| Literature DB >> 32155209 |
Abdul Rahman Alashraf1, Seng Fong Lau1, Siti Khairani-Bejo2, Kuan Hua Khor1, Mokrish Ajat3, Rozanaliza Radzi1, Muhammad Azri Roslan2, Muhammad Sabri Abdul Rahman2.
Abstract
Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases and can infect both humans and animals worldwide. Healthy cat, as a potential source of exposure to humans, are likely underestimated owing to the lack of overt clinical signs associated with Leptospira spp. infection in this species. The aim of the study was to determine the exposure, shedding, and carrier status of leptospires in shelter cats in Malaysia by using serological, molecular, and bacteriological methods. For this study, 82 healthy cats from two shelters were sampled. The blood, urine, and kidneys were tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and bacterial culture. On the basis of serological, molecular, and/or culture techniques, the total detection of leptospiral infection was 29.3% (n = 24/82). Through culture techniques, 16.7% (n = 4/24) of the cats that tested positive were carriers with positive kidney cultures, and one cat was culture positive for both urine and kidney. The Leptospira spp. isolates were identified as pathogenic L. interrogans serovar Bataviae through serological and molecular methods. Through serological techniques, 87.5% (n = 21/24) had positive antibody titers (100-1600) and most of the Bataviae serogroup (n = 19/21). Using PCR, 16.7% (n = 4/24) of cats were shown to have pathogenic Leptospira spp. DNA in their urine. Furthermore, three out of four culture positive cats were serology negative. The present study reports the first retrieval of pathogenic leptospires from urine and kidneys obtained from naturally infected cats. The results provide evidence of the potential role of naturally infected cats in the transmission of leptospires. Additionally, leptospiral infection occurs sub-clinically in cats. The culture isolation provides evidence that healthy cats could be reservoirs of leptospiral infection, and this information may promote the development of disease prevention strategies for the cat population.Entities:
Year: 2020 PMID: 32155209 PMCID: PMC7064249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230048
Source DB: PubMed Journal: PLoS One ISSN: 1932-6203 Impact factor: 3.240
Summary of the results of the cats with positivity in at least one of the used tests for leptospiral infection in this study.
| Cats | MAT serogroup / Titre value | PCR Urine | PCR Blood | Culture urine and kidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N | N | ||
| 2 | N | N | ||
| 3 | N | N | ||
| 4 | N | N | ||
| 5 | N | N | N | |
| 6 | N | N | N | |
| 7 | N | N | N | |
| 8 | N | N | N | |
| 9 | N | N | N | |
| 10 | N | N | N | |
| 11 | N | N | N | |
| 12 | N | N | N | |
| 13 | N | N | N | |
| 14 | N | N | N | |
| 15 | N | N | N | |
| 16 | N | N | N | |
| 17 | N | N | N | |
| 18 | N | N | N | |
| 19 | N | N | N | |
| 20 | N | N | ||
| 21 | N | |||
| 22 | N | N | N | |
| 23 | N | N | N | |
| 24 | N | N | ||
| 25 | N | N | N | |
| 26 | N | N | N | |
| 27 | N | N | N | |
| 28 | N | N | N | |
Identification of retrieved isolates from cats’ urine and kidney samples, using microscopic agglutination test (MAT), hyperimmune sera, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) characterization.
| Isolate ID | Identification | Source | Accession number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAT; Hyperimmune sera / titre | PCR; 16s rRNA | |||
| Alashraf K53-UPM | Bataviae / 6400 | Kidney | MK391604 | |
| Alashraf U53-UPM | Bataviae / 3200 | Urine | MK391605 | |
| Alashraf K54-UPM | Bataviae / 3200 | Kidney | MK391606 | |
| Alashraf K61-UPM | Bataviae / 3200 | Kidney | MK391607 | |
| Alashraf K81-UPM | Bataviae / 3200 | Kidney | MK391608 | |
Fig 1Molecular phylogenetic tree of the leptospiral cats’ isolates using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
The phylogenetic tree presents the gene correlation among the leptospiral cats’ isolates and various Leptospira species serovars and strains. Leptonema illini serovar Habaki was used for outgrouping. A clear-cut deviation in the sequence of 16S ribosomal (rRNA) gene was denoted in the sequences among the various species of the genus Leptospira, the isolates segregated into a distinct clade indicates that all the five isolates from cats are strains of L. interrogans spp.