used by the host to eliminate leptospira interrogans.201728700741
epidemiology behavior of leptospirosis in ciénaga de oro, córdoba (colombia).the purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology of leptospirosis in rural areas of ciénaga de oro, córdoba, colombia, a convenience sampling was carried out on 13 farms. the sample size was 325 reproductive age cows, 11 canine samples, and 20 humans. the samples were subjected to mat analysis with 11 serogroups of leptospira interrogans sensu lato. once the mat results were received, urine samples were collected from 78 cows, along with 39 water samples, for bacteriological cultures ...201728660382
serial changes in complete blood counts in patients with leptospirosis: our experience.leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by leptospira interrogans. it is endemic in many parts of the world. the symptoms vary between milder forms to severe type with organ dysfunction. the disease presents with diagnostic challenge as it clinically mimics acute febrile illness due to other causes.201728658767
structural and enzymatic characterization of a camp-dependent diguanylate cyclase from pathogenic leptospira species.leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni is a human pathogen that causes leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonosis. the l. interrogans genome codes for a wide array of potential diguanylate cyclase (dgc) enzymes with characteristic ggdef domains capable of synthesizing the cyclic dinucleotide c-di-gmp, known to regulate transitions between different cellular behavioral states in bacteria. among such enzymes, lic13137 (lcd1), which has an n-terminal cgmp-specific phosphodiesterases, adenylyl cyclases ...201728601495
the role of reactive oxygen intermediates in the intracellular fate of leptospira interrogans in the macrophages of different hosts.pathogenic species of leptospira cause leptospirosis, a global zoonotic disease. our previous work showed that leptospires survive and replicate in human macrophages but are killed in murine macrophages. however, the mechanism responsible for the different intracellular fates of leptospires within the macrophages of different hosts remains unclear.201728575082
a new model of self-resolving leptospirosis in mice infected with a strain of leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis harboring lps signaling only through tlr4.leptospirosis is an emerging worldwide zoonosis caused by pathogenic leptospira spp. our understanding of leptospirosis pathogenesis and host immune response remains limited, while mechanistic studies are hindered by a lack of proper animal models and immunological reagents. here we established a murine model of acute and self-resolving leptospirosis by infecting 10-week-old c57bl/6 mice with leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis strain 56606v, with characteristic manifestations including ja ...201728536433
pressor support during a jarisch herxheimer reaction after initiation of treatment for weil's disease.we present a case of weil's disease complicated by a jarisch-herxheimer reaction (jhr) after initiation of antibiotics while in the emergency department requiring invasive monitoring and vasopressor support. the case is followed by a brief review of the jhr which is rarely observed with treatment of leptospirosis. a healthy 28-year-old female who recently returned from the caribbean presented to the emergency department with flu-like symptoms. the patient appeared jaundiced with conjunctival suf ...201728527874
discovery of novel leptospirosis vaccine candidates using reverse and structural vaccinology.leptospira spp. are diderm (two membranes) bacteria that infect mammals causing leptospirosis, a public health problem with global implications. thousands of people die every year due to leptospirosis, especially in developing countries with tropical climates. prophylaxis is difficult due to multiple factors, including the large number of asymptomatic hosts that transmit the bacteria, poor sanitation, increasing numbers of slum dwellers, and the lack of an effective vaccine. several leptospiral ...201728496441
lethal pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome due to leptospira infection transmitted by pet rat.human infection with leptospira interrogans can be life-threatening. multiple organ involvement frequently presents with liver and kidney failure, less commonly including severe hemolysis and pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome. here, we present a fulminant case of leptospirosis presenting with hemolysis and pulmonary hemorrhage. a formerly healthy 34 year old patient presented to a rural hospital with dyspnea and hemoptysis after a week of influenza-like symptoms. initial assessment revealed severe s ...201728491815
comparison between generalized linear modelling and additive bayesian network; identification of factors associated with the incidence of antibodies against leptospira interrogans sv pomona in meat workers in new zealand.additive bayesian network (abn) is a graphical model which extends generalized linear modelling (glm) to multiple dependent variables. the present study compares results from glm with those from abn analysis used to identify factors associated with leptospira interrogans sv pomona (pomona) infection by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of these two methodologies, to corroborate inferences informing health and safety measures at abattoirs in new zealand (nz).201728487178
