Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America
Canine leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by spirochetes of the genus <i>Leptospira</i>. Infections can vary from asymptomatic and chronic infections to clinical acute diseases. The disease is endemic in tropical areas, such as Latin American countries, but a broad understanding...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2422 |
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| author | Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo Luiza Aymée Ana Luiza dos Santos Baptista Borges Walter Lilenbaum |
| author_facet | Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo Luiza Aymée Ana Luiza dos Santos Baptista Borges Walter Lilenbaum |
| author_sort | Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Canine leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by spirochetes of the genus <i>Leptospira</i>. Infections can vary from asymptomatic and chronic infections to clinical acute diseases. The disease is endemic in tropical areas, such as Latin American countries, but a broad understanding of the dynamics of circulation of strains, based on molecular data, has not yet been performed. Based on in silico analyses, the present study aims to analyze the genetic diversity and circulation patterns of haplotypes from pathogenic leptospires infecting dogs in Latin America. DNA sequences were obtained from GenBank platform, curated, and aligned. Genetic distances were calculated, and a maximum likelihood tree and haplotype network were constructed. According to the inclusion criteria adopted, a total of 148 sequences were identified. Most of the records were from Brazil, including sequences from <i>L. interrogans</i> serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. Phylogenetic analysis showed a genetically closely related cluster, consisting of a larger haplogroup that includes the reference strain Fiocruz L1-130, known to be the major circulating strain in humans. Moreover, no genetic variations were observed according to clinical history and/or geographical localization. We described the molecular epidemiology of leptospires circulating among dogs in Latin America and demonstrated a very genetically homogeneous group, elucidating its ubiquitous circulation pattern and drawing attention to the important role of dogs in the One Health transmission dynamics of leptospirosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:33:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f7370b67a13b454391400a187a74f102 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:33:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f7370b67a13b454391400a187a74f1022023-11-18T22:32:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-07-011315242210.3390/ani13152422Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin AmericaMaria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo0Luiza Aymée1Ana Luiza dos Santos Baptista Borges2Walter Lilenbaum3Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-150, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-150, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-150, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Biomedical Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-150, BrazilCanine leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by spirochetes of the genus <i>Leptospira</i>. Infections can vary from asymptomatic and chronic infections to clinical acute diseases. The disease is endemic in tropical areas, such as Latin American countries, but a broad understanding of the dynamics of circulation of strains, based on molecular data, has not yet been performed. Based on in silico analyses, the present study aims to analyze the genetic diversity and circulation patterns of haplotypes from pathogenic leptospires infecting dogs in Latin America. DNA sequences were obtained from GenBank platform, curated, and aligned. Genetic distances were calculated, and a maximum likelihood tree and haplotype network were constructed. According to the inclusion criteria adopted, a total of 148 sequences were identified. Most of the records were from Brazil, including sequences from <i>L. interrogans</i> serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. Phylogenetic analysis showed a genetically closely related cluster, consisting of a larger haplogroup that includes the reference strain Fiocruz L1-130, known to be the major circulating strain in humans. Moreover, no genetic variations were observed according to clinical history and/or geographical localization. We described the molecular epidemiology of leptospires circulating among dogs in Latin America and demonstrated a very genetically homogeneous group, elucidating its ubiquitous circulation pattern and drawing attention to the important role of dogs in the One Health transmission dynamics of leptospirosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2422canine leptospirosisbioinformatics<i>sec</i>Y16S rRNAone health |
| spellingShingle | Maria Isabel Nogueira Di Azevedo Luiza Aymée Ana Luiza dos Santos Baptista Borges Walter Lilenbaum Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America Animals canine leptospirosis bioinformatics <i>sec</i>Y 16S rRNA one health |
| title | Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America |
| title_full | Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America |
| title_short | Molecular Epidemiology of Pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> spp. Infecting Dogs in Latin America |
| title_sort | molecular epidemiology of pathogenic i leptospira i spp infecting dogs in latin america |
| topic | canine leptospirosis bioinformatics <i>sec</i>Y 16S rRNA one health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2422 |
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