Back to Search Start Over

Leptospira interrogans Serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae Failed to Establish Distinct Infection in Naïve Gilts: Lessons Learned from a Preliminary Experimental Challenge

Authors :
Romana Steinparzer
Sophie Duerlinger
Friedrich Schmoll
Adi Steinrigl
Zoltán Bagó
Denise Willixhofer
Osaid Al Salem
Sarolta Takács
Christian Knecht
René Renzhammer
Ilse Schwendenwein
Andrea Ladinig
Christine Unterweger
Source :
Pathogens, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 135 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Leptospira is a pathogen involved in fertility problems in pigs. Nevertheless, little information is available on pathogenicity, transmission, tissue tropism, and immune response. The objective of this preliminary study was to induce a diagnostically detectable infection in naïve gilts using Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae to gain the knowledge required for designing a large-scale trial. Eight seronegative fertile gilts were divided into three groups: control (n = 2), challenge (n = 3; 10 mL of 108 leptospires/mL intravenously), and contact (n = 3). A daily clinical examination and periodic sampling of blood, urine, and vaginal swabs were performed until four weeks after infection when necropsy was undertaken. Seroconversion of infected animals was detected first by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) between four and seven days after inoculation. No clinical signs were observed except pyrexia. Laboratory data primarily remained within reference intervals. Leptospira were undetectable in all groups by real-time PCR (sera, urine, vaginal swabs, and tissue samples) and bacterial culture (urine and tissue samples). However, histologic evidence for tubulo-interstitial nephritis could be found. Based on the study results and limitations, questions to be solved and approaches to be reconsidered are raised for the conduction of further experimental studies to understand the pathogenesis and the role of Icterohaemorrhagiae in pig health.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20760817
Volume :
12
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pathogens
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.52b4a727aeba4dcf924c8072ce351a97
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010135