Detection of infection with Leptospira spp. in manatees (Trichechus inunguis) of the Peruvian Amazon

Mathews, Patrick D.; Perea, Nofre Sanchez; García, Claudia Biffi; Davila, Carmen Rosa García

doi:10.5597/lajam00195

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Previous studies reported the prevalence of leptospirosis or seropositivity to Leptospira spp. in the sirenian Peruvian Amazon manatees ( Trichechus inunguis ) [18] as well as in pinnipeds including harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) [19, 20], Northern elephant seals ( Mirounga angustirostris ) [21], California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) [22–26, 17], and Chilean South American sea lions ( Otaria byronia ) [27]. Most recently, two serovars – Pomona and Calicola – of Leptospira interrogans were detected in serum samples of endangered Caspian seals ( Pusa caspica ) in the Caspian Sea off Northern Iran [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in stranded representatives of wild cetaceans in the Philippines

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe stranding events of cetaceans in the Philippines provide opportunities for gathering biological information and specimens, especially from the pelagic forms. As part of an effort to monitor the health of wild cetaceans, this study detected Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, causative agents of the emerging zoonotic diseases leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis respectively, in their stranded representatives. From October 2016–August 2018, 40 cetaceans (representing 14 species) that stranded nationwide were sampled for brain, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, kidney, and blood tissues, urine, and sera. These were subjected to molecular, serological, culture, and histopathological analyses to detect the target pathogens.ResultsT. gondii was detected in 20 (71%) of the 28 cetaceans with biological samples subjected to either molecular detection through RE gene amplification or IgG antibodies detection through agglutination-based serological assay. On the other hand, Leptospira was detected in 18 (64%) of 28 cetaceans with biological samples subjected to bacterial culture, molecular detection through 16S rDNA amplification, or IgM antibodies detection through ELISA-based serological assay.ConclusionsThere is the plausibility of toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis in cetacean populations found in the Philippines, however, acute or chronic phases of infections in sampled stranded individuals cannot be confirmed in the absence of supporting pathological observations and corroborating detection tests. Further studies should look for more evidences of pathogenicity, and explore the specific mechanisms by which pelagic cetacean species become infected by Leptospira spp. and T. gondii. As there is growing evidence on the role of cetaceans as sentinels of land-sea movement of emerging pathogens and the diseases they cause, any opportunity, such as their stranding events, should be maximized to investigate the health of their populations. Moreover, the role of leptospirosis or toxoplasmosis in these stranding events must be considered.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in stranded representatives of wild cetaceans in the Philippines

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although the MAT has been used extensively in many terrestrial and marine species, it has not been validated in these species and does not determine the presence or absence of disease. Given previous reports of low titers (1:25 and 1:32) in both subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Bossart et al 2012, Smith et al 2016) and in the Amazonian manatee (Delgado et al 2013), it is possible that our study titers were below the detection limit of 1:32. The high seroprevalence in Amazonian manatees often without signs of clinical disease suggests that T. gondii infections in immunocompetent manatees are likely subclinical (Delgado et al 2013).…”

Section: Florida and Antillean Manateesmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Given previous reports of low titers (1:25 and 1:32) in both subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Bossart et al 2012, Smith et al 2016) and in the Amazonian manatee (Delgado et al 2013), it is possible that our study titers were below the detection limit of 1:32. The high seroprevalence in Amazonian manatees often without signs of clinical disease suggests that T. gondii infections in immunocompetent manatees are likely subclinical (Delgado et al 2013). T. gondii infection in the Antillean and Florida manatee populations is probably rare and suggests a low risk of parasite infection to sirenians.…”

Section: Florida and Antillean Manateesmentioning

confidence: 76%

Investigating seagrass in Toxoplasma gondii transmission in Florida (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Antillean (T. m. manatus) manatees

Wyrosdick

Gerhold²,

Su³

et al. 2017

Dis. Aquat. Org.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toxoplasma gondii is a feline protozoan reported to cause morbidity and mortality in manatees and other marine mammals. Given the herbivorous nature of manatees, ingestion of oocysts from contaminated water or seagrass is presumed to be their primary mode of infection. The objectives of this study were to investigate oocyst contamination of seagrass beds in Puerto Rico and determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Antillean (Trichechus manatus manatus) and Florida (T. m. latirostris) manatees. Sera or plasma from Antillean (n = 5) and Florida (n = 351) manatees were tested for T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test. No T. gondii DNA was detected via PCR in seagrass samples (n = 33) collected from Puerto Rico. Seroprevalence was 0%, suggesting a lower prevalence of T. gondii in these manatee populations than previously reported. This was the first study to investigate the potential oocyst contamination of the manatee diet, and similar studies are important for understanding the epidemiology of T. gondii in herbivorous marine mammals.

show abstract

“…The other isolation of serovar Pomona was obtained from the kidney of a common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncates ) collected in Sardinia (Italy) [ 80 ]. These are the only isolations from whale and dolphin species, among several investigated species around the world [ 40 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 ].…”

Section: Leptospira Isolation On “Unconventionamentioning

confidence: 99%

Insight into the Epidemiology of Leptospirosis: A Review of Leptospira Isolations from “Unconventional” Hosts

Cilia

Bertelloni

Albini

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging worldwide zoonotic disease. Even though the primary serological test for diagnosis and surveying is the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), isolation remains the gold-standard test to detect Leptospira infections. The leptospirosis transmission is linked to maintenance and accidental hosts. In the epidemiology of Leptospira some serovar are strictly related to specific maintenance hosts; however, in recent years, the bacterium was isolated from an even wider spectrum of species. The aim of this review is to report the isolation of Leptospira strains in animals which could be recognized as “unconventional” hosts, analyzing studies from 1960 to 2020 that highlighted the Leptospira isolation. This scientific literature aimed to provide evidence of infection in several animal species including of the Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, Rodentia, Cetacea, Cingulata, Afrosoricida, Chiroptera and Primate orders, as well as in Reptilia and Amphibia classes. In conclusion, the spreading of Leptospira is attention-worthy because the infection could occur in all the animal species ranging in a specific area. Further screening and isolations are needed to collect all necessary data to gain a complete understanding of leptospirosis epidemiology and its modifications.

show abstract

Detection of infection with Leptospira spp. in manatees (Trichechus inunguis) of the Peruvian Amazon

Cited by 13 publications

References 16 publications

Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in stranded representatives of wild cetaceans in the Philippines

Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in stranded representatives of wild cetaceans in the Philippines

Investigating seagrass in Toxoplasma gondii transmission in Florida (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Antillean (T. m. manatus) manatees

Insight into the Epidemiology of Leptospirosis: A Review of Leptospira Isolations from “Unconventional” Hosts

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About