Abstract:
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.