leptospira species in feral cats and black rats from western australia and christmas island.leptospirosis is a neglected, re-emerging bacterial disease with both zoonotic and conservation implications. rats and livestock are considered the usual sources of human infection, but all mammalian species are capable of carrying leptospira spp. and transmitting pathogenic leptospires in their urine, and uncertainty remains about the ecology and transmission dynamics of leptospira in different regions. in light of a recent case of human leptospirosis on tropical christmas island, this study ai ...201728437186
serology and protein electrophoresis for evidence of exposure to 12 mink pathogens in free-ranging american mink (neovison vison) in argentina.basic pathologic characteristics for farmed minks were previously reported worldwide. however, its status in the wild has not been studied in detail.201728635524
anti-erythrocyte igg in hamsters with acute experimental infection by leptospira interrogans serovar canicola.the aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of erythrocyte and platelet, as immunological markers, as well as evaluate the involvement of these factors in hemolytic and hemorrhagic reactions in hamsters experimentally infected by leptospira interrogans serovar canicola. our experimental design was composed by two randomized groups: infected group (ig) (n = 12) and control group (cg) (n = 6). ninety-six hours after the inoculation, the presence of immunoglobulins (igg and igm) and compleme ...201728648625
development of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of canine leptospirosis.this study was taken up to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-elisa) for screening antibodies against leptospira spp. in canines.201728620258
high-resolution melting curve analysis of the 16s ribosomal gene to detect and identify pathogenic and saprophytic leptospira species in colombian isolates.abstractit is important to identify the circulating leptospira agent to enhance the performance of serodiagnostic tests by incorporating specific antigens of native species, develop vaccines that take into account the species/serovars circulating in different regions, and optimize prevention and control strategies. the objectives of this study were to develop a polymerase chain reaction (pcr)-high-resolution melting (hrm) assay for differentiating between species of the genus leptospira and to v ...201728500802
evidence of infection with leptospira interrogans and spotted fever group rickettsiae among rodents in an urban area of osaka city, japan.we examined 33 rodents captured in an urban area of osaka city, japan for igg antibodies against seoul virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, hepatitis e virus, leptospira interrogans, yersinia pestis, spotted fever, typhus and scrub typhus group rickettsiae. we found that 3 (9.1%) and 1 (3.0%) of the 33 rodents had antibodies against l. interrogans and spotted fever group rickettsiae, respectively. dnas of leptospires were detected from 2 of the 3 seropositive rodents, but dn ...201728529271
survey for selected pathogens in wild pigs (sus scrofa) from guam, marianna islands, usa.pigs (sus scrofa) were introduced to guam in the 1600's and are now present in high densities throughout the island. wild pigs are reservoirs for pathogens of concern to domestic animals and humans. exposure to porcine parvovirus, transmissible gastroenteritis, and leptospira interrogans has been documented in domestic swine but data from wild pigs are lacking. the close proximity of humans, domestic animals, and wild pigs, combined with the liberal hunting of wild pigs, results in frequent oppo ...201728622856
preliminary evaluation of a dual antigen elisa to distinguish vaccinated from leptospira infected horses.immunogenic proteins of leptospira interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki (lk) including sph1, liga, hsp15 and lipl45 (qlp42) are up-regulated in infected horses but are undetectable or expressed in trace amounts on cultured organisms. in contrast, lipl32 is abundant on cultured lk and elicits infection antibody responses. the aim of this study was to develop an elisa based on lipl32 or lk sonicate and host-induced proteins to differentiate vaccine from infection serum antibody. igg specific ...201627650465
toll-like receptor 2 agonist pam3csk4 alleviates the pathology of leptospirosis in hamster.leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic spirochetes, is a zoonotic disease of global importance. the detailed pathogenesis of leptospirosis is still unclear, which limits the ideal treatment of leptospirosis. in this study, we analyzed the expression of toll-like receptor 2 (tlr2) and tlr4 in target organs of both resistant mice and susceptible hamsters after leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis infection. tlr2 but not tlr4 transcripts in mouse organs contrasted with delayed induction and overe ...201627620721
