Characterization of a virulent Leptospira interrogans strain isolated from an abandoned swimming pool

Revista de microbiologia

Hartwig, Daiane D.¹  Forster, Karine M.² 

[1] Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil;Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil

关键词: Leptospira;    Leptospirosis;    Virulent;    VNTR;    rpoB.;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1517-83822013005000029

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia / Brazilian Society for Microbiology

【 摘 要 】

Pathogenic Leptospira spp. are the etiological agents of leptospirosis, an important disease of both humans and animals. In urban settings, L. interrogans serovars are the predominant cause of disease in humans. The purpose of this study was to characterize a novel Leptospira isolate recovered from an abandoned swimming pool. Molecular characterization through sequencing of the rpoB gene revealed 100% identity with L. interrogans and variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis resulted in a banding pattern identical to L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae, serovar Copenhageni or Icterohaemorrhagiae. The virulence of the strain was determined in a hamster model of lethal leptospirosis. The lethal dose 50% (LD50) was calculated to be two leptospires in female hamsters and a histopathological examination of infected animals found typical lesions associated with severe leptospirosis, including renal epithelium degeneration, hepatic karyomegaly, liver-plate disarray and lymphocyte infiltration. This highly virulent strain is now available for use in further studies, especially evaluation of vaccine candidates.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC