Molecular Characterization of <i>Leptospira</i> Species Detected in the Kidneys of Slaughtered Livestock in Abattoirs in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Banenat B. Dogonyaro,
Henriette van Heerden,
Andrew D. Potts,
Folorunso O. Fasina,
Arnau Casanovas-Massana,
Francis B. Kolo,
Christine Lötter,
Charles Byaruhanga,
Albert I. Ko,
Elsio A. Wunder,
Abiodun A. Adesiyun
Affiliations
Banenat B. Dogonyaro
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Henriette van Heerden
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Andrew D. Potts
Bacterial Serology Laboratory, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Folorunso O. Fasina
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Arnau Casanovas-Massana
Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Francis B. Kolo
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Christine Lötter
Bacterial Serology Laboratory, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Charles Byaruhanga
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Albert I. Ko
Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Elsio A. Wunder
Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Abiodun A. Adesiyun
Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Leptospira was investigated in kidneys (n = 305) from slaughtered livestock in the Gauteng Province abattoirs, South Africa, using a culture medium to isolate Leptospira, followed by the LipL32 qPCR to detect Leptospira DNA. The SecY gene region was amplified, sequenced, and analyzed for LipL32 qPCR-positive samples or Leptospira isolates. The overall frequency of isolation of Leptospira spp. was 3.9% (12/305), comprising 4.8% (9/186), 4.1% (3/74), and 0% (0/45) from cattle, pigs, and sheep, respectively (p > 0.05). However, with LipL32 qPCR, the overall frequency of Leptospira DNA was 27.5%, consisting of 26.9%, 20.3%, and 42.2% for cattle, pigs, and sheep, respectively (p = 0.03). Based on 22 SecY sequences, the phylogenetic tree identified the L. interrogans cluster with serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and the L. borgpetersenii cluster with serovar Hardjo bovis strain Lely 607. This study is the first molecular characterization of Leptospira spp. from livestock in South Africa. The reference laboratory uses an eight-serovar microscopic agglutination test panel for leptospirosis diagnosis, of which L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo bovis is not part. Our data show that pathogenic L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii are circulating in the livestock population. Diagnostic use of molecular methods will eliminate or reduce the under-reporting of leptospirosis in livestock, particularly sheep, in South Africa.