[a case of leptospirosis in which the causative pathogen was detected using cerebrospinal fluid pcr eight days after onset].we report a patient with leptospirosis caused by infection with leptospira interrogans serovar rachmati. a 30-year-old japanese man took part in a survival camp on iriomote island, okinawa, from july 9 to july 15, 2014. during the camp, he swam in the river and kayaked. he developed a high fever and fatigue 7 days after completing his trip and was admitted to our hospital on july 22. on admission, he complained of a posterior cervical pain and a loss of appetite. laboratory findings revealed gra ...201627529969
mammalian cell entry (mce) protein of leptospira interrogans binds extracellular matrix components, plasminogen and β2 integrin.a severe re-emergingzoonosis, leptospirosis, is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus leptospira. several studies have identified leptospiral surface proteins with the ability to bind ecm and plasma components, which could mediate adhesion and invasion through the hosts. it has been shown that mce of pathogenic leptospira spp. is an rgd (arg-gly-asp)-motif-dependent virulence factor, responsible for infection of cells and animals. in the present article, we decided to further study the r ...201627468683
leptospira interrogans serovars bratislava and muenchen animal infections: implications for epidemiology and control.strains of leptospira interrogans belonging to two very closely related serovars - bratislava and muenchen - have been associated with disease in domestic animals, in particular pigs, but also in horses and dogs. similar strains have also been recovered from various wildlife species. their epidemiology is poorly understood. two hundred and forty seven such isolates, from uk domestic animal and wildlife species, were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis in an attempt to elucidate their e ...201627283852
molecular and serological characterization of the first leptospira santarosai strain isolated from a dog.leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance caused by pathogenic leptospira species. dogs can become asymptomatically infected, acting like reservoir hosts for pathogenic leptospira, notably leptospira interrogans serovar canicola. identification of such individuals and characterization of leptospires involved in chronic infections may unravel the role of dogs in the epidemiology of particular leptospiral strains. the aim of the present work was to describe the first leptospira sant ...201627282095
decrease in antithrombin iii and prothrombin serum levels contribute to coagulation disorders during leptospirosis.pathogenic bacteria of the genus leptospira are the causative agent of leptospirosis, an emergent infectious disease that affects humans and animals worldwide. severe forms of the disease in humans include jaundice, multiple organ failure and intense haemorrhage. up to now, mechanisms associated with the haemorrhage foci are poorly understood. we report in this work that, despite the low levels of antithrombin iii in convalescent human serum samples, virulent, culture-attenuated and saprophyte s ...201627260249
the adaptor molecule trif contributes to murine host defense during leptospiral infection.leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease and is caused by pathogenic species of the leptospira genus, including leptospira interrogans (l. interrogans). humans, domestic and wild animals are susceptible to acute or chronic infection. the innate immune response is a critical defense mechanism against leptospira interrogans, and has been investigated in mouse models. murine toll-like receptors (tlrs) have been shown to be key factors in sensing and responding to l. interrogans infection. specifically, ...201627259371
evaluation of two novel leptospiral proteins for their interaction with human host components.pathogenic species of the genus leptospira are the etiological agents of leptospirosis, the most widespread zoonosis. mechanisms involved in leptospiral pathogenesis are not well understood. by data mining the genome sequences of leptospira interrogans we have identified two proteins predicted to be surface exposed, lic10821 and lic10064. immunofluorescence and proteinase k assays confirmed that the proteins are exposed. reactivity of the recombinant proteins with human sera has shown that rlic1 ...201627129366
[production of certain pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during stimulation by live and inactivated leptospira pathogens in the model of human whole blood].study of the ability of clinical isolates of leptospira to cause production of certain pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in the model of human whole blood.201626950985
dual nuclease activity of a cas2 protein in crispr-cas subtype i-b of leptospira interrogans.leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni strain fiocruz l1-130 carries a set of cas genes associated with crispr-cas subtype i-b. herein, we report for the first time active transcription of a set of cas genes (cas1 to cas8) of l. interrogans where cas4, cas1, cas2 and cas6, cas3, cas8, cas7, cas5 are clustered together in two independent operons. as an initial step toward comprehensive understanding of crispr-cas system in spirochete, the biochemical study of one of the core leptospira cas2 p ...201626950513
