Molecular characterization of Leptospira species detected in the kidneys of slaughtered livestock in abattoirs in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Dogonyaro, Banenat Bajehson
Van Heerden, Henriette
Potts, Andrew D.
Fasina, Folorunso Oludayo
Casanovas-Massana, Arnau
Kolo, Francis Babaman
Lotter, Christine
Byaruhanga, Charles
Ko, Albert I.
Wunder, Jr.Elsio A.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MDPI

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.

Description

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Data are available in a publicly accessible repository.

Keywords

Isolation, Molecular characterization, Leptospira spp., Livestock, Abattoirs, South Africa (SA), SDG-03: Good health and well-being, SDG-02: Zero hunger

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG-02:Zero Hunger
SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being

Citation

Dogonyaro, B.B.; van Heerden, H.; Potts, A.D.; Fasina, F.O.; Casanovas-Massana, A.; Kolo, F.B.; Lötter, C.; Byaruhanga, C.; Ko, A.I.; Wunder, E.A., Jr.; et al. Molecular Characterization of Leptospira Species Detected in the Kidneys of Slaughtered Livestock in Abattoirs in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Pathogens 2023, 12, 666. https://DOI.org/10.3390/pathogens12050666.