An historical view of the experimental leptospiral infection in ruminants.

The first experimental infections with Leptospira in ruminants were conducted in the 1950s, primarily assessed the pathogenesis caused by serovar Pomona in cows. Throughout the decades, experimental infections have also demonstrated the clinical aspects of the infection by other strains, mainly Hardjo. Despite the important outcomes observed in experimental infections in ruminants, there is still a large discrepancy regarding the ideal dose, route, strain, model species or animal age that should be used to reproduce the acute and chronic leptospirosis in ruminants. In this context, the present study aimed to review the historical processes involved on the experimental leptospiral infection in ruminants. The inclusion criteria were papers that clearly described inoculation route, strain, dose, clinical signs and animal age. Overall, 37 experiments were noted. The most frequently reported clinical signs were fever, prostration, hematuria and death, with the majority of them occurring in young animals infected by incidental strains. Regarding reproductive problems, they occurred in the majority of the experiments and were also more related to incidental strains. In this context, abortions, retained placenta and weak fetuses were the most frequent symptoms. Noteworthy that although the mechanisms of the clinical acute disease either systemic or reproductive, is reasonably well understood, the physiopathology involved on reproductive problems due to the silent chronic infection is less discussed and remains to be elucidated. In this context, it is evident the need for studies focused on the genital infection and reproductive aspects of leptospiral infection in ruminants.

Assessment of the immunogenicity of the leptospiral LipL32, LigAni, and LigBrep recombinant proteins in the sheep model.

Veterinary leptospirosis vaccines are composed of bacterins and present limitations, for example, the need for bacteriological culture and serovar-dependent immunity. Recombinant antigens represent a promising alternative. LigAni, LigBrep, and LipL32 proteins have been shown to promote a protective immune response against the homologous challenge in hamsters. Therefore, the next step is to evaluate the immunological properties of these immunogens in the actual hosts, as ruminants, which has never been performed before. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and potential adverse effects of the recombinant proteins LigAni, LigBrep, and LipL32 in the ovine model. For this, 16 Santa Inês sheep were allocated into three groups: two experimental (Groups A and B) and one control group (Group C). Group A was inoculated with a formulation containing the recombinant proteins in combination with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant; Group B was inoculated with a formulation containing the recombinant proteins in combination with the Montanide adjuvant; and Group C was inoculated with adjuvants only. The results revealed that formulations containing the recombinant proteins induced total IgG seroconversion and led to a significant increase in antibody titers in the sheep model. Besides, there were no clinical changes or adverse effects. Thus, LigAni, LigBrep, and LipL32 proteins elicited a significant humoral immune response with elevated serum IgG levels, demonstrating that they possess the immunogenic and safety characteristics necessary to sustain their potential use as leptospirosis vaccines in the ruminant model.

Molecular demonstration of intermittent shedding of Leptospira in cattle and sheep and its implications on control / Demonstração molecular da intermitência eliminando Leptospira em vacas e ovelhas e suas implicações no controle

ABSTRACT: For a long time, it has been stated that urine leptospiral shedding is intermittent, which was observed primarily by culturing. However, culturing presents serious limitations, mainly low sensitivity, and failure on detection of leptospires cannot be neglected. PCR presents several advantages, mainly higher sensitivity. The present study aimed to analyze the occurrence of intermittency on leptospiral shedding by PCR in naturally and experimentally infected animals. In this study two experiments were conducted, the first with 60 cows naturally infected from an endemic herd. The second one was conducted in three sheep experimentally infected, each one with a different strain of Leptospira (strains Copenhageni L1-130, Canicola LO-4 and Pomona Fromm). Considering cattle, 43.3% presented negative in all tests, the remaining (56.7%) were positive at least once. From these, only one (1.6%) was positive in all samples, and seven (11.8%) were positive only in the last sampling, making it impossible to evaluate the intermittency. Noteworthy, 26 cows (43.3%) presented the typical intermittent pattern of leptospiral shedding in urine. In sheep, all experimentally infected animals presented the typical intermittent shedding patterns, independently of the inoculated leptospiral strain. We considered that a careful serial analysis of urine samples for a more definitive and reliable individual diagnosis would be required for a successful antimicrobial therapy and control of leptospirosis on a herd.

RESUMO: Durante muito tempo, foi afirmado que a eliminação de leptospiras na urina era intermitente, o que havia sido demonstrado principalmente por meio do cultivo microbiano. No entanto, a cultura apresenta graves limitações, principalmente com relação à baixa sensibilidade. Em contraste, a PCR apresenta várias vantagens em relação ao cultivo bacteriológico para leptospiras, sendo esta ferramenta cada vez mais utilizada para o diagnóstico de animais eliminadores da bactéria em diversos sítios. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a ocorrência de intermitência na eliminação de leptospiras por meio de PCR em animais natural e experimentalmente infectados. Para este estudo foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo o primeiro com 60 vacas naturalmente infectadas de um rebanho sabidamente endêmico e o segundo em três ovelhas experimentalmente infectadas, cada uma com uma estirpe diferente de Leptospira (estirpes Copenhageni L1-130, Canicola LO-4 e Pomona Fromm). Considerando-se os bovinos, 43,3% apresentaram negatividade em todos os testes, sendo os demais 56,7% positivos ao menos uma vez. Destes, apenas um (1,6%) foi positivo em todas as amostras, e sete (11,8%) foram positivos somente na última coleta, o que impossibilitou a avaliação da intermitência. Não obstante, 26 vacas naturalmente infectadas (43,3%) apresentaram o padrão de eliminação tipicamente intermitente de leptospiras na urina. Das três ovelhas experimentalmente infectadas, todas apresentaram eliminação intermitente da bactéria na urina, independentemente da estirpe inoculada. Consideramos que seria necessária uma cuidadosa análise seriada de amostras de urina para um diagnóstico individual mais definitivo e confiável para uma terapia antimicrobiana bem-sucedida e o controle da leptospirose em um rebanho.