plasmin cleaves fibrinogen and the human complement proteins c3b and c5 in the presence of leptospira interrogans proteins: a new role of liga and ligb in invasion and complement immune evasion.plasminogen is a single-chain glycoprotein found in human plasma as the inactive precursor of plasmin. when converted to proteolytically active plasmin, plasmin(ogen) regulates both complement and coagulation cascades, thus representing an important target for pathogenic microorganisms. leptospira interrogans binds plasminogen, which is converted to active plasmin. leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (lig) proteins are surface exposed molecules that interact with extracellular matrix components and ...201626822552
recovery of leptospires in short- and medium-term cryopreservation using different glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide concentrations.cryopreservation is a recognized method for the maintenance of leptospira collections. although cryoprotectants are commonly used in order to prevent or reduce the adverse effects of freezing, there is no consensus regarding the protocols of cryopreservation. this study aimed to compare cryopreservation protocols for leptospira using different glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (dmso) concentrations. leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, l. interrogans serovar bratislava, and l. borgp ...201626808330
multiple specificities of immunoglobulin m in equine fetuses infected with leptospira interrogans indicate a competent immune response.foals of mares infected with leptospira interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki (lk) may be aborted/stillborn or delivered as healthy foals. is fetal survival explained in part by the immune response of the fetus to leptospira antigens?201626671764
leptospira interrogans in rodents from cape verde.leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonotic disease that can infect both animals and humans. in most cases, leptospirosis is a nonspecific self-limiting illness, but some patients can develop a severe form with a high mortality. this study was carried out in santiago island, cape verde, in 2012-2013. a total of 62 wild rodents (rattus rattus and mus domesticus) were analyzed. the lipl32 gene, present only in pathogenic leptospira spp., was amplified by pcr, and 16 samples were positive (25. ...201627482622
isolation and clinical sample typing of human leptospirosis cases in argentina.leptospira typing is carried out using isolated strains. because of difficulties in obtaining them, direct identification of infective leptospira in clinical samples is a high priority. multilocus sequence typing (mlst) proved highly discriminatory for seven pathogenic species of leptospira, allowing isolate characterization and robust assignment to species, in addition to phylogenetic evidence for the relatedness between species. in this study we characterized leptospira strains circulating in ...201626658064
the recombinant lic10508 is a plasma fibronectin, plasminogen, fibrinogen and c4bp-binding protein of leptospira interrogans.leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic leptospira spp. in this study, we report that the recombinant proteins lic10507, lic10508 and lic10509 are recognized by confirmed leptospirosis serum samples at both phases of the disease. the recombinant rlic10508 and rlic10507 are plasminogen (plg)-binding proteins, capable of generating plasmin in the presence of a plg activator. the proteins bind to plg in a dose-dependent and saturable manner, fulfilling host-ligand interaction. furthermore, ...201626657108
leptospira interrogans lsa23 protein recruits plasminogen, factor h and c4bp from normal human serum and mediates c3b and c4b degradation.it has been reported that pathogenic leptospira are resistant to normal human serum (nhs) due to their ability to evade the complement immune system by interacting with factor h (fh) and c4b-binding protein (c4bp) regulators. moreover, plasmin generation on the leptospiral surface diminishes c3b and igg deposition, decreasing opsonophagocytosis by immune competent cells. we have previously reported that lsa23 (lic11360) is a multipurpose protein capable of binding purified extracellular matrix m ...201626614523
is it too cold for leptospira interrrogans transmission on the faroese islands?leptospira interrogans is a bacterium that can infect most mammal species. brown rats are considered to be one of the most important reservoirs of leptospira because they frequently are infected and live in close proximity to humans. past studies of prevalence of leptospira in brown rats indicate that temperature--both high and low--may negatively affect the prevalence rate in rats, so that leptospira is rare or even absent at temperatures below 7-8 °c. here we investigated the prevalence of inf ...201626442766
[leptospirosis percentage and related factors in patients having a presumptive diagnosis of dengue, 2010 -2012].using the microscopic agglutination test (mat) from 2010-2012 for identifying leptospirosis-related and sociodemographic variables in patients having a confirmed diagnosis of dengue and those for whom it had been discarded.201625791310
the prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in free roaming cats in worcester county, massachusetts.serosurveys of cats for exposure to or infection with leptospires have been published from other geographic areas, but none for cats in the united states in the past 4 decades.201622390370
