Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis

ABSTRACT Animal reservoir hosts that shed pathogenic leptospires represent a considerable public health risk because they lack clinical signs of illness that might prompt handling precautions. In Sri Lanka, dog ownership is widespread. Dogs reside within homes and interact closely with humans, but t...

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Main Authors: C. D. Gamage, J. E. Sykes, T. P. J. Athapattu, P. Senerathne, U. Karunadasa, M. Fuward, T. Herath, B. D. S. Muthusinghe, K. Yoshimatsu, N. Koizumi
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Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine and Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70375
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author C. D. Gamage
J. E. Sykes
T. P. J. Athapattu
P. Senerathne
U. Karunadasa
M. Fuward
T. Herath
B. D. S. Muthusinghe
K. Yoshimatsu
N. Koizumi
author_facet C. D. Gamage
J. E. Sykes
T. P. J. Athapattu
P. Senerathne
U. Karunadasa
M. Fuward
T. Herath
B. D. S. Muthusinghe
K. Yoshimatsu
N. Koizumi
author_sort C. D. Gamage
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Animal reservoir hosts that shed pathogenic leptospires represent a considerable public health risk because they lack clinical signs of illness that might prompt handling precautions. In Sri Lanka, dog ownership is widespread. Dogs reside within homes and interact closely with humans, but they also roam freely in surrounding neighbourhoods. Dogs that carry pathogenic leptospires represent a source of environmental contamination and infection of domestic and livestock animals, posing a greater public health issue. The objectives of this study were to isolate and molecularly characterise leptospires from the blood and urine of 20 apparently healthy companion dogs vaccinated for leptospirosis using a 2‐serovar vaccine in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Urine and blood samples were subjected to culture for leptospires in an EMJH medium. Growth of pathogenic/intermediate‐pathogenic leptospires was confirmed using nested PCR assays targeting the flaB gene of P1 and P2 Leptospira subclades. Three (15%) of 20 urine specimens and one (5%) of 20 blood cultures yielded leptospires. Phylogenetic analysis revealed L. interrogans and L. kmetyi (P1 subclade) in urine specimens and L. licerasiae (P2 subclade) in the blood. Thus, despite vaccination, dogs in Sri Lanka can shed viable pathogenic/intermediate‐pathogenic leptospires, with associated public health implications.
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spelling doaj-art-720b551ef0e44a4ea16b7acf32b17dd92025-08-20T03:47:58ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952025-05-01113n/an/a10.1002/vms3.70375Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for LeptospirosisC. D. Gamage0J. E. Sykes1T. P. J. Athapattu2P. Senerathne3U. Karunadasa4M. Fuward5T. Herath6B. D. S. Muthusinghe7K. Yoshimatsu8N. Koizumi9Department of Microbiology Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California‐Davis Davis USADepartment of Veterinary Public Health and Pharmacology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of Microbiology Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaPostgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaDepartment of Microbiology Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Sri LankaGraduate School of Infectious Diseases, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanInstitute for Genetic Medicine, and Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Bacteriology I National Institute of Infectious Diseases Tokyo JapanABSTRACT Animal reservoir hosts that shed pathogenic leptospires represent a considerable public health risk because they lack clinical signs of illness that might prompt handling precautions. In Sri Lanka, dog ownership is widespread. Dogs reside within homes and interact closely with humans, but they also roam freely in surrounding neighbourhoods. Dogs that carry pathogenic leptospires represent a source of environmental contamination and infection of domestic and livestock animals, posing a greater public health issue. The objectives of this study were to isolate and molecularly characterise leptospires from the blood and urine of 20 apparently healthy companion dogs vaccinated for leptospirosis using a 2‐serovar vaccine in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Urine and blood samples were subjected to culture for leptospires in an EMJH medium. Growth of pathogenic/intermediate‐pathogenic leptospires was confirmed using nested PCR assays targeting the flaB gene of P1 and P2 Leptospira subclades. Three (15%) of 20 urine specimens and one (5%) of 20 blood cultures yielded leptospires. Phylogenetic analysis revealed L. interrogans and L. kmetyi (P1 subclade) in urine specimens and L. licerasiae (P2 subclade) in the blood. Thus, despite vaccination, dogs in Sri Lanka can shed viable pathogenic/intermediate‐pathogenic leptospires, with associated public health implications.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70375leptospirosisOne Healthspirochetevaccineszoonosis
spellingShingle C. D. Gamage
J. E. Sykes
T. P. J. Athapattu
P. Senerathne
U. Karunadasa
M. Fuward
T. Herath
B. D. S. Muthusinghe
K. Yoshimatsu
N. Koizumi
Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis
Veterinary Medicine and Science
leptospirosis
One Health
spirochete
vaccines
zoonosis
title Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis
title_full Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis
title_fullStr Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis
title_full_unstemmed Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis
title_short Isolation of Leptospira licerasiae, Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira kmetyi From Apparently Healthy Companion Dogs Vaccinated for Leptospirosis
title_sort isolation of leptospira licerasiae leptospira interrogans and leptospira kmetyi from apparently healthy companion dogs vaccinated for leptospirosis
topic leptospirosis
One Health
spirochete
vaccines
zoonosis
url https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70375
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