characterization of two new putative adhesins of leptospira interrogans.we here report the characterization of two novel proteins encoded by the genes lic11122 and lic12287, identified in the genome sequences of leptospira interrogans, annotated, respectively, as a putative sigma factor and hypothetical. . the coding sequences (cdss) lic11122 and lic12287 have signal peptide spii and spi and are predicted to be located mainly at the cytoplasm membrane of the bacteria. the genes were cloned and the proteins expressed using escherichia coli. proteinase k digestion sho ...201627983472
large-scale purification and in vitro characterization of the assembly of mreb from leptospira interrogans.weil's syndrome is caused by leptospira interrogans infections, a gram negative bacterium with a distinct thin corkscrew cell shape. the molecular basis for this unusual morphology is unknown. in many bacteria, cell wall synthesis is orchestrated by the actin homolog, mreb.201627297907
functional thioredoxin reductase from pathogenic and free-living leptospira spp.low molecular mass thiols and antioxidant enzymes have essential functions to detoxify reactive oxygen and nitrogen species maintaining cellular redox balance. the metabolic pathways for redox homeostasis in pathogenic (leptospira interrogans) and free-living (leptospira biflexa) leptospires species were not functionally characterized. we performed biochemical studies on recombinantly produced proteins to in depth analyze kinetic and structural properties of thioredoxin reductase (lintrxr) and t ...201627178006
spirochaete flagella hook proteins self-catalyse a lysinoalanine covalent crosslink for motility.spirochaetes are bacteria responsible for several serious diseases, including lyme disease (borrelia burgdorferi), syphilis (treponema pallidum) and leptospirosis (leptospira interrogans), and contribute to periodontal diseases (treponema denticola)(1). these spirochaetes employ an unusual form of flagella-based motility necessary for pathogenicity; indeed, spirochaete flagella (periplasmic flagella) reside and rotate within the periplasmic space(2-11). the universal joint or hook that links the ...201627670115
assessing the impact of tailored biosecurity advice on farmer behaviour and pathogen presence in beef herds in england and wales.the term 'biosecurity' encompasses many measures farmers can take to reduce the risk of pathogen incursion or spread. as the best strategy will vary between settings, veterinarians play an important role in assessing risk and providing advice, but effectiveness requires farmer acceptance and implementation. the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of specifically-tailored biosecurity advice packages in reducing endemic pathogen presence on uk beef suckler farms. one hundred and sixt ...201627931934
parasitic and bacterial infections of myocastor coypus in a metropolitan area of northwestern italy.coypus (myocastor coypus) are widespread throughout europe. in northern italy, they are abundant in the flatland areas, and their high population densities can cause economic loss and ecosystem damage. we examined 153 coypus for selected parasitic and bacterial infections. we found strongyloides myopotami (63.4% prevalence), trichostrongylus duretteae (28.1%), eimeria coypi (86.3%), and eimeria seideli (6.8%), but did not find giardia duodenalis or cryptosporidium spp. we also isolated staphyloc ...201626745834
molecular modeling and in-silico engineering of cardamom mosaic virus coat protein for the presentation of immunogenic epitopes of leptospira lipl32.expression of cardamom mosaic virus (cdmv) coat protein (cp) in e. coli forms virus-like particles. in this study, the structure of cdmv cp was predicted and used as a platform to display epitopes of the most abundant surface-associated protein, lipl32 of leptospira at c, n, and both the termini of cdmv cp. in silico, we have mapped sequential and conformational b-cell epitopes from the crystal structure of lipl32 of leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni str. fiocruz l1-130 using iedb elipr ...201625692534
comparative analyses of transport proteins encoded within the genomes of leptospira species.select species of the bacterial genus leptospira are causative agents of leptospirosis, an emerging global zoonosis affecting nearly one million people worldwide annually. we examined two leptospira pathogens, leptospira interrogans serovar lai str. 56601 and leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo-bovis str. l550, as well as the free-living leptospiral saprophyte, leptospira biflexa serovar patoc str. 'patoc 1 (ames)'. the transport proteins of these leptospires were identified and compared us ...201627296707
etiological agents causing leptospirosis in sri lanka: a review.to systematically review the etiological agent causing human leptospirosis in sri lanka.201627086159
isolation and molecular characterization of leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo strain hardjobovis in the urine of naturally infected cattle in brazil.most epidemiologic studies on bovine leptospirosis are based on serological tests that use antibodies against several serotypes, including the serovar hardjo, which is widespread and considered to be the most adapted to bovine hosts. however, using only serological studies is not sufficient to identify and distinguish species of leptospires. the aim of this study was report the first isolation in brazil of two strains serovar hardjo obtained in urine samples from naturally infected cows in a sma ...201626909976
multilocus sequence typing (mlst) of leptospiral strains isolated from two geographic locations of tamil nadu, india.here the rodent carrier status for the transmission of human leptospirosis in tiruchirappalli, district, tamil nadu, india was assessed. the predominantly circulating leptospiral sts were recognized by multilocus sequence typing (mlst). a total of 113 rodents were trapped from different provinces of the tiruchirappalli district. the most prevalent rodent was bandicota bengalensis (37.2%), and of the total, 52.2% (n=59) rodents were found to be positive for leptospiral 16s rrna. these results wer ...201626577860
prevalence of antibodies against borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and leptospira interrogans serovars in bernese mountain dogs.bernese mountain dogs (bmd) have a higher prevalence of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (bbsl) antibodies than other breeds, but it is not known whether this is the case for other pathogens. therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the frequency and level of specific antibodies against members of the bbsl group, anaplasma phagocytophilum (ap), and leptospira (l.) interrogans serovars in bmd and compare the results with those found in dogs of other breeds.201627004451
efficacy of the rabbit polyclonal anti-leptospira antibody against homotype or heterotype leptospira infection in hamster.leptospirosis, caused by leptospira, is one of the most important of neglected emerging zoonotic diseases that has important impacts on public health worldwide. polyclonal antibody (pcab) therapy is a potential method to process a series of pathogens for which there are limited determination of treatment, such as leptospirosis. first, we evaluated the efficacy of pcab, derived from the sera of rabbits inoculated with leptospira, against homotype (leptospira interrogans serovar lai) or heterotype ...201628027297
complement evasion by pathogenic leptospira.leptospirosis is a neglected infectious disease caused by spirochetes from the genus leptospira. pathogenic microorganisms, notably those which reach the blood circulation such as leptospira, have evolved multiple strategies to escape the host complement system, which is important for innate and acquired immunity. leptospira avoid complement-mediated killing through: (i) recruitment of host complement regulators; (ii) acquisition of host proteases that cleave complement proteins on the bacterial ...201628066433
leptospira surface adhesin (lsa21) induces toll like receptor 2 and 4 mediated inflammatory responses in macrophages.leptospirosis is zoonotic and emerging infectious disease of global importance. little is understood about leptospira pathogenesis and host immune response. in the present work we have investigated how leptospira modulates the host innate immune response mediated by toll-like receptors (tlrs) via surface exposed proteins. we screened leptospira outer membrane/surface proteins for their ability to activate/inhibit tlr2/4 signaling in hek293 cell lines. of these the 21 kda leptospira surface adhes ...201627996041
conservation of coevolving protein interfaces bridges prokaryote-eukaryote homologies in the twilight zone.protein-protein interactions are fundamental for the proper functioning of the cell. as a result, protein interaction surfaces are subject to strong evolutionary constraints. recent developments have shown that residue coevolution provides accurate predictions of heterodimeric protein interfaces from sequence information. so far these approaches have been limited to the analysis of families of prokaryotic complexes for which large multiple sequence alignments of homologous sequences can be compi ...201627965389
cerebellar ataxia due to leptospirosis- a case report.leptospirosis involves nervous system in around 10-15% of the cases, the commonest presentation being aseptic meningitis. most of the clinical features of neuroleptospirosis are due to capillary endothelial damage and vasculitis. ataxia is an extremely uncommon manifestation of leptospirosis occuring in <5% of cases.201627955629
emerging infectious disease implications of invasive mammalian species: the greater white-toothed shrew (crocidura russula) is associated with a novel serovar of pathogenic leptospira in ireland.the greater white-toothed shrew (crocidura russula) is an invasive mammalian species that was first recorded in ireland in 2007. it currently occupies an area of approximately 7,600 km2 on the island. c. russula is normally distributed in northern africa and western europe, and was previously absent from the british isles. whilst invasive species can have dramatic and rapid impacts on faunal and floral communities, they may also be carriers of pathogens facilitating disease transmission in poten ...201627935961
coxiella detection in ticks from wildlife and livestock in malaysia.recent studies have shown that ticks harbor coxiella-like bacteria, which are potentially tick-specific endosymbionts. we recently described the detection of coxiella-like bacteria and possibly coxiella burnetii in ticks found from rural areas in malaysia. in the present study, we collected ticks, including haemaphysalis bispinosa, haemaphysalis hystricis, dermacentor compactus, dermacentor steini, and amblyomma sp. from wildlife and domesticated goats from four different locations in malaysia. ...201627763821
transcriptional profiling of type ii toxin-antitoxin genes of helicobacter pylori under different environmental conditions: identification of hp0967-hp0968 system.helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human gastric mucosa and is responsible for causing peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma. the expression of virulence factors allows the persistence of h. pylori in the stomach, which results in a chronic, sometimes uncontrolled inflammatory response. type ii toxin-antitoxin (ta) systems have emerged as important virulence factors in many pathogenic bacteria. three type ii ta systems have previously been identified in the genome ...201627920769
comparative genomic analysis of the flagellin glycosylation island of the gram-positive thermophile geobacillus.protein glycosylation involves the post-translational attachment of sugar chains to target proteins and has been observed in all three domains of life. post-translational glycosylation of flagellin, the main structural protein of the flagellum, is a common characteristic among many gram-negative bacteria and archaea. several distinct functions have been ascribed to flagellin glycosylation, including stabilisation and maintenance of the flagellar filament, motility, surface recognition, adhesion, ...201627842516
cathelicidin insufficiency in patients with fatal leptospirosis.leptospirosis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, the role of the host immune response in disease progression and high case fatality (>10-50%) is poorly understood. we conducted a multi-parameter investigation of patients with acute leptospirosis to identify mechanisms associated with case fatality. whole blood transcriptional profiling of 16 hospitalized brazilian patients with acute leptospirosis (13 survivors, 3 deceased) revealed fatal cases had lower expression of ...201627812211
chimeric epitope vaccine against leptospira interrogans infection and induced specific immunity in guinea pigs.leptospirosis is an important reemerging zoonosis, with more than half a million cases reported annually, and is caused by pathogenic leptospira species. development of a universal vaccine is one of the major strategic goals to overcome the disease burden of leptospirosis. in this study, a chimeric multi-epitope protein-based vaccine was designed and tested for its potency to induce a specific immune response and provide protection against l. interrogans infection.201627737644
immune response in hamsters immunised with a recombinant fragment of liga from leptospira interrogans, associated with carrier molecules.immunisation with the c-terminal region of leptospiral immunoglobulin-like a protein (ligani) has shown promising results against leptospirosis. we evaluated the humoral immune response and protection induced by ligani associated with carboxyl multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cooh-mwcnts), cpg oligodeoxynucleotides (cpg odns), or alhydrogel. animals immunised with cpg odns were unable to develop a humoral immune response, whereas immunisation with ligani and cooh-mwcnts produced a high level of ig ...201627759768
first observation of leptospira interrogans in the lungs of rattus norvegicus.we report the first two cases of pulmonary presence of leptospires in apparently healthy rats captured in a city park in lyon (france). only renal carriage of leptospira has been described in the literature. blood serology was performed in parallel with molecular and histological analyses of the kidney and lung samples. we isolated leptospires from the kidneys of two out of three seropositive wild rats. these results were confirmed by specific detection of pathogenic leptospira by real-time pcr. ...201627800495
a 23-year-old man with leptospirosis and acute abdominal pain.leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by the spirochete leptospira interrogans. most cases of leptospirosis are mild to moderate, and self-limited. the course of disease, however, may be complicated by multiorgan dysfunction such as in weil's disease. we present a case of weil's disease with pancreatitis in a young caucasian man residing in hawai'i. although leptospirosis is common in hawai'i, few patients present with pancreatitis. this report of leptospirosis-induced pancreatitis should help rais ...201627738562
phage display as a promising approach for vaccine development.bacteriophages are specific antagonists to bacterial hosts. these viral entities have attracted growing interest as optimal vaccine delivery vehicles. phages are well-matched for vaccine design due to being highly stable under harsh environmental conditions, simple and inexpensive large scale production, and potent adjuvant capacities. phage vaccines have efficient immunostimulatory effects and present a high safety profile because these viruses have made a constant relationship with the mammali ...201627680328